COUNTDOWN TO PENSIONS TRANSFORMATION
2023 Agenda
7:30
Registration, Networking Arrival Break and Exhibition Viewing
8:50
Welcome and opening remarks from the Chair

Ivan Yates
Entrepreneur & Broadcaster
9:00
The changing global economic outlook
What’s next for the global economy, the flow of capital and asset valuations? What will current and longer-term economic trends mean for the Irish economy.

Conall McCoille
Chief Economist, Davy
9:20
The Master Trust: Driving better outcomes for members

Rose Leonard
Head of Corporate Sales and Customer Relationship Management, Zurich
Adjusting portfolios to achieve returns in an ever-changing world
9:35
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Post-pandemic investing – what next for scheme portfolios?
The developed world seems to be moving into a post-pandemic phase. What will this mean for your portfolios? The ongoing problems of inflation and the increased cost of living are presenting multiple challenges for pension schemes and members. Our panel will discuss their asset allocation views and take your questions.
- Asset allocation in the post-pandemic era: What is the pandemics lasting impact on future asset allocation decision making?
- Navigating your pension fund through a high inflation environment
- Broadening the investment opportunities of DC pension schemes eg. Start-ups, renewables and infrastructure
- The impact of incorporating ESG

Joe Creegan
Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich

Sarah-Jane Larkin
Director General – Irish Venture Capital Association (IVCA)

Graham Fox
Head of Distribution, Amundi Ireland
Countdown to Pensions Transformation
10:10
FIRESIDE CHAT: Insights, lessons and pitfalls to avoid as we embark on auto-enrolment
Nest was set up by the UK government to help deliver the auto enrolment programme. Zoe shares insights, lessons and pitfalls to avoid as we embark on auto enrolment next year. She also discusses how to talk to your employees about pensions.

Zoe Alexander
Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs, NEST (National Employment Savings Trust), UK
10:30
Morning break
11:00
The behavioural economics of pension choices
Understanding the behavioural science behind making financial decisions:
- What is behavioural science?
- How can it help us understand the marketplace?
- How can we use it to make predictions for the future?

Pete Lunn
Founder & Head of Behavioural Research Unit (BRU), Economic & Social Research Institute
11:20
CASE STUDY:
How auto-enrolment can prevent a cost of retirement crisis
Latest research by LGIM in the UK uncovers the groups that seem to be slipping through the AE net and looks at what might help these employees to get a fairer deal when it comes to employer contributions. It also uncovers how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting pension savings, and who seems to be impacted. What can Ireland learn from this report?

Stuart Murphy
Co-Head of DC, Legal & General Investment Management, UK
11:40
MINISTERIAL ADDRESS:

Heather Humphreys TD
Minister for Social Protection and Rural & Community Development
12:00
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Auto-enrolment: What employers need to know
- What supporting infrastructure needs to be put in place?
- Should finance or HR take the lead?
- Financial well-being in a cost-of-living crisis: What role do employers play in supporting employees’ financial wellbeing and how might it evolve in the future?
- How to prevent younger workers, the lower paid and women slipping through the auto-enrolment net
- Pension provision for the growing gig economy: Time for policy to keep pace

Neil McDonnell
Chief Executive, ISME (Irish Small & Medium Enterprises)

Jane McKeever
Consultant, Employment & Benefits team, William Fry

Maeve McCleane
Chief People Officer & Board Executive, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland

Ann Prendergast
Head of State Street Global Advisors Europe Ltd and IAPF Chairperson
Delivering sustainability: What does it take?
12:40
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Why ESG matters for pension fund strategies and outcomes
Is ESG becoming the new normal for pensions? Sustainability is rising rapidly up the pensions agenda because of a mix of changing law, regulations and growing demand from pension scheme members and other stakeholders. Our panel discusses why employers and Trustees need to engage with ESG in order to drive better retirement outcomes for members. How do pension scheme trustees address increased member scrutiny on how their funds are invested?

Paul Price
Founder of Haven Green Capital Partners; Chair of IAIM; former Global Head of Sales and Distribution, Morgan Stanley Investment Management and former CEO, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Ireland

Rob Meaney
Principal and Senior Investment Consultant, Mercer

Aedín O’Leary
Independent Director, Investment & ESG Consultant

Sandra Rockett
Director - Wealth & Corporate Distribution, Irish Life Investment Managers(ILIM)
1:15
Networking Lunch Break & Exhibition Viewing
Roundtable Discussions
2.15pm – 3.00pm
Thematic roundtables are 45-minute-long interactive discussions in small groups. Moderated by seasoned industry experts and practitioners, this is your chance to join insightful discussions to share experiences and get new and actionable ideas from peers and experts. Delegates are invited to sign up to their chosen topic at the front desk on arrival or during the breaks.
Round Table 1
IORP II: What employers need to know
This discussion will be about the impacts of IORPSII and other legislative changes on employers and what actions they should be taking to comply and ensure benefit provisions are compliant and supporting an employers overall employee value proposition.

Ray McKenna
Partner, Lockton Ireland
Round Table 2
How to attract and retain talent with employee benefits
Staff retention strategies are becoming increasingly important for businesses as it can help you keep your hold of your top talent, keep productivity, engagement and morale high as well as reducing the cost of recruitment. This discussion will focus on having the right benefits package can help as part of your strategy.

Trayc Keevans
Global Director, Foreign Direct Investment, Morgan McKinley

Jacinta Shiels
Senior HR Director, Europe, Lionbridge International
Round Table 3
Supporting customers in their longer lives: The longevity challenge and its implications
Strategies to help people get the most from their pensions reexamining the traditional employer-employee relationship Flexible working – expanding our view of flexible work

Terence Deacon
Senior Manager Corporate Life & Pensions

Maeve McCleane
Chief People Officer & Board Executive, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland
Round Table 4
ESG data collection, management & reporting: The importance of providing accurate ESG metrics to your stakeholders.
Top tips and tools to help trustees navigate through ESG.

Dr. Catherine Duggan
Head of Sustainability, Financial Services Advisory, Grant Thornton
3:00
WRAP UP PANEL:
Our roundtable moderators join Ivan on stage to share insights from their discussion tables
3:30
Closing Remarks and Conference Close

Ivan Yates
Entrepreneur & Broadcaster