A Q&A with AIFMRM’s Dr Coetzee Marais

In our latest Q&A, we chat to AIFMRM’s most recent appointment, Dr Coetzee Marais, about how and why he joined the Institute, and where he hopes he and AIFMRM will go in the future.

1. What brought you to AIFMRM?

I was always interested in becoming an academic. While working in the insurance industry, I was doing a part-time master’s, and although I had completed my coursework, I never quite found time to finish the dissertation. Eventually, I realised that the only way to get it done was to return to campus. I joined UCT as a lecturer in Actuarial Science in 2016. Actuarial Science is a physical neighbour of AIFMRM in the Leslie Commerce Building, and I would often bump into AIFMRM staff in the common room, where we would chat and exchange ideas. I was lucky enough to be invited to AIFMRM’s Research Retreat in 2024 and was impressed by the rigour with which the Institute approaches the research task. Towards the end of the year, a position opened up at AIFMRM, and I jumped at the opportunity.

2. Why did you decide to join the Institute?

I left UCT for three years to do a PhD in the USA and missed all of COVID-19 in Cape Town. By the time I returned, classes were back on campus, but it felt different. I realised that I was ready for the next step in my career path. Although I enjoy teaching undergraduate courses, I wanted the challenge of working with postgraduate students – smaller classes, deeper understanding, more focus. I find teaching postgraduates very rewarding, as it is more concentrated and intricate. The smaller classes also afford me the opportunity for a more personal connection with the students.

3. You’ve worked outside of academia – what was that like?

I worked for the Momentum Metropolitan Group across the African continent and loved it. Insurance is something that elicits a range of opinions, but I was able to see firsthand the benefit of providing a safety net to the most vulnerable. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have experienced the industry from within, as it helps with my continuing research on insurance economics.

4. What are you most looking forward to at AIFMRM?

I’m excited to see how our students grow and to be a part of their journey. Our doctoral candidates, in particular, are producing exciting stuff. I know AIFMRM will continue to produce great quants that shape the financial industry, but I think the research output will ultimately be what distinguishes the Institute and hopefully leads to greater international recognition.