I never thought I would be in this position, for starters

After moving to the UK from New Zealand on a youth mobility visa, I started temping with LPFA in the admin team. Then a full-time job came up in employer services. It involved working with the Fund actuaries and giving the results to employers. I would talk to the actuaries about what they do, and I thought it sounded really interesting and used my maths…that’s when I started to think about exploring being an actuary as a career.

I just wanted something to challenge me.

I did the first actuarial exam by myself. It was difficult, and I didn't think I would pass. But I did – and wanted more. By then, LPPI had an in-house actuary: Sarah Morris. Sarah and I got on well, and I asked her about doing more exams, while I worked part-time as an actuarial assistant and part-time with employer services. It worked out - Sarah mentored me and LPPI paid for the exams. Doing the actuarial exams took several years, and I finished in 2020. By then I was working as an analyst in the Risk team and was soon promoted to senior analyst. I became an associate actuary in 2022.

I sometimes have imposter syndrome. But at LPPI they believe in me.

Sarah believed in me and guided me all the way. There were times when the exams felt really hard and I wanted to give up. But she helped me to stop stressing so much and supported me.

Using my skills in a different team

When I saw a job advertised internally at LPPI in the Investment Strategy team, I thought: “That looks interesting, but are my skills the right fit?”. I talked to my colleagues and the team as well about the role - they championed me and gave me the confidence to apply. I got the job. I’m so grateful for the opportunities LPPI offers, and the luck I have had with such great mentors. At LPPI there are lots of opportunities to develop your career.

I always pinch myself and think, is this a dream? Am I actually working in an investment strategy team now after starting out in admin work?

When I came over from New Zealand and started doing admin work, I didn't know what I was doing with my life. And now I'm here with a career and working in LPPI’s investment strategy team. Today, my work centres around portfolio advisory – a crucial part in helping our Partner Funds achieve their long-term outcomes. Here, I’m able to take a step back, engage in blue/big sky thinking, research and implement ideas that support decision-making for all our Partner Funds. Our Head of Investment Strategy provides really good, constructive feedback and is the person I look to when brainstorming.

You're not just a number; you're actually a person at LPPI. It’s a really supportive culture.

At LPPI, your team's there to support you. Everyone's encouraging. They give positive feedback and take on your ideas. I’ve gone on maternity leave and come back to work, and I’m really pleased that as a working mum, I can continue to develop my career. There’s a lot of collaborative working because LPPI’s not yet a really big company, but it’s going places.