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Biography:

Kenneth Q. Zhou is an Associate Professor of Actuarial Science in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and an Associate of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (ACIA). He received his PhD in Actuarial Science from the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ in 2019 and worked as an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University from 2019 to 2024. He was a James C. Hickman Scholar of the Society of Actuaries from 2015 to 2019.

Kenneth’s research interests include stochastic mortality modeling, longevity risk management, insurance data analytics, and Bayesian modeling and forecasting. His work focuses on the technical and economic foundations of life insurance practice, with particular emphasis on modeling mortality trends and managing longevity risk. He also develops and applies statistical methods to address data-driven challenges and to identify sources of financial and insurance risks. More recently, his research has examined approaches to mitigating discrimination in actuarial modeling and pricing from a Bayesian perspective.

Kenneth’s research has been published in leading actuarial, statistical, and insurance journals, including Insurance: Mathematics and Economics,ÌýNorth American Actuarial Journal,ÌýJournal of Risk and Insurance, and Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. His work is also featured in professional publications such as The Actuary Magazine and the Living to 100 Monograph. He received the 2019 Redington Prize for the best paper in investment from the Society of Actuaries for his work on dynamic longevity hedging. Kenneth is a regular presenter at international conferences and university seminars, where he passionately shares his research findings.

Kenneth is deeply committed to actuarial education, mentorship, and curriculum development. Kenneth teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in actuarial science and statistics, and supervises students at all levels, including undergraduate research, master's theses, and PhD dissertations. Interested students are warmly encouraged to reach out at kenneth.zhou@uwaterloo.ca.

Publications:

• Zhou, K.Q. & Zhu, X. (2025). . .
• Zhou, R., Li, J.S.-H., & Zhou, K.Q. (2025). . .
• Cupido, K., Jevtić, P., Regis L., & Zhou, K.Q. (2024). . , 2024(10), 1036–1064.
• Zhou, K.Q., Li, J.S.-H., & Lyu, P. (2024). , 49(2), 295–319.
• Yang S. & Zhou, K.Q. (2023). . , 11(12), 206.
• Zhu, X. & Zhou, K.Q. (2023). ., 13(1), 277-305.
• Zhou, K.Q. & Li, J.S.-H. (2023). . , 89(3), 533-552.
• Lyu, P., Li, J.S.-H., & Zhou, K.Q. (2023). . , 2023(4), 359-387.
• Zhou, H., Zhou, K.Q., & Li X. (2022). ., 106, 285-301.
• Feng, M., Li, J.S.-H., & Zhou, K.Q. (2022). . , 106, 218-238.
• Zhou, K.Q. & Li, J.S.-H. (2021). , 25(Sup1), S66-S96.
• Li, J.S.-H., Li, J., Balasooriya, U., & Zhou, K.Q. (2021). . , 25(Sup1), S341-S372.
• Zhou, K.Q. & Li, J.S.-H. (2020). . , 14(2), 278-301.
• Li, J.S.-H., Zhou, K.Q., Zhu, X., Chan, W.-S., & Chan, F.W.-H. (2019). . , 182(4), 1523-1560.
• Zhou, K.Q. & Li, J.S.-H. (2019). . , 84, 1-21.
• Zhou, K.Q. & Li, J.S.-H. (2017). . ,84(S1), 417-437.
• Chan, W.-S., Li, J.S.-H., Zhou, K.Q., & Zhou, R. (2016). . , 41(1), 118-127.

Preprints:

• Zhu, X., Zhou, K.Q., & Wang Z. A new paradigm of mortality modeling via individual vitality dynamics. Available at .
• Chen, Z., Li, H. Mao, Y., & Zhou, K.Q. Learning from COVID-19: A catastrophe mortality bond solution in the post-pandemic era. Available at .
• Gabric, L.J., Zhou, S., & Zhou, K.Q. A Bayesian approach to discrimination-free insurance pricing. Available at .
• Gabric, L.J. & Zhou, K.Q. A natural hedging framework for longevity risk with graphical risk assessment. Available at .