Casualty Actuarial Society Names Yvonne Palm as President-Elect

The Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) is pleased to announce that Yvonne Palm, FCAS, has been elected president-elect of the organization for 2026-2027. Palm will begin her term at the close of the 2026 CAS Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, in November and will go on to serve as CAS president for 2027-2028.

Palm's election marks a historic milestone for the CAS. She will be the first Black woman, the first member from Africa, and the first member based outside North America to serve as president-elect and, subsequently, president of the Society.

A Fellow of the CAS since 2011, Palm is Chief Risk Officer at African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) in Lagos, Nigeria. She brings more than two decades of international experience spanning actuarial science, insurance and reinsurance, enterprise risk management, governance, and strategic leadership. Her career has included roles in the United States, United Kingdom, and several African countries.

Palm has contributed extensively to the CAS throughout her career. She served on the CAS Board of Directors from 2021 to 2024 and has held numerous leadership and volunteer roles, including service on the Risk Management Committee and Governance Committee. She also served as founding chairperson of the CAS Africa Regional Working Group and has represented the CAS at meetings and conferences around the world.

"Yvonne's election reflects both her exceptional leadership and the strength of the CAS's global community," said Dave Cummings, FCAS, CAS Board Chair. "Her international perspective, deep commitment to the actuarial profession, and extensive service to the CAS will be tremendous assets as we work together to strengthen our profession, support our members worldwide, and expand the impact of actuarial expertise."

"I am deeply honored to be elected president-elect of the CAS," said Palm. "The CAS has played an important role throughout my professional journey, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our members in this new capacity. I look forward to working with the Board, staff, and our global community to strengthen the value of the CAS credential, support our members across geographies and career stages, and ensure that the profession continues to evolve while remaining grounded in high standards."

Beyond the CAS, Palm has been active in advancing the actuarial profession internationally. She is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and founder of the African Actuarial Development Academy. She has also contributed to professional organizations and industry initiatives across Africa, with a focus on actuarial development, risk management, and strengthening insurance markets.

The CAS also announced newly elected Board members Avraham Adler, FCAS; James Guszcza, FCAS; Nicole Harrington, FCAS; and Jeremy Shoemaker, FCAS, as well as the appointment of Loren Nickel, FCAS, to the Board. All will begin their terms at the close of the 2026 CAS Annual Meeting.

Kathleen C. Odomirok, FCAS, principal at EY and leader of EY's core Insurance and Actuarial Advisory Services practice, will serve as CAS president for the 2026-2027 term.