The Making Things Happen column features CAS and iCAS members who serve the associations in many capacities and enrich the volunteer experience for all.
In every organization, there are volunteers whose dedication quietly shapes the experience of thousands. For the CAS, one of those steady, driving forces is Kenneth Hsu, FCAS, CSPA, MAAA, a leader whose energy, creativity, and commitment show up across multiple CAS initiatives. Whether he is strengthening the Annual Meeting, developing a growing open-source ecosystem, mentoring candidates, or helping elevate professional standards, Hsu brings an unmistakable mix of service, curiosity, and passion for community. Talk to him, and he’ll insist he’s the one who benefits most.
“I volunteer to work on things I know I need help with,” he says. “Networking, maintaining professionalism, improving my writing — volunteering is how I keep learning.” That mindset has helped make him an indispensable collaborator with CAS staff and a tireless advocate for innovation within the profession.
Among Hsu’s many contributions, two roles stand out for their impact and visibility: chair of the Annual Meeting Working Group and chair of the newly formed Open-Source Projects Working Group.
The Annual Meeting Working Group is, as Hsu describes it, “a very mature, well-oiled machine.” Staff partners Nora Potter, director of professional education, and Kathleen Dean, director of meeting services, bring deep logistical expertise, while Hsu provides leadership on program quality — curating sessions, guiding topic selection, advising on speaker readiness, and ensuring the agenda reflects the evolving needs of CAS members.
He approaches the role with a blend of high standards and genuine care for the attendee experience. With care to balance quality and diversity in session offerings, Hsu’s guidance ensures the meeting remains engaging, informative, and member-centered.
He is particularly proud of the improvements made in response to survey feedback. “People wanted more networking opportunities,” he says. “So this year we added speed networking, lunch roundtables, and a mentor-mentee meet-up. These in-person connections are hard to replicate in virtual settings.” The results speak for themselves: the Annual Meeting continues to be the CAS’s most well-attended event, bringing together new members, long-time colleagues, and the broader actuarial community.
If the Annual Meeting highlights Hsu’s ability to refine and enhance established programs, the new Open-Source Projects Working Group showcases his talent for shaping what comes next. Hsu is already brimming with enthusiasm for this working group that was just approved by the CAS Executive Council in late 2024.
Open source, he believes, is essential to “building skills for the future,” a key pillar of the CAS Strategic Plan. Hsu sees huge potential for the CAS ecosystem where actuaries around the world can rely less on proprietary tools and instead rely more on collaborative, transparent, community-built resources.
The standout example is Chainladder-Python, a reserving tool written entirely in Python. It is now the most popular open-source project on the CAS GitHub, not just among the P&C community, but across all actuarial practice areas, with a thriving contributor community of around 15–20 people — including students, CAS candidates, professors, and industry practitioners. “Imagine software designed by the community, free to use, and continuously improved by people who care about it,” Hsu says. “That’s the vision.” That vision supports not only the CAS mission but the global actuarial profession.
Hsu didn’t always lead working groups. Like many CAS volunteers, he started by raising his hand very early. His first significant roles were with the Course on Professionalism (COP) and the Annual Meeting Working Group, both of which he joined shortly after earning his ACAS credential. The COP held special meaning for him, as his own facilitator, Mike Speedling, ACAS, left a strong impression on Hsu, and Hsu wanted to continue that legacy. Today, the pair writes the Ethical Issues professionalism column for Actuarial Review.
Over the years, Hsu has contributed to a range of committees and working groups, including the Professionalism Education Working Group, Actuarial Review Working Group, Monograph Editorial Board, University Liaison Program, CAS College Expos, and Taiwan-based CAS outreach initiatives.
Hsu’s path to the actuarial profession began at the University of California-Riverside, where he earned his undergraduate degree in statistics. With two exams under his belt but no immediate job prospects, he pursued a master’s degree in actuarial science at Columbia University, an experience he credits not only for academic rigor, but more importantly for deep industry connections.
Today, Hsu is the head of actuarial at Breach Insurance, a startup that focuses on developing insurance products that are tailored for the digital asset industry. The collaborative, roll-up-your-sleeves environment suits him — and mirrors the teamwork-oriented culture he fosters in his volunteer work.
His service has also earned recognition. Shortly after achieving his Fellowship, Hsu received the CAS New Member Award, an honor he is deeply proud of. The award reflected his early contributions to the Professionalism Education Working Group, including a major redesign of the COPs opening presentation deck to make it more visually engaging and accessible.
If there is one theme running through Hsu’s story, it is intentional growth — both his own and the actuarial profession. He volunteers because it develops the skills he values: professionalism, communication, leadership, networking, and the discipline of writing. He volunteers because he wants to contribute to a collaborative, forward-thinking actuarial community. And he volunteers because he genuinely enjoys it. “I have a lot of fun volunteering,” he says. “It’s a pressure-less way to get training and experiences I can’t otherwise get at work.”
Beyond spreadsheets and GitHub repos, Hsu has a life filled with outdoor adventures and well-loved board games. He and his wife recently took up backpacking, and he’s also an avid player of Catan, the strategic board game beloved by many analytical minds.
Hsu embodies the spirit of CAS volunteerism through collaboration, generosity of time, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to elevating the profession. Through his leadership and vision, he is helping the CAS stay innovative and relevant in a rapidly changing world. His work reminds us that the CAS community is strengthened by volunteers who not only share their expertise, but also grow alongside the organization — learning, experimenting, and always building something better.
