Morning Sessions
08:15 – 09:00
Registration & Networking Breakfast
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: Private markets – a global forecast
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
Joanna Sharples
CIO, DC Solutions
Aon MasterTrust
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 – 11:05
Devil’s advocate summaries
11:05 – 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 – 11:50
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
11:50 – 12:10
Presentation: How schemes can increase their allocation to sustainable forestry, agriculture, and land across the world
Presenter
Kim Foley
Associate Director, Investor Relations
New Forests
12:10 – 12:50
Panel: Quiz the Regulators
Guest Chair
Steve Webb
Partner
LCP
Panellists
Nike Trost
Asset Management & Pensions Policy
FCA
Speaker to be confirmed: TPR
12:50 – 13:40
Lunch
Afternoon Sessions
13:40 – 14:10
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.
Panellists
Jamie Fiveash
Chief Executive Officer
Smart UK and Ireland
Patrick Heath-Lay
Chief Executive
The People’s Pension
Veronica Humble
Chief Investment Officer
Cushon
14:10 – 14:30
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.
Presenter
Trevor Greetham
Head of Multi-Asset
Royal London Asset Management
14:30 – 15:10
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?
Panellists
Jonathan Cribb
Associate Director
IFS
James Fouracre
Head of DC, UK & Ireland
Ruffer
Janette Weir
Co-Founder
Ignition House
15:10 – 15:30
Presentation: TBC
15:30 – 15:50
Coffee Break
15:50 – 16:20
A new way to think about financial education
From algebra to the idiosyncrasies of English grammar, children have to learn many complicated lessons when they go to school. When it comes to financial education, what can we learn from how we teach our children? What could the pensions industry do differently?
16:20 – 17:10
Roundtable Discussion: Are we going in the right direction?
In this conversation, we examine the international experience and what it tells us about the UK’s direction of travel.
Moderator
Nick Reeve
Editor
Pensions Expert
Panellists
Diane Maxwell
Non-Executive Board Member and former Retirement Commissioner for the New Zealand government
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
