Agenda

08.30 – 09.00: Registration and refreshments

09.00 – 09.05: Chairman’s opening remarks
Jerry Gandhi, Director, CAP Services

09.05 – 09.35: Opening keynote speaker: Supporting innovation in savers’ interests
Patrick Coyne, Interim Director of Policy and Public Affairs, The Pensions Regulator (TPR)

In a changing pensions landscape, innovation is essential to the delivery of good saver outcomes. But what is the role of regulation in helping good ideas safely come to market? Find out how The Pensions Regulator is evolving its approach – to not just protect savers’ money but also help new products and services come to market which truly enhance the pensions system.

09.35 – 10.00: Endgame optionality: How can schemes run-on for now, extract a surplus and pivot to buyout?
Rachel Cutts, Origination and Execution Director, Pension Risk Transfer, L&G
Mathew Webb, Head of Endgame Solutions, L&G

With the new DB funding code of practice now in effect, and ongoing debate around guardrails for extracting surplus, how should well-funded schemes approach their endgame? Join our panellists as they discuss a framework for surplus extraction, investment opportunities to maximise surplus generation, and the benefit of retaining the flexibility to buyout should you want to, or need to, in the future.

10.00 – 10.30: Pensions Scheme Spotlight – USS: Fifty years young
Mel Duffield, Chief Pensions Strategy Officer, Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS)

Hear from Mel Duffield, Chief Pensions Strategy Officer at Universities Superannuation Scheme, as she shares USS’s unique perspective of the pensions landscape as an open, hybrid (DB & DC), multi-employer scheme. Mel will give an overview of the largest private DB pension scheme in the UK by assets, and the challenges and opportunities it faces in its golden anniversary year.

10.30 – 10.55: Driving Long-term Growth
Ian Connatty, Managing Partner, British Growth Partnership

By unlocking millions of pounds of domestic investment for the UK’s high growth businesses, the UK can capture the full commercial potential of its world class breakthrough technology companies. Increasing pension fund capital allocations into innovative, high growth firms has the capacity to boost economic growth while providing a legacy for future generations of pensioners. The British Business Bank will establish the British Growth Partnership, subject to regulatory approval, opening its commercial capability and investment pipeline to pension fund investment.

10.55 - 11.20: Coffee break

11.20 – 11.45: The pensions 1% club - Small steps to improving retirement adequacy
Steven Leigh, Associate Partner, Aon
Chloe Ludden, Associate Partner, Aon

The biggest challenge for the pensions industry today is how to help ensure individuals can build up enough savings to be able to retire with an adequate level of income. This session looks at the question of how to improve adequacy, particularly for generation DC with little or no DB provision. With the ongoing delay in implementing any changes to minimum contributions under auto-enrolment, and the pause in phase 2 of the government’s pensions review, we will consider how small steps can make a significant difference. We will also share a case study on an innovative way of how to pay for increases in contributions based on actions taken with our own company pension scheme.

11.45 – 12.10: Case Study - From theory to reality: Implementing a run-on solution in practice
Ajeet Manjrekar, Head of UK Client Solutions, Schroders

With increasing focus on endgame strategies, many DB schemes are exploring run-on solutions as a compelling alternative to full buyout. But what does this look like in practice? In this session, Schroders will share insights from the recent implementation of a run-on solution in its own pension scheme, the Schroders Retirement Benefit Scheme. We’ll take you through the key considerations, and outcomes of our approach—providing a real-world perspective on how schemes can secure long-term member outcomes while retaining strategic control. Join us as we move beyond theory and bring run-on solutions to life, offering practical lessons and actionable insights for trustees, sponsors, and consultants navigating the evolving endgame landscape.

12.10 - 12.35: Endgame success: Challenges and solutions
Darran Blount, Chief Independent Consulting, Lumera
Samantha Chandler, Head of Bulk Annuity Solutions, Lumera

As demand for endgame solutions grows, the challenge for trustees and scheme managers continues to be having accurate data, whether it’s for an insurer transaction or a ‘run-on’ strategy. Capacity constraints, data complexity, and administration migration processes can all impact costs, timelines, and member outcomes. This session will explore how effective data management eases bottlenecks, accelerates transactions and supports trustees in a minefield of options and decisions. We’ll outline common challenges schemes face and provide practical strategies to overcome them, including the use of technology and industry collaboration.

12.35 – 13.00: So, tell me what you want, what you really, really want - are we actually listening to members?
Karen Bolan, Director, Retirement Communication, Gallagher
James Pryor, Principal Consultant, Gallagher

With an increasingly diverse audience of members and, in particular, the widening generational divide, this session will explore whether we are actually giving members what they really want.

13.00 – 14.00: Lunch break

14.00 – 14.25: Legal Update - Hot Topics
Matthew Swynnerton, Partner, DLA Piper

Matthew will deliver an update on current pensions law issues, including the latest position in relation to Virgin Media, return of DB surpluses and the recent Arcadia judgment and the forthcoming Pension Schemes Bill.

14.25 – 14.55: Guest speaker: Kerstin Parker, Director for Private Pensions and Arm’s-length Bodies, DWP

14.55 – 15.45: Session details to be announced...

15.45 – 16.15: Closing keynote speaker: Turning up the heat
Margaret Snowdon OBE, Chair, Pension Scams Industry Group (PSIG)

There is a shift in momentum on the horizon. In this session, Margaret will provide an essential update on the latest developments in scams, highlighting key potential changes to best practices for practitioners. She will also introduce exciting new allies to the PSIG initiative, all contributing to the vital effort to protect victims of third-party fraud from losing far more than just their pensions.

16.15: Close of conference and drinks reception