Li, Johnny Siu-hang

BSc (HKU); MPhil (HKU); PhD(Waterloo); FSA

Tan Bingzhao Professor of Actuarial Science
Director, MSc in Actuarial Science and Insurance Analytics Programme

Contact

Department of Finance

Room 1226, 12/F
Cheng Yu Tung Building
12 Chak Cheung Street
Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong

+852 3943 7759

johnny.li@cuhk.edu.hk

Biography

Johnny Li is Tan Bingzhao Professor of Actuarial Science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Li holds a PhD degree in Actuarial Science and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA). He is an Editor of the Annals of Actuarial Science (2021-present) and Co-Editor of the North American Actuarial Journal (2012-present).

Professor Li is best known for his research on longevity risk, a timely challenge facing life insurers and pension plan providers. He has contributed effective methods to price, hedge, and measure longevity risk with an aim to help the industry best cope with this issue. These contributions have led to several prestigious awards, including the Society of Actuaries (SOA) Redington Prize, the SOA Edward A. Lew Award, the SCOR Actuarial Award in Asia, the Annual Prize for the best paper published in the North American Actuarial Journal in 2011, and the Harold D. Skipper Award for the best paper presented at the 2011 Asia-Pacific Risk and Insurance Association Meeting.

Professor Li is well connected to academia and the insurance industry throughout the world. From 2018 to 2020, he has served as an Associate Director for the Actuarial Research Centre of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFOA) in the United Kingdom.  On this capacity, he oversees the quality of the IFOA’s research programmes and fulfil an ambassadorial role in connecting the IFOA with the international research community. From 2011 to 2015, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Asia-Pacific Risk and Insurance Association (ARPIA). In 2012 and 2022, Professor Li co-chaired the International Longevity Risk and Capital Markets Solutions Conference, sponsored by multiple industry partners and featuring prominent speakers including key personnel from the International Monetary Fund.

Professor Li has a very keen interest in the new challenges and opportunities that are currently facing the insurance industry. In 2017, he delivered a keynote address at the Fourth International Seminar on Sciences for Green Development, a forum where researchers from various disciplines contributed methods to tackle the adverse effects of climate change. In 2018, the SOA awarded the thirteen-member team led by Professor Li a significant grant for a research project that aims to develop solutions to mitigate the risks of climate change to the insurance industry.

Teaching Areas

Actuarial Mathematics
Quantitative Risk Management
Derivative Securities

Research Interests

Longevity Risk Securitization
Stochastic Mortality Modeling
Financial Risk Management
Law and Actuarial Science
Reverse Mortgages

  • Grants
    • “Maintaining Financial Stability in an Era of Changing Climate and Demographics”, Centers of Actuarial Excellence (CAE) Research Grant awarded by the Society of Actuaries, HK$2,316,600, 2018-2021 (Principal Investigator)
    • “Temporal and Spatial Correlations in Mortality Dynamics: Applications to Mortality/Longevity Risk Management”, Discovery Grant (Individual) awarded by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, HK$899,000, 2021-2026 (Principal Investigator)
    • “The Impact of Climate Change on the Insurance Industry: A Global Perspective”, Centers of Actuarial Excellence (CAE) Research Grant awarded by the Society of Actuaries, HK$1,544,400, 2020-2022 (Co-Investigator)
    • “Biosecurity Risk Insurance – Stage 1”, research grant awarded by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Commonwealth Government of Australia, HK$453,600, 2018-2019 (Co-Investigator)
    • “Long Horizon and Longevity Risks in Insurance”, research grant awarded by the Global Risk Institute in Financial Services, HK$4,928,550, 2013-2015 (Co-Investigator)
    • “Integrated Risk Management in a Changing World with Applications to Insurance Enterprises”, Centers of Actuarial Excellence (CAE) Research Grant awarded by the Society of Actuaries, HK$3,861,000, 2013-2017 (Co-Investigator)
  • Awards & Honours
    • Redington Prize, Society of Actuaries, 2019
    • SCOR Actuarial Award in Asia, SCOR Group, 2014
    • Annual Prize for the Best Paper Published in the North American Actuarial Journal, Society of Actuaries, 2011
    • Harold D. Skipper Award, Asia-Pacific Risk and Insurance Association, 2011
    • Edward A. Lew Award, Society of Actuaries, 2006
    • Best Paper Award, Actuarial Society of Hong Kong, 2006
  • Academic/Professional Services
    • Editor, Annals of Actuarial Science, 2021-present
    • Co-Editor, North American Actuarial Journal, 2012-present
    • Topic Editor, Risks, 2020-present
    • Associate Director, Actuarial Research Centre of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, 2018-2020
    • Board of Directors Member, Asia-Pacific Risk and Insurance Association, 2011-2015