OUR PEOPLE

Francisco Camba, FSA, FCIA
Prior to becoming a consultant in 2000, Francisco accumulated 9 years experience in the Canadian life insurance industry. Most was with an insurer that is a leader in the high-end, high individual net worth UL market. His experience not only allowed him to become proficient in technical capabilities, he was also able to develop and use his creative skills. Complementing his in-depth knowledge of AXIS/DataLink and his pricing and product development expertise, Francisco has acquired skills and competencies in corporate actuarial, project management and illustration software development.
Since joining Valani Consulting Inc. he has been providing consulting services in Canada, the Caribbean and the United States that have included pricing, product development, modeling (particularly variable & fixed annuities, including C3P2, CARVM, Asset Adequacy Testing, and stochastic modeling) and several significant AXIS/DataLink conversion projects.
Francisco is bilingual in English and French.

James Christou, ASA, MAAA
Having worked at two major life insurance companies, a leading brokerage firm, and as a consultant since entering the life insurance industry in 1991, James has acquired an extensive and varied background in the life insurance industry. His experience at the two life companies allowed him to gain extensive technical expertise and valuable management capabilities. At the brokerage firm his focus was on advanced marketing concepts in the high individual net worth marketplace. Most recently, he has provided consulting services in Canada, the Caribbean, Asia and the United States that have included product development and pricing, ALM, DataLink applications and international reinsurance pricing.

Jeanette D'Mello, FSA, MAAA
Jeanette has worked in the life insurance industry since 1991. She began her career in Canada working for three major life insurance companies where she gained a strong background in financial reporting, asset liability management, dynamic capital adequacy testing and minimum continuing capital and surplus requirements. Prior to joining Valani Consulting Inc. she worked for four years as a consultant and auditor in the United States, where she accumulated experience in US GAAP, embedded value analysis, and Sarbanes Oxley 404 control testing. While working in the United States, she also provided consulting services to international clients in the UK and Asia. She has extensive experience in financial modeling using various actuarial software systems.

Fred Fauteux
Fred has worked in the Canadian life insurance industry since 1976 gaining extensive experience and a proven track record as a senior executive. Prior to joining Valani Consulting, he held several positions of increasing responsibility with two major Canadian life insurance companies. At both organizations he ultimately served as a member of their senior management teams.
During his career, he has participated in many industry activities and education programs and has been his company's named corresponding officer for both CLHIA industry groups; the Senior Marketing Officers Section and the Group Insurance Section.
At Valani Consulting Fred is responsible for business development, resource management and client relationships.

Michael Helewa, FSA, FCIA, CFP
Michael has worked in the Canadian life insurance industry since 1994 with experience on the direct and reinsurance sides of the business. During this time he has gained valuable experience in pricing, product development, illustration software development and field training of Individual products. His specialty is living benefits where, along with pricing and product development, he has researched and managed this area as an emerging market (i.e. LTC, CI and GSI DI).
As a consultant, Michael has continued to work in the living benefits arena. Also, he has provided consulting services that have included direct marketing, valuation and U.S. pricing (direct and reinsurance).
Extensive field and client contact has allowed him to broaden his industry knowledge and complement his technical capabilities.
Michael is comfortable working in French as well as English.

Scott Houghton, FSA, MAAA
Scott began his career in the United States life insurance industry in 1988, and obtained industry experience at two US life insurance companies. Employment at these companies allowed him to gain valuable experience in asset and liability modeling, business planning, valuation, financial reporting, and product development. Scott has been a consultant since 1995, and joined Valani Consulting in 2008. He has performed numerous consulting projects in the United States, including asset liability management, asset adequacy analysis, model conversions, valuation, financial reporting, stochastic interest rate and equity modeling, and product development. He performed these projects using AXIS and several other software platforms. Scott is a frequent speaker at industry meetings and a volunteer for professional actuarial associations.

Shafik Jutha, ASA
Shafik began his career in the Canadian life insurance industry in 1980. His accumulated experience includes a variety of positions working for two life insurance companies and a major consulting firm. Shafik has a strong mix of actuarial skills in both pricing and valuation. His life insurance background includes corporate financial modeling and reporting, CALM, sources of earnings, DCAT, AuG43, embedded value calculations, and product pricing. His insurance knowledge is supported by a strong technical background including AXIS conversion work and APL programming. He also has experience in administration and valuation of defined benefit pension plans.

André Piché, FSA
André began his actuarial career in the insurance industry in 1988. He has since served in positions of increasing responsibility in the life insurance and reinsurance fields in Canada and the U.S. Much of his work activities included pricing and product development of various insurance products and reinsurance treaties in both individual life and living benefits insurance. In addition, he has considerable experience on the valuation front, having been involved in various projects designed to improve modelling capabilities, including IAS, U.S. GAAP and statutory reporting and European embedded value work. André’s background and experience includes involvement in various reinsurance activities such as treaty work and reinsurance administration reviews. He also has experience with mergers and acquisitions, having been on both sides of the equation.
André is fluent in both French and English.

Alison Rose, FFA
Alison traveled to Edinburgh , Scotland to earn her Bachelor of Science degree with First Class Honors in Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics. She began her career in the life insurance industry with one of the leading Caribbean life companies in 1994. Since entering the industry, Alison has accumulated broad actuarial experience covering individual life product development and pricing, group pensions and corporate responsibilities. As many Caribbean life companies use Canadian standards of reporting, she has experience with CALM reserving and MCCSR that is complemented by her knowledge of the Caribbean life insurance market. She has gained in-depth knowledge and expertise with the AXIS/DataLink software system as a key participant in pricing and product development, asset/liability modeling, conversion projects and mergers and acquisitions. Alison supports her technical capabilities with very strong communication skills.

Shawn Stackhouse, FSA, FCIA
Shawn has worked as a consultant to the financial service industry since 1997.  During this time, he has served a diverse range of life and health insurance, reinsurance and banking clients.  Shawn has worked on a variety of projects in the areas of risk management, actuarial system conversions, pricing, valuation, appraisals and reinsurance. He is experienced in developing financial models in Excel and AXIS for analyzing insurance products, segregated funds and mutual funds.  Shawn has also developed stochastic models to forecast deposit and loan insurance funds, thereby assisting clients with determining appropriate capital levels, setting industry premium rates and long-term strategic planning.  In addition to experience gained from AXIS conversion work, he has an in-depth knowledge of programming for Excel with Visual Basic for Applications.

Doug Swift, FSA, FCIA
Doug began his career in the Canadian life insurance industry in 1984. Since then he has worked in a variety of actuarial positions at two life insurance companies and a pension consulting firm, with a focus on valuation and financial reporting. He has accumulated extensive experience with corporate modeling, DCAT, MCCSR, embedded values, sources of earnings, reinsurance and pricing. Prior to joining Valani Consulting Inc. in 2006, Doug held the position of Appointed Actuary for a multi-line life insurance company, a service which he continues to offer on an external basis as a consultant. Doug’s management skills are supported by a strong technical background including an in-depth knowledge of programming in APL.

Nazir Valani, FSA, FCIA, MAAA
Nazir began his career in the life insurance industry in 1980. Prior to establishing Valani Consulting Inc. in 1998, he held various actuarial positions with three major Canadian life insurance companies including management roles in product development, reinsurance and corporate actuarial. He also spent over four years with GGY, the developers and distributors of AXIS.
During his career, Nazir has participated in a number of industry activities including serving as a member of the Committee on Life Insurance Financial Reporting (CLIFR), a member of the CLHIA Committee on Policyholder Taxation and, presenting on “Sources of Earnings” and on “The Future of Participating Life Insurance” at CIA and CAA conferences.
As a consultant, Nazir has done a variety of work for direct insurance and reinsurance companies in Canada, the United States, Asia and the Caribbean. His services have included independent Actuary reviews/ external peer reviews, corporate actuarial work including valuation, corporate modeling, DCAT, sources of earnings, embedded values, conversions to AXIS and AXIS audits, stochastic modeling, ALM, pricing and product management, and M&A assessment.

Yasmin Valani, P.Eng, MBA
Yasmin has an extensive operations background in the field of engineering. Prior to joining Valani Consulting Inc., she spent 19 years with an international leader in the design, manufacture and support of engines for commercial, military and general aviation aircraft and space propulsion systems. Her experience included a variety of progressively senior roles in development and production.
Complementing her technical expertise, Yasmin has an MBA that she attained in 1983.