More than 240 people attended 2 GAD webinars as part of May's Analysis in Government Month 2023 (AiG Month 2023). AiG Month 2023 is the UK's largest learning and development event for government analysts.
It is organised by the Government Analysis Function, and features live events, insightful blogs, and themed learning days for analysts. The theme for AiG Month 2023 is "Impact" and how excellence in government analysis impacts policy decisions, operational delivery, and ultimately the society we all live in.
Interactive retirement calculator
In our session 'Retirement calculator - the power of Python', attendees learned about our interactive calculator for public service pension schemes. GAD developed the calculator following the McCloud legal ruling, which impacts over 3 million public servants.
The judgment means that some public service pension scheme members will have to make a choice between the benefits provided by 2 different schemes. Our calculator helps these members to make an informed decision.
To provide the best possible experience, the calculator was created in Python, allowing different parameters to be set and enabling complex numerical information to be presented in a simple graphical format.
As well as learning about the possible implications of the McCloud legal case on public service pensions, attendees found out how Python can result in user-friendly interfaces and great data visualisation.
Analyst Sam Kinshuck said: "Our innovative retirement calculator is being used by public service pension schemes across the UK.
"Attendees at this session viewed a demonstration of the calculator, learned about the possible implications of the McCloud legal case, and saw the power of Python."
Saving lives and livelihoods
Our webinar, 'Disaster risk financing - how analysis can contribute to timely responses' offered insights about how disaster risk finance works. Disaster risk financing provides ways in which countries can be supported to find better ways to stop disasters devastating lives and livelihoods.
In this talk, actuaries from GAD set out how analytical work for our clients has contributed to improving people's lives post-disaster. We included case studies of projects that GAD have worked on, such as modelling droughts in Sub-Saharan Africa.
As well as discovering how analysis is applied to disaster risk financing, attendees learned how working together in multidisciplinary teams creates solutions and makes an impact.
Charlotte Stewart, actuary and lead presenter, said: "Pre-planned disaster risk financing can reduce the impact on people of disasters, and newer techniques like anticipatory action can mean actions can be taken before the disaster even hits.
"The cost of response can also be reduced by responding more quickly and in pre-planned ways aligned to the needs of those affected. This is supported by a range of analytical approaches including the use of data science, satellite monitoring, catastrophe models and more."
