We are pleased to announce that Martin Clarke, Government Actuary, has been appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath for public service in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2023.
Martin has been the Government Actuary and head of the actuarial profession in government since 2014.
Government Actuary
As principal actuarial adviser to the government, he undertakes a number of statutory duties. These include in connection with public service pensions, the National Insurance Fund, reviews of the State Pension age and the Personal Injury Discount Rate.
He has also led the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) through a notable period of modernisation, growth and diversification that also included the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
GAD now provides actuarial analysis, advice and associated services to government and public bodies on an increasingly broad range of matters including pensions, insurance, investment and risk.
Background and career
Martin grew up in Salford and attended Canon Slade Grammar School in Bolton prior to reading Mathematics at Jesus College, Cambridge.
He gained the fellowship of the actuarial profession in 1982 and is also an alumnus of the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Following an extensive actuarial and general management career within the retail financial services industry, Martin started his public service in 2006 at the newly established Pension Protection Fund (PPF). There he led the actuarial, investments and financial risk functions as the PPF grew to manage funds of £30 billion.
His subsequent appointment as Government Actuary made him only the ninth holder of this post which dates back over 100 years.
Unique challenges
Speaking of his award, Martin said “It has been the most fulfilling experience to be able to use my professional skills and business experience in the public service.
“My time as Government Actuary has been marked by extraordinary economic, financial and health stresses for the country, posing unique challenges that colleagues at GAD have risen to with flair and determination.
“I totally admire them for what they do and regard this award in part as recognition for the role that we as actuaries and professionals can continue to play in public life.”
Martin is due to retire as Government Actuary later in the year. He now lives in Market Deeping, South Lincolnshire with his wife Julia.
