Crawford School of Public Policy

Maathumai Ranjan, a PhD student at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy and a Sir Roland Wilson scholar, has been elected as the 2025 Vice President of the Actuaries Institute, with the Presidency awaiting her in 2027. Based in Sydney with her husband and two children, Maathu balances family life with her demanding research and professional commitments, making regular trips to Canberra for her PhD work. Maathu’s actuarial expertise spans disability, health, and general insurance, and her leadership within the Australian Public Service has earned her recognition as both a researcher and a change-maker. Her doctoral research focuses on the impact of government support systems on outcomes for individuals with autism and early-onset disability, reflecting her commitment to using evidence-based insights to inform policy development.

Professor Robert Breunig, Maathu’s PhD supervisor and the Director of the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, recalls their first meeting fondly. “When Maathu came to my annual student party, she instantly clicked with everyone. My students couldn’t stop saying, “You have to take her on. Her charisma is incredible,” he says. “Maathu had well-formulated ideas from day one, and she brings incredible energy, enthusiasm, and positivity to every meeting. She’s a joy to work with.”

Their working relationship spans over two and a half years, and despite some public challenges related to her research, Maathu handled adversity with grace. “Even when things got tough, she kept smiling and stayed strong,” Professor Breunig recalls.

Professor Breunig believes Maathu will excel in her new leadership role at the Actuaries Institute. “She has all the qualities to be an outstanding leader,” he says. “Her research on policy impacts under the NDIS is both timely and important. It’s rare to see research that influences policy as it’s being developed, and Maathu’s work is doing exactly that.”

In our interview, Maathu shares how her diverse career, research, and passion for interdisciplinary collaboration have shaped her journey to this prestigious leadership role.

Congratulations on your election as Vice-President of the Actuaries Institute! How does it feel to be stepping into such a prestigious leadership role?

I feel honoured and thrilled to be stewarding our profession and the legacy of the giants who’ve paved the way before us, particularly through this time of disruption with the age of Artificial Intelligence and data. The success of the profession in these times is particularly important for me and all younger actuaries – those for whom climate change, the AI world, housing affordability, social policy and the stability of international relations have real world implications for the way we work and the way we live.

Your work spans a range of sectors including disability, health, and general insurance. What motivated you to focus on these areas, and how do they intersect with your doctoral research?

Working in these sectors laid the foundation for my doctoral research. Applying insurance principles to a social services area highlighted the latent demand for disability support in Australia, as well as globally, particularly for the growing cohort of children with disability. Being able to understand the root causes of the policy challenges in this space through rigorous application of academic methods was my motivation.

As a doctoral candidate at Crawford School, your research explores the impact of government support systems on individuals with autism and early-onset disability. Can you share some key insights from your research so far?

Autism prevalence has been increasingly worldwide, but studies have shown that estimates of prevalence in Australia are some of the highest and fastest growing, particularly when compared with countries which have similar economic and health profiles. Our research finds a causal link between the growth in autism rates that is above global average and the shift in the Australian disability policy landscape, with the introduction of the NDIS. We found that additional diagnoses as a response to this policy shift account for 47% of the increase in prevalence since 2012.

What inspired you to advocate for the application of actuarial expertise in guiding policy decisions, particularly in fields beyond traditional actuarial work?

Actuarial expertise is essentially the ability to objectively make sense of information, including big and small data and anecdotal evidence, to model policy or business contexts and project possible outcomes into the future. These models can be used to provide rigorous evidence that guides good decision-making and policy design. This skillset is one that can have real value in many areas of policy, not just those that relate to insurance contexts.

You have held several actuarial roles in both the private and public sectors. How have these experiences shaped your approach to research and leadership?

Experience in the private sector gave me the ability to learn the skills of our craft in a fast-paced, commercial environment, demanding technical excellence and commercial acumen of its employees. Experience in the public sector gave me the ability to employ my skills in a way that gives back to the Australian people, particularly the community with disability. I am grateful for both experiences as they continue to shape who I am and what I strive to achieve.

You have been vocal about the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling societal challenges. Can you elaborate on how actuaries and policy professionals can work together to drive change?

Actuaries and data professionals bring objective evidence to highlight what works and how policy decisions may play out in the future. Various stakeholders, including policy professionals, advocates, participants, service providers and so on hold essential information about the individuals and circumstances behind the data, so that the objective evidence can based on appropriate assumptions. Hence, interdisciplinary collaboration is key to ensuring successful and transformational changes in society and policy.

Looking ahead, what are some of your goals as you prepare to lead the Actuaries Institute as President in 2027?

My vision includes a broader and more influential profession, one that engages and uplifts its youth, and has a valued voice in solving the societal challenges facing the Australian population. I hope as President of the Actuaries Institute in 2027, I can take further steps towards achieving this vision.

What advice would you give young actuaries and researchers aspiring to impact their professions and society?

Having integrity - doing the right thing means you can sleep peacefully at night. Public policy affects so many people and their families and can be controversial with so many opinions. I strive to act in a way that means I am true to the values of our profession, as well as the values of the Australian Public Service as well.

Pay it forward - so many giants of the industry have not only paved the way for my career but have actively championed me, giving me opportunities to engage in wider industry, taken the time to provide honest feedback, opened my eyes to ways of the world and provided invaluable support when needed. The best thing that I can do in return is to pay it forward.

You have accomplished so much already in your career. When you are not working, what do you enjoy doing to unwind or stay inspired?

Children have a wonderful way of keeping you grounded and spending time with mine inspires me to leave the world a better place. I also find watching a good crime drama or solving a cryptic crossword immensely satisfying.

From all of us at the Crawford School, congratulations Maathu! We look forward to witnessing your continued impact on the field and society.