Estelle Pearson, MD of actuarial and insurance consultancy Finity, has been named Actuary of the Year.

The prize recognises someone who has brought credit to the profession and made a key contribution to business, the community, government or the profession.

“To be awarded Actuary of the Year is a great honour,” Ms Pearson told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“I’m very fortunate to have spent the past 20 years working in general insurance, seeing the actuarial profession develop into an integral part of the industry.”

She was chosen by a panel of senior actuaries “for her leadership in the actuarial profession, positioning actuaries as providing exceptional service and strategic advice to the insurance industry”, Actuaries Institute CEO Melinda Howes says.

Ms Pearson is a councillor of the institute and was appointed MD of Finity in 2007.