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Lourdes Afonso is an AAE Board member and a member of the Communications Panel |
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Time is one of our most precious assets. Once spent, it cannot be reclaimed. With limited hours divided among work, family, friends, and rest, why would any of us choose to volunteer? Altruism plays a role—but so do purpose, professional pride, and the belief that our contribution can strengthen the ecosystem in which we practise.
For me, volunteering with the AAE has been profoundly rewarding. Having embraced the actuarial profession since 1994, I find in the AAE a unique platform to advance our profession across borders. Its mission resonates deeply: to represent member associations and provide objective, independent, and professional advice to European institutions in the public interest; to promote education and professionalism, ensuring consistent standards and mutual recognition; and to foster networking and the exchange of best practices among actuaries. Contributing to that mission is both a privilege and a responsibility.
AAE committees bring together colleagues from diverse countries, cultures, and professional paths. This diversity can be demanding but also enriching. We tackle topical and often technical issues, test ideas, and, most importantly, turn discussion into balanced, pragmatic outputs that support better decision-making. That is where volunteers make their impact—in the thoughtful, sometimes invisible work that raises standards, clarifies complex topics, and builds trust with stakeholders.
Volunteering has strengthened my judgement, broadened my perspective, and kept me close to emerging topics. It has deepened my network through collaboration with dedicated peers and renewed my sense of purpose in serving the public interest. After each spring and autumn meeting, I return home tired but energised—grateful to give back to a profession I deeply value.
Volunteering is not merely time given; it is time invested—in the public good, in our collective standards, and in the future of our profession.
If you’ve read this far, let me leave you with a provocation: Reflect on why you are a volunteer—or why you are not.
This blog is written, on a personal title, in Portuguese and translated by ChatGPT5.
23 October 2025
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