Morning Sessions
Devil’s Advocates | Morning
Robert Branagh, Pensions Trustee
Kim Gubler, Director, KGC Associates
Henry Tapper, Chair, AgeWage
08:15 – 08:50
Registration & Networking Breakfast
08:50 – 09:00
Mindfulness
Start your day by giving yourself the gift of focus. In seasoned trustee and mindfulness master David Butcher’s session, he will first explain what mindfulness is and then take us through a guided mindfulness exercise.
Speaker
David Butcher
Founder
Mindful Pensions
09:00 – 09:05
Welcome and opening remarks
Chair
Louise Farrand
Chair
DC Strategic Summit
09:05 – 09:25
Introduction
It’s been a busy time for pensions policy, so let’s have a quick recap. What has the Labour government done since it took office, and what do its various policies and initiatives mean for your pension scheme?
Speaker
David Porter
DC Master Trust & Solo DC Trust Professional
09:25 – 09:45
Keynote Speaker: Sardines on toast in retirement: how do we avoid it?
The Labour Party has set out a radical vision for the future of DC pension schemes since the election. In our conversation with Guy Opperman, we find out what could be next for pensions – and what should be on the government’s priority list.
Speaker
Guy Opperman
Former Pensions Minister – 2017-2022
09:45 – 10:05
Presentation: Bridging the growth equity gap: opportunities to invest in innovative early-stage companies for DC schemes
A significant amount of capital is required to help innovative companies scale up and deliver positive change to society. This session will introduce Growth equity investing and the opportunities for DC schemes to deliver outsized returns by investing in pioneering technologies and business models, both in the UK and overseas.
Presenter
Alex Seddon
Head of Catalyst
M&G Investments
10:05 – 10:35
Panel: First us… now you…
In this new format, we ask the audience for their views, then discuss some key questions as a panel. Can pension schemes help the UK economy grow? Are we overregulating UK pension schemes? Investing in the UK: can it be a win/win? How do we make meaningful progress on DC adequacy?
Moderator
Louise Farrand
Summit Chair
Panellists
Andy Cheseldine
Professional Trustee
Capital Cranfield
Priti Ruparelia
Trustee Director and Head of DC
IGG
10:35 – 10:55
Presentation: How infrastructure could fit in with the UK government’s push to encourage DC schemes to invest in the domestic economy
Should we be looking at UK assets over global opportunities? Where do the opportunities that align best with DC savers’ needs lie?
Presenter
Nicholas Moller
Managing Director
J.P. Morgan Asset Management
10:55 – 11:20
Coffee Break
11:20 – 11:40
Q&A: Conventional and unconventional wisdom in direct lending
As private credit has grown in size and adoption over the past few years, investors need to navigate new challenges as the asset class matures and expands beyond traditional corporate exposures. We will be discussing the evolution of private credit, how the various segments of the direct lending market differ on a risk-reward basis, new offerings and sources of liquidity. This conversation will consider the role that private credit can play to enhance outcomes for DC savers.
Speaker
Antonia O’Connor
Managing Director
Blue Owl Capital
11:40 – 12:00
Presentation: How schemes can increase their allocation to sustainable forestry, agriculture, and land across the world
The presentation will draw upon research to discuss the growing role of Natural Capital in DC portfolios and how schemes can use nature-based solutions to help meet their net zero goals while satisfying members’ increasing desire for impact.
Presenter
Kim Foley
Associate Director, Investor Relations
New Forests
12:00 – 12:40
Quiz the Regulators
The Financial Conduct Authority and the Pensions Regulator are at the heart of the DC pensions transformation agenda. What’s top of their to do lists? This is your opportunity to hear from both regulators – and quiz them on their plans.
Guest Chair
Steve Webb
Partner
LCP
Panellists
Julian Lyne
Interim Executive Director of Market Oversight
TPR
Nike Trost
Interim Director – Wholesale Buyside
FCA
12:40 – 12:50
Devil’s Advocate Summaries
12:50 – 13:40
Lunch
Afternoon Sessions
Devil’s Advocates | Morning
Robert Branagh, Pensions Trustee
Henry Tapper, Chair, AgeWage
13:40 – 14:25
Panel: Mastertrusts power panel
Our power panel of senior master trust figures will cover all the big topics of the day: the Pensions Investment Review, master trusts’ future direction of travel, consolidation, AI, and what’s top of their wishlists for regulators.
Moderator
Louise Farrand
Summit Chair
Panellists
Jamie Fiveash
Chief Executive Officer
Smart UK and Ireland
Patrick Heath-Lay
Chief Executive
The People’s Pension
Veronica Humble
Chief Investment Officer
NatWest Cushon
14:25 – 14:45
Presentation: Managing the investment risks in decumulation
Individuals face specific investment risks when drawing an income from their pension fund in retirement. Modest pot sizes that will need to deliver a sustainable income over extended durations while maintaining purchasing power will require investment in risk assets to provide the necessary growth. However, equities expose the individual to sequencing risk. When we add to this the current economic environment and shorter business cycles that risk becomes more acute.
Introduction
Lee Hollingworth
DC & Retirement Proposition Director
Royal London Asset Management
Presenter
Trevor Greetham
Head of Multi-Asset
Royal London Asset Management
14:45 – 15:25
Panel: Decumulation – the hardest nut to crack
In this panel session, we examine the decumulation landscape. Why is decumulation such a hard nut to crack? If we fast forward 10-15 years this becomes a failure for members. What can we do now to prevent it? From the latest research to ideas like flex now, fix later, what are the main developments and innovations for trustees to be aware of?
Moderator
Nick Reeve
Editor
Pensions Expert
Panellists
Jonathan Cribb
Associate Director
IFS
James Fouracre
Head of DC
Ruffer
Paul Todd
Chief Operating Officer
Nest Pensions
Janette Weir
Co-Founder
Ignition House
15:25 – 15:50
Coffee Break
15:50 – 16:20
Presentation: The engagement benefits of going it alone
While we hear about a sea of DC pension schemes consolidating into master trusts, some companies have decided to go in a different direction – and First Bus is one of them. The company has a single trust DC retirement savings plan. In this session, we’ll discover why they made this choice and the benefits it brings.
Presenter
Muntazir Hadadi
Head of Pensions
First Bus
16:20 – 17:10
Panel: Are we going in the right direction to achieve DC excellence?
In this conversation, we examine the international experience and what it tells us about the UK’s direction of travel.
Moderator
Louise Farrand
Summit Chair
Panellists
Diane Maxwell
Non-Executive Board Member and former Retirement Commissioner for the New Zealand government
John Mitchem
Co-Chair
Jasper Forum
17:10 – 17:20
Devil’s advocate summaries
17:20 – 17:25
Chair’s closing remarks
Chair
Louise Farrand
Chair
DC Strategic Summit
17:25 – 18:30
Drinks Reception
