Agenda
08:30 – 08:50: Registration and refreshments
08:50 – 09:00: Chair’s welcome
Christian Hardy, Partner and Head of Trustee Segment, Mercer
09:00 – 09:30: Opening keynote speaker
Fred Berry, Lead Investment Consultant, The Pensions Regulator (TPR)
Fred Berry will highlight some of the key issues that DB schemes should have high on their agendas to ensure they are able to do the best they can for their DB schemes going forward.
09:30 – 10:00: Economic Outlook for DB Funding
Rupert Watson, Partner and Portfolio Manager, Mercer
Wayne Fitzgibbon, Partner and CIO Investment Advisory, Mercer
Brexit, trade wars and tension in the Middle East – just a handful of examples of the many current economic uncertainties. In recent years, DB schemes have been seeing the fruits of their labour in the form of improved funding levels, so this session will look at what the economy might have in store for us in 2020 and what that might mean for your hard fought wins.
10:00 – 10:20: What’s your endgame? Choosing the right path and keeping on track
Le Roy van Zyl, Partner, Mercer
The Regulator is encouraging DB schemes to focus on their long–term objectives. Meanwhile, recent Mercer research shows that as many as three quarters of schemes are cashflow negative. That is why 2020 is the year when you must debate your scheme’s endgame and start to ensure any short or medium–term actions support the longer journey.
10:20 – 11:00: Responsible Investing: Panel session
Chair: Brian Henderson, Partner and Director of Consulting, Mercer
Panellists:
Kate Brett, Senior Investment Consultant, Mercer
Andrew Cole, Trustee Executive, BESTrustees
Caroline Escott, Policy Lead: Investment & Stewardship, PLSA
Marion Maloney, Policy Governance and Risk Manager, Environment Agency
This interactive session will look at why responsible investing has moved up the agenda of trustee boards in the past decade and is set to take on an even greater significance for your scheme, your members and your sponsoring employer.
11:00 – 11:30: Coffee break
11:30 – 12:10: Consolidation: The if, why, what, when and how?
Chair: Maria Goodwin, Principal, Mercer
Panellists:
Tim Banks, Principal, Mercer
Ashu Bhargava, Senior Actuary, Clara–Pensions
Frankie Borrell, Head of Client Solutions, Legal & General
This panel discussion will examine the different consolidation options available and show how you can decide which might be right for your scheme. Even if it’s not for you, there may be lessons to learn from the consolidation spectrum that will help your scheme prepare for the future.
12:10 – 12:20: The Risk Transfer Market in numbers
Leah Evans, Partner, Risk Transfer Group, Mercer
With over £50bn of liability predicted to have been transferred to insurers in 2019, this brief session will look at the impact the risk transfer market will have in the future.
12:20 – 13:00: Personalisation – a shift in the balance of power?
Paul Goodwin, Proposition Leader, UK Wealth, Mercer
Tiree Houghton, Client Director, Mercer Marsh Benefits (MMB)
How can the revolution in technology coupled with innovation enable DB schemes to take a more personal approach than ever before? This session will look at what you could learn from the huge strides already being taken in the HR area to benefit your scheme and your members.
13:00 – 14:00: Close of conference and lunch is served
