Agenda

08.30 – 09.00: Registration and refreshments

09.00 – 09.10: Chair’s opening remarks 

Jerry Gandhi, Director, C A P Services

09.10 – 09.35: Is it possible to rethink the UK pension system?

Lucy Cresswell, Head of Pensions Governance, Barnett Waddingham
Dan McLaughlin, UK Country Head, Festina Finance
Hattie Tales, Head of UK Pensions, Heka Global

The session will explore the potential design of a three-pillar pension system for the UK, reimagined from scratch. Is it possible to create an alternative or better system that balances state, occupational, and individual provision for a fairer, more sustainable retirement landscape?

09.35 – 10.00: Pensions reform in focus: Strategies for stronger retirement outcomes

John Waterson, National Business Development Manager, WEALTH at work

With Targeted Support, pensions dashboards and the Pensions Scheme Bill including ‘guided retirement options’, the pensions landscape is evolving rapidly. The reforms offer a great opportunity for employees to better understand their pensions, take control of their financial future and achieve the retirement they deserve. For employers and trustees, it’s a chance to work together to deliver a stronger, more secure retirement for all. This session will cover:

• Understanding the new pensions landscape and what it means for all.
• The critical role of employers and trustees in empowering employees to achieve stronger retirement outcomes.
• Actionable steps and best practice case studies.

10.00 – 10.25: Run-on: Putting theory into practice

Victoria Myers, Head of Investment Advisory, L&G
Mathew Webb, Head of Insurance and Endgame Solutions, L&G

When considering the recent industry discussions around ‘run-on’, many trustees may wonder what all the fuss is about. After all, most pension schemes have ‘run on’ for several decades, often while maintaining a surplus on their technical provisions basis – is there really anything new to consider here? We look at practical ways for well funded schemes to generate surplus whilst maintaining or improving funding levels.

10.25 – 10.55: MORNING KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Torsten Bell, Minister for Pensions

At a time of significant change in the UK pensions space, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Pensions) Torsten Bell MP will offer delegates his thoughts on some of the key topics facing the industry today and into the future, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

10.55 – 11.20: Coffee break

11.20 – 11.45: Delivering benefit corrections without delaying your endgame 

Samantha Chandler, Head of Bulk Annuity Solutions, Lumera
Steve Jones, Former Head of Pensions, Boots Pension Scheme
Rebecca Morgan, Head of Technical Research, Lumera

As schemes advance along their endgame journeys, benefit and data corrections have moved firmly to the top of trustee board agendas. But while long-term planning sharpens focus, correction exercises are often prolonged, reactive and disruptive — placing strain on administration teams and delaying key milestones.

In this fireside chat, endgame expert Samantha Chandler will be joined by Steve Jones, previously of Boots Pension Scheme and Lumera’s Rebecca Morgan. They will explore how Boots overcame these challenges within 12 months, delivering a full buy-in, the UK’s largest single transaction of its kind.

11.45 – 12.10: Going Big: Why Scale Matters in Bringing Private Markets to DC

Jesal Mistry, Managing Director, UK Defined Contribution, Apollo Global Management

As defined contribution (DC) schemes look to access a broader range of investment opportunities, it is clear that access to private markets is increasingly shaped by the scale and capabilities of the asset manager. This session explores how manager scale can unlock improved sourcing, enhanced due diligence, stronger governance, fee efficiency and better access to co-investments - benefits traditionally reserved for large defined benefit schemes and sovereign investors. We will discuss how these advantages can be harnessed within DC structures, addressing liquidity management, operational robustness and regulatory expectations, while ultimately improving net returns and long-term member outcomes.

12.10 - 12.35: From DB Run-On to Better DC Outcomes

Ajeet Manjrekar, Global Co-Head of Client Solutions, Schroders Solutions
James Wall, Business Development Director, Schroders

As DB surpluses create new choices for schemes and sponsors, this session explores how that flexibility can help drive better DC outcomes. Through the lens of default design, we will look at practical ways to address long-term value for members 

12.35 – 13.00: Clarity in the chaos – Leading in a changing landscape

Aidan Hewitt, Head of Culture Change, Gallagher
Shaily Sodha-Carr, Communications Strategy Partner, Gallagher

Change doesn’t fail because the plan is wrong – it fails because people can’t see where they’re heading. With admin transitions, dashboards, regulation and technology all landing at once, pressure builds fast. This presentation looks at how communication and change work together: creating clarity when certainty is gone, resilience when energy is low, and cultures where people stay engaged, accountable and motivated to perform. We’ll explore how the right messages, mindsets and behaviours help organisations stay confident, in control and moving forward when change never slows down.

13.00 – 14.00: Lunch break

14.00 – 14.25: Navigating Uncertainty: Charting the Course to Value

Duncan Willsher, Professional Trustee, Vidett

In this interactive session, the audience will choose the direction of the journey and the challenges Vidett professional trustee, Duncan Willsher, will need to address to achieve value and meet objectives as we transition through a world of regulatory change.

14.25 – 14.50: DB schemes: a time of change, choice and opportunity

Steve Hodder, Partner, LCP

With strong funding positions, and a government supporting innovation, naturally the range of strategic options for DB schemes is growing. Against that backdrop, how can those managing schemes work out which option is right for them, given their individual circumstances and key objectives? This session will cover LCP’s experience of advising different schemes to implement very different options, and why we think each scheme was right to do so. This will include Stagecoach’s pioneering transaction to swap sponsorship of their scheme to Aberdeen. It will also touch on how LCP see the regulatory position evolving: will TPR continue to support fast-paced innovation? Will other government and regulatory bodies have different views?

14.50 – 15:15: Back to the Future for Retirement: DC Default Income, Annuities and the Rise of CDC 

Madalena Cain, Associate Partner, Aon
Steven Leigh, Associate Partner, Aon

New legislation means DC schemes must now offer a retirement income pathway. This session will cut through the complexity, comparing the main options emerging in the market and some of the trade-offs: guarantees vs flexibility, security vs growth, and simplicity vs sophistication.
We’ll consider the rise of CDC in retirement, blending risk-sharing, growth potential and more predictable income, and ask whether it could be a better fit for many pension savers.
Finishing with some practical pointers to help you decide what type of retirement income solution is the right fit for your scheme.

15.15 – 15.40: Pensions Dashboards

Oliver Morley, Chief Executive, Maps

This session will provide an update on pensions dashboards, with insights from recent user testing of the MoneyHelper dashboard. It will cover the latest progress on scheme connection and outline the practical steps that MaPS and the wider sector can take now to prepare for implementation.

15.40 – 16.10: CLOSING KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Signals in the Noise: Building Pension Resilience in an Uncertain World

Barry Kenneth, Chief Investment Officer, Pension Protection Fund (PPF)

In a world shaped by geopolitical tension, shifting inflation dynamics and rapid regulatory change, distinguishing short‑term volatility from long‑term direction has never been more important. This closing keynote explores how schemes can identify the signals that truly matter for long‑term value, and how trustees can build resilience into investment strategy.

16.10: Close of conference and drinks reception