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

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.

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?

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?

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.

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
Ben Ward
Head of Investment Reputation
NEST

Speaker to be confirmed: Muzinich & Co

THEME: VALUE FOR MONEY

15:05 – 15:45
Panel: This house believes the new Value for Money framework will improve DC outcomes
The VFM framework promises greater accountability and better outcomes, but not everyone is convinced. Will it genuinely raise standards and deliver more for members? How does it align with other policy and regulatory initiatives? Are there unintended consequences that haven’t been worked through?

Panellists
Helen Forrest Hall
Chief Strategy Officer
Pensions Management Institute

Paul Maynard
Former Pensions Minister

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

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.