Episode 50: Actuaries in Social Policy with Maathu Ranjan

“Have integrity. A lot about working in social policy is that it impacts the lives of so many Australians and people in general. Doing the right thing can mean that you can sleep at night and working in such a controversial space there are always going to be opinions and difference of opinions as well.”

Maathu Ranjan,
Experienced Actuary

Maathu Ranjan is an actuary with experience in the disability, health and general insurance sectors. She is also an award-winning researcher and a recognised leader in the Australian Public Service, having been awarded the prestigious Sir Roland Wilson scholarship to conduct doctoral research at the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy. Prior to this, Maathu was a Senior Actuary at the National Disability Insurance Agency, leading the Actuarial Strategic Initiatives team to evaluate key priorities in strategic policy and service delivery. 

Maathu is an advocate for the use of rigorous evidence and the actuarial skillset to inform decisions and policy design. She has a keen interest in social policy, with her doctoral research focusing on the impact of government support systems on autism and younger onset disability relating to neurodevelopmental conditions.

In this interview Maathu shares: 

1. How she built her reputation as a successful actuary and researcher in social policy, 

2. What she’s found in her research into childhood autism prevalence in Australia,  

3. The evolving data landscape in Australian social services, and 

4. Her tips for actuaries wanting to contribute to social policy. 

Connect with Maathu on LinkedIn.

Listen now: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts