SPEAKERS
Bob SummersChair, CIPFA Pensions Panel
09:25
Bob Summers is a frequent chair and speaker at pensions seminars. Bob is a past Hon Co Secretary and President of the Society of County Treasurers, and past President of the Police Authority Treasurers' Society. He was Director of Finance to Norfolk County Council for 15 years until 2007. He previously worked in the London Boroughs and the British Council. Bob is currently the Treasurer to the Norfolk Police Authority, a post he has held since 1995. For the last five years Bob has chaired CIPFA's Pensions Panel, but was actively involved on pensions issues for many years before that through his role as Fund Administrator to the Norfolk Pension Fund. Bob also chairs CIPFA's Pensions Network, which now has 73 subscribers, of which LGPS funds represent 69 members.
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Darren Philp
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Director of Policy, National Association of Pension Funds
09:30
Darren Philp joined the National Association of Pension Funds as its Director of Policy in November 2010, where he leads the NAPF's policy development activities.
He joined the NAPF from HM Treasury, where he worked for almost 13 years. Most recently, Darren was head of HM Treasury's Pensions and Pensioners team where his responsibilities included state pensions, NEST and auto-enrolment, pensions tax and pensions regulation. Prior to this, he worked in a range of areas at HM Treasury including general insurance, European policy, and macroeconomic briefing.
Darren studied economics as an undergraduate at Leicester University and has a Master's degree in Econometrics from Southampton University.
Presentation: The outlook for public sector pension funds
It has been a challenging time for public sector pension funds. With volatile investment markets and a stalling economy, many funds find themselves under threat. It is essential to work as efficiently and effectively as possible, making use of existing resources.
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Chris Hitchen
He joined the NAPF from HM Treasury, where he worked for almost 13 years. Most recently, Darren was head of HM Treasury's Pensions and Pensioners team where his responsibilities included state pensions, NEST and auto-enrolment, pensions tax and pensions regulation. Prior to this, he worked in a range of areas at HM Treasury including general insurance, European policy, and macroeconomic briefing.
Darren studied economics as an undergraduate at Leicester University and has a Master's degree in Econometrics from Southampton University.
Presentation: The outlook for public sector pension funds
It has been a challenging time for public sector pension funds. With volatile investment markets and a stalling economy, many funds find themselves under threat. It is essential to work as efficiently and effectively as possible, making use of existing resources.
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Advisory Board Member, The Kay Review
09:50
Chris Hitchen is the Chief Executive of RPMI, the pension services company that runs the UK rail industry's pension arrangements for 350,000 beneficiaries, and provides administration and management services to other schemes and organisations. He is also Chairman of Railpen Investments, the RPMI subsidiary that acts as in-house investment manager for the Railways Pension Trustee Company's £18bn portfolio.
He is a Trustee Member of NEST, the new UK-wide DC scheme and Chairman of its Investment Committee. He is a past Chairman of the NAPF and of its Investment Council. Chris is also Chairman of the Pension Quality Mark.
In 2011, Chris served on the Workplace Retirement Income Commission, chaired by Lord McFall. He is currently helping Professor John Kay as an advisory board member for a review of the UK stock market, which he is carrying out for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
Chris is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and is married with four children.
Presentation: Equity markets and long-term decision-making
The Kay Review will examine how well equity markets are achieving their core purposes: to enhance the performance of UK companies by facilitating investment and enabling effective governance and decision-making in support of long-term profitability and growth, and to enable investors to benefit from this corporate activity in the form of returns from equity investment.
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Dr James Gifford
He is a Trustee Member of NEST, the new UK-wide DC scheme and Chairman of its Investment Committee. He is a past Chairman of the NAPF and of its Investment Council. Chris is also Chairman of the Pension Quality Mark.
In 2011, Chris served on the Workplace Retirement Income Commission, chaired by Lord McFall. He is currently helping Professor John Kay as an advisory board member for a review of the UK stock market, which he is carrying out for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
Chris is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and is married with four children.
Presentation: Equity markets and long-term decision-making
The Kay Review will examine how well equity markets are achieving their core purposes: to enhance the performance of UK companies by facilitating investment and enabling effective governance and decision-making in support of long-term profitability and growth, and to enable investors to benefit from this corporate activity in the form of returns from equity investment.
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Executive Director, PRI
10:10
James Gifford is Executive Director of the PRI and has been guiding the initiative since its inception in November 2003, working from 2003-2006 for UNEP FI in collaboration with the UN Global Compact on the development process, and since then for the PRI Secretariat. He has a PhD from the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Sydney on the effectiveness of shareholder engagement in improving corporate environmental, social and corporate governance performance. He was a member of the UNEP FI/Global Reporting Initiative Working Group on environmental indicators for the finance sector. He has a background in IT and environmental protection.
James has degrees in Commerce and Law from the University of Queensland, and a Master's of Environment Management from the University of New South Wales. He was named in 2010 by the World Economic Forum as one of the 200 Young Global Leaders.
Presentation: Principles for responsible investment
Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues can affect the performance of investment portfolios. The Principles for Responsible Investment were developed by an international group of institutional investors reflecting the increasing relevance of environmental, social and corporate governance issues to investment practices.
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Iain Stewart
James has degrees in Commerce and Law from the University of Queensland, and a Master's of Environment Management from the University of New South Wales. He was named in 2010 by the World Economic Forum as one of the 200 Young Global Leaders.
Presentation: Principles for responsible investment
Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues can affect the performance of investment portfolios. The Principles for Responsible Investment were developed by an international group of institutional investors reflecting the increasing relevance of environmental, social and corporate governance issues to investment practices.
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Investment Leader, Global Funds, Newton Investment Management
10:25
Iain Stewart is an investment leader in the global funds team and a member of the macro strategy group, with particular responsibility for coordinating the development of Newton's global investment themes. Iain is responsible for a significant portion of Newton's pooled balanced portfolios. He joined Newton in 1985, and specialises in the management of multi-asset mandates.
Iain is a member of many committees at Newton, including the executive and investment committees and the equity and bond and currency strategy groups. He is an associate member of the UK Society of Investment Professionals (UKSIP), and holds a research PhD from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Presentation: A perspective on returns
In many developed economies, a process of deleveraging (debt repayment) is under way which we believe will have highly significant consequences for investors. In his presentation, Iain will explore the transition to a world with less debt, examine how concepts of 'risk' have evolved and explain how we think investors should meet the challenges they face.
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Wayne Daniel
Iain is a member of many committees at Newton, including the executive and investment committees and the equity and bond and currency strategy groups. He is an associate member of the UK Society of Investment Professionals (UKSIP), and holds a research PhD from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Presentation: A perspective on returns
In many developed economies, a process of deleveraging (debt repayment) is under way which we believe will have highly significant consequences for investors. In his presentation, Iain will explore the transition to a world with less debt, examine how concepts of 'risk' have evolved and explain how we think investors should meet the challenges they face.
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CEO, MetLife Assurance
15:35
Wayne Daniel leads MetLife's bulk annuity operations in the UK and Ireland, providing pension risk transfer solutions for defined benefit schemes.
Wayne's previous roles include Managing Director of Longevity Markets at Credit Suisse and Senior Vice President of the global reinsurance business for Sun Life Financial. He began his career as a pensions actuary with a large mutual insurer in South Africa.
Wayne brings a unique combination of global leadership and business knowledge gained from over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Presentation: Tackling longevity risk in public sector pension funds
Once other de-risking strategies have been implemented, tackling any remaining longevity becomes more important. Wayne will present an overview of market activity and structures for de-risking longevity risk.
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Phil Triggs
Wayne's previous roles include Managing Director of Longevity Markets at Credit Suisse and Senior Vice President of the global reinsurance business for Sun Life Financial. He began his career as a pensions actuary with a large mutual insurer in South Africa.
Wayne brings a unique combination of global leadership and business knowledge gained from over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Presentation: Tackling longevity risk in public sector pension funds
Once other de-risking strategies have been implemented, tackling any remaining longevity becomes more important. Wayne will present an overview of market activity and structures for de-risking longevity risk.
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Head of Pensions and Treasury, Warwickshire County Council
15:50
Phil Triggs has been Group Manager for Treasury and Pensions at Warwickshire County Council since October 2003. He is responsible for treasury management, pension fund investment and administration. His previous experience includes five years in pension fund investment management at Buckinghamshire County Council and 16 years' finance experience at various district and borough councils.
Phil is an examiner and lecturer for CIPFA. He is the holder of a private pilot's licence, and his favourite pastime is marathon running, having completed 11 'World Top 10' marathons. Phil is also a Thames Valley Police Special Sergeant, working in the City of Oxford.
Presentation: Managing risk
With continued market volatility and an unstable economic climate, effective risk management is hugely important. It is necessary to reconsider the assumptions and assertions upon which investment strategies have been built, looking at new asset classes and alternative ways in which to manage investments.
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Brian Strutton
Phil is an examiner and lecturer for CIPFA. He is the holder of a private pilot's licence, and his favourite pastime is marathon running, having completed 11 'World Top 10' marathons. Phil is also a Thames Valley Police Special Sergeant, working in the City of Oxford.
Presentation: Managing risk
With continued market volatility and an unstable economic climate, effective risk management is hugely important. It is necessary to reconsider the assumptions and assertions upon which investment strategies have been built, looking at new asset classes and alternative ways in which to manage investments.
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National Secretary for Public Services, GMB
16:15
Brian Strutton is the GMB's National Secretary for Public Services, Joint Secretary of the National Joint Council for Local Government representing 1.5 million council workers and a member of the Policy Review Group of the Local Government Pension Scheme with over 4 million members. Brian is one of the TUC negotiating team currently engaged with Cabinet Office and Treasury to decide how to take forward public service pensions reform.
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John Wood
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Head of Financial and Commercial Services, Staffordshire County Council Pension Fund
16:15
John Wood has a degree in Business Administration from Bath University and initially gained his CIMA qualification before moving to the public sector where he gained his CIPFA qualification. He started in Staffordshire County Council advising on Revenue Support Grant, spent some time advising on internal PFI projects, before being appointed to a senior role with responsibilities that include Pension Fund Investments, Pensions Administration and Treasury. He recently passed the new CIPFA/ACT Certificate in International Treasury Management – Public Finance. He is now responsible for a wider range of services including corporate accounting and transactional shared service centre including HR, payroll, payments and income.
John has spoken at various pension conferences and written a number of articles. He is currently Chair of the Society of County Treasurer's North Western & Wales Investment Group.
He considers himself lucky to be involved in such a fascinating and continuously challenging area.
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John Wright
John has spoken at various pension conferences and written a number of articles. He is currently Chair of the Society of County Treasurer's North Western & Wales Investment Group.
He considers himself lucky to be involved in such a fascinating and continuously challenging area.
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Head of Public Sector, Hymans Robertson
16:15
John Wright joined Hymans Robertson in 2005 and is an actuary within the Public Sector Pensions Team, which provides advice to LGPS and other public sector clients. Before that, John worked in a variety of positions with insurance companies including Prudential Plc where his work included annuity pricing, pension scheme buy-outs and development of new products.
In his role as Head of Public Sector Consulting at Hymans Robertson, John frequently speaks on public sector pensions issues at industry events and conferences.
John is a member of the Association of Consulting Actuaries.
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In his role as Head of Public Sector Consulting at Hymans Robertson, John frequently speaks on public sector pensions issues at industry events and conferences.
John is a member of the Association of Consulting Actuaries.
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