Research areas

Actuarial Studies; Insurance.

Qualifications

B.Sc B.A Dip.Grad (Neuroscience) Dip.Grad (Finance) M.Sc (Mathematics) PhD (Actuarial Studies)

Fellow of the Australian Institute of Actuaries (FIAA)

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

Biography

Aaron Bruhn is an Associate Professor in Actuarial Studies. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  Aaron’s main research interests include: individuals’ financial decision-making and financial welfare; trends in mortality and morbidity; the regulatory efficiency and adequacy of the Australian financial services market; the adequacy and sustainability of Australia’s social security system; actuarial education; and a growing interest in climate change and natural hazards. Aaron’s work has been published in leading academic journals including Accounting and Finance, Risks, Annals of Actuarial Science, Australian Journal of Management and The European Journal of Health Economics.

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Grants

Prizes:

The St John's University's Greenberg School of Risk Management's Award for Best APJRI Paper, 2024 (with Z. Dong, H. Shang and F. Hui)

Actuaries Institute H M Jackson Research Prize, 2014 (with A. Huynh and B. Browne)

SCOR Actuarial Award in Research in Asia, 2013 (with A. Huynh and B. Browne)

Publications

1. Liu, W-M, Schultz, E & Bruhn, A, 2025, Are there longer-term costs of informal care? Understanding post-care wellbeing and labour market participation outcomes, The European Journal of Health Economics
2. Dong, Z, Shang, HL, Hui, F, & Bruhn, A, 2025, A compositional approach to modelling cause-specific mortality with zero counts, Annals of Actuarial Science, First View, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1748499524000320
3. Robey, M, & Bruhn, A, 2025, The impact of COVID-19 and the ERS on superannuation savings in Australia, Australian Journal of Management, 50 (4), 1385-1413. https://doi.org/10.1177/03128962241282106
4. Bruhn, A, 2024, The human impact of financial loss: lessons from the global financial crisis, ch18 in "How to Conduct Qualitative Research in Finance Hardcover, 2024, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd (26 July 2024), ISBN: 978 1 80392 699 5.
5. Dong, Z, Bruhn, A, Shang, HL, & Hui, F, Assessing the Impact of Climate Risk Stresses on Life Insurance Portfolios, Asia Pacific Journal of Risk and Insurance, 2023, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1515/apjri-2023-0010
6. Lamarra, T, Bruhn, A, & Miller, M, 2023, Stochastic modelling of the home equity access scheme, Australian Journal of Management, 48 (3), 652-677.
7. Dong, Z, Shang, H, & Bruhn, A, 2022, Air Pollution and Mortality Impacts, Risks 10 (126), 1-21.
8. Bruhn, A, 2021, When Things Go Wrong – The Human Impact, chapter 4 in “Ethics and Professional Practice in Financial Planning”, Lexis Nexis, NSW, Australia.
9.  Bruhn, A, & Asher, A, 2021, The primacy of ethics in the provision of financial advice, Accounting & Finance 61, 3305–3327.
10. Ma, J, Huang, F, & Bruhn, A, 2020, Estimating China’s Future Life Insurance Market, Asia Pacific Journal of Risk and Insurance 15(1), 1-15.
11. Du, J, Bruhn, A, & Whiting, B, 2020, Observations of supervisors and an actuarial research student on the qualitative research process, Accounting & Finance 60, 2339-2360.
12. Tan, K, & Bruhn, A, 2019, Comparing Solvency II and Life and General Insurance Capital approaches to capital determination of a life portfolio in the presence of stress scenarios, Annals of Actuarial Science, vol. 13, part 1, pp. 36-66.
13. Lin, X, Bruhn, A, & William, J, 2019, Extending Financial Literacy to Insurance Literacy – A Survey Approach, Accounting & Finance 59, pp. 685-713.
14. Bruhn, A, 2019, Trust in, trust out - a real cost of sudden and significant financial loss, Accounting & Finance 59, pp. 359-381.
15. Bruhn, A, 2019, Relying on the heuristic of trust – a case study, Accounting & Finance 59, pp. 333-357.
16. Du, J, Whiting, B, & Bruhn, A, 2017, ‘Views of educators on the education system’, Australian Journal of Actuarial Practice, vol. 5, pp. 107-121.
17. Bruhn, A, Whiting, B, Browne, B, Higgins, T & Tan, C, 2017, ‘Introducing Enterprise Risk Management Into the University Classroom: A Case Study’, Risk Management and Insurance Review, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 99-131.
18. Bruhn, A, Whiting, B, Browne, B, Higgins, T & Tan, C, 2017, ‘Can Universities Hit the Mark with Specialist Actuarial Education? An Initial ERM Case Study’, Actuarial Research Clearing House, ARCH 2017.2, Society of Actuaries.
19. Bruhn, A, 2015, ‘Personal and Social impacts of significant financial loss’, Australian Journal of Management, vol. 40(3), pp. 459-477.
20. O’Meara, T, Sharma, A & Bruhn, A, 2015, ‘Australia’s piece of the puzzle – why don’t people buy annuities?’, Australian Journal of Actuarial Practice, vol. 3, pp. 47-57.
21. Tang, C, Browne, B & Bruhn, A, 2015, ‘Valuing annuities based on alternative mortality projections’, Australian Journal of Actuarial Practice, vol. 3, pp. 23-33.
22. Huynh, A, Browne, B & Bruhn, A, 2014, ‘Catastrophic mortality bonds: analysing basis risk and hedge effectiveness’, Australian Journal of Actuarial Practice, vol. 1, pp. 45-62.
23. Bruhn, A & Miller, M, 2014, ‘Lessons About Best Interests Duty’, The Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal, vol.8, no. 4, pp. 23-44.
24. Bruhn, A & Higgins, T, 2013, ‘Barriers to Co-Contribution in Superannuation: a Comparative Assessment of the Financial Benefits of Scheme Participation’, The Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal, vol.7, no.3, pp. 127-144.
25. O'Meara, T & Bruhn, A, 2013, ‘Compulsory Annuitisation: A Policy Option For Australia?’, The Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal, vol.7, no.3, pp. 5-30.
26. Huynh, A, Bruhn, A & Browne, B, 2013, ‘A Review of Catastrophic Risks for Life Insurers’, Risk Management and Insurance Review, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 233-266.
27. Browne, B, Bruhn, A & Huynh, A, 2013, ‘The Geneva Association: Extract of Potential Consequences of Pandemic Risks’, Asia Insurance Review, July 2013.
28. Browne, B, Bruhn, A & Huynh, A, 2013, ‘Potential Consequences of Pandemic Risks’, Health and Ageing Newsletter, no. 28, April 2013, The Geneva Association.
29. Bruhn, A, 2013, ‘Aftermath of a Storm’, The Australian Journal of Financial Planning, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 22-24.
30. Bruhn, A, 2012, 'Surprises from Storm', Journal of Financial Advice, Mentor Education Group, pp. 1–5.
31. Han, YL, Higgins, T. & Bruhn, A, 2012, ‘Adequacy of Superannuation’, Journal of Financial Advice, Mentor Education Group, pp. 1–7.
32. O'Meara, T & Bruhn, A, 2012, 'A Brief History of Two Pillars', Journal of Financial Advice, Mentor Education Group, pp. 1-8.
33. Cheng, M, Whiting, B & Bruhn, A, 2011, ‘Trends in Mental and Nervous Disorder Claims’, The Australian Journal of Financial Planning, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 46-49.
34. Lin, A & Bruhn, A, 2011, ‘Guaranteed Future Insurability Options’, The Australian Journal of Financial Planning, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 50-52.
35. Khoo, Y, Bruhn, A & Whiting, B, 2011, ‘Economic Cycles, Financial Shocks and Life Insurance - A selected Investigation of the Australian Experience’, The Australian Journal of Financial Planning, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 48-55.
36. Cheng, M, Whiting, B & Bruhn, A, 2011, ‘Issues with Insurance of Mental and Nervous Disorders’, Journal of Financial Advice, Mentor Education Group, no. October 2011, pp. 1-7.

Research engagement

Prior to joining ANU in 2008, Aaron worked as an actuary and manager in life insurance in New Zealand, and also as a Principal Economic and Financial Adviser for the New Zealand Ministry of Defence. Since joining ANU, he has also maintained part-time actuarial consulting roles, and has worked with the Australian Government Actuary’s office since 2019.

Teaching

Aaron has taught a variety of courses at ANU including Introduction to Actuarial Studies, Financial Statistics, Financial Mathematics, Life Contingencies, the Actuarial Control Cycle, and Advanced Insurance.

ACST4031/8040: Actuarial Control Cycle 1.