The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) will return to having face-to-face conferences in 2022 following 18 months of virtual events.

Plans are in place for three of the PLSA’s main conferences, the Investment Conference, the Local Authority Conference and the Annual Conference, to be held in person for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the PLSA’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) conference will remain as an online event.

Speaking at the PLSA Annual conference 2021, PLSA chief executive, Julian Mund, said: “Next year we’ll be back with our Investment Conference, Local Authority Conference and Annual Conference planned as in-person events once again, and our ESG Conference will be held online.

“We’ve taken a cautious approach to the return to live events. And that’s partly because events the size of this one need planning with precision. But, sadly, the last year and a half couldn’t have been more unpredictable.

“And it’s also partly because our online events have been so successful. We’ve reached a more diverse audience, who might never have been able to take part because of their location or job title. And we’ve beaten industry benchmarks for value for money, value for time and event satisfaction.”

Mund noted that it has been an “incredibly busy year” for the pensions industry, with the PLSA replying to over 30 consultations, the equivalent to three every four weeks.

“Pension schemes have been subject to a well-intentioned, but relentless barrage, of ideas and changes from the government and regulators,” he added.

Mund also touched on outgoing PLSA chair, Richard Butcher’s, time and work with the organisation, and the appointment of Emma Douglas as its new chair.

He concluded: “I want to thank you all for your support and engagement so far this very busy year, and I hope you really enjoy what is hopefully the last purely digital PLSA annual conference.”

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