AGENDA

THEME: THE BACKDROP

09:05 – 09:35
Keynote: Setting the agenda: Building a DC system that is fit for the future
The era of box-ticking is giving way to a sharper focus on outcomes. In this opening address, we hear from the regulator on what is expected of DC schemes, how priorities are evolving, and how this will shape investment, scheme design and ultimately member outcomes.

Speaker
Emma Douglas
Chair
The Pensions Regulator

09:35 – 10:15
Panel: Are we delivering what members actually need?
The DC system is evolving rapidly, but is it moving in the right direction? This session brings together senior industry figures to reflect candidly on what they are trying to achieve for their members, how they are responding to regulatory expectations, and where the biggest tensions lie. How do real-world constraints shape what’s possible and what should change?

Panellists
Monty Hadadi
Head of Pensions
First Bus

Alison Hatcher
Chief Client Officer
Vidett

Paul Maynard
Former Pensions Minister

THEME: GOING FOR GROWTH

10:35 – 11:15
Panel: Private markets in DC: ambition, access and the reality
DC schemes and master trusts are under growing pressure to make greater use of private markets. Based on Pensions Expert Research, we take a deep dive into how DC funds and Master Trusts view future allocations, barriers to entry, transparency of costs and impact of sector consolidation when considering private markets investment.

Panellists
Nick Reeve
Editor
Pensions Expert

Daniela Silcock
Pensions Research

Speaker to be confirmed: CACEIS

11:15 – 11:55
Panel: Private markets: Move now or wait it out?
With momentum building behind private markets in DC, not everyone is convinced by whether the timing or the case is right. This session explores the arguments for acting now versus holding back, examining trade-offs around value for money, implementation and member outcomes. As the “cost of delay” becomes harder to ignore, we ask: is inaction the biggest risk of all?

Panellists
Aniket Das
Head of Manager Research Group
Legal & General

Speaker to be confirmed: Natixis Investment Managers

11:55 – 12:35
Panel: Beyond ESG: What does responsible investment really mean in today’s world?
Investing for positive outcomes often involves difficult trade-offs. This session explores how schemes balance returns with wider responsibilities to society and the environment, and where those tensions are most acute. How are approaches evolving across impact, stewardship and returns in a more complex environment? And who decides what ‘doing the right thing’ actually is?

Panellists
Veronica Humble
CIO
Cushon

Joe Robinson
Director, Investment Stewardship & Sustainability
Equitix

THEME: TRANSITIONING INTO RETIREMENT

13:45 – 14:25
Panel: Are glidepaths fit for purpose in today’s DC world?
Traditional approaches aim to reduce risk as members approach retirement, but in a world of drawdown and uncertain outcomes, could this be doing more harm than good? This session challenges established thinking on glidepaths and begins to explore whether current approaches are fit for purpose or need fundamentally rethinking, especially in a world of default retirement solutions.

Panellists
David Parsons
Head of Public Debt Investment Specialist Team
M&G Investments

14:25 – 15:05
Panel: From pot to paycheque: Rethinking income in DC
How do we turn DC retirement savings into sustainable, reliable income? This session explores the evolving investment toolkit for decumulation. Can DC schemes move beyond theory and actually implement income-focused strategies at scale?

Panellists
Gianpaolo Pellegrini
Managing Director, Private Markets & Co Head of Parallel Lending
Muzinich & Co.

Ben Ward
Head of Investment Reputation
NEST

Louise Williamson
Head of Master Trust
Aviva

THEME: VALUE FOR MONEY

15:05 – 15:45
Panel: Property after the reset: where should pension schemes find value?
After a difficult period for parts of the property market, pension schemes are reassessing where real estate fits in long-term portfolios. This session explores whether affordable housing, residential, social infrastructure and specialist property can offer more resilient income than traditional commercial property.

Speaker to be confirmed: Savills Investment Management

THEME: DELIVERING FOR MEMBERS

16:05 – 16:45
Panel: Designing for decisions: The next frontier of DC innovation
Despite constant talk of innovation, progress in DC often feels slow and incremental. But if DC is to deliver better outcomes, it must help members make better decisions – or does it? This session explores how innovation can improve engagement, communication and choice architecture, moving beyond products to focus on behaviour and experience.

Panellists
Mel Duffield
Chief Pensions Strategy Officer
USS

Helen Forrest Hall
Chief Strategy Officer
Pensions Management Institute

Richard Smith
Independent Consultant

16:45 – 16:55
Devil’s Advocate Summaries

16:55 – 17:35
Roundtable: From debate to action: A DC manifesto for change
Our closing roundtable will take the temperature of the room and aim to define a clear agenda for change. What is working, what isn’t, and where should the industry focus next? Alongside practical priorities, we surface the biggest unanswered questions that will shape the future of DC.

Facilitator
Nick Reeve
Editor
Pensions Expert