Tue 20 May 2025 - Join our premier pensions event at Staple Inn this May, and claim your CPD hours through a range of exciting sessions led by expert speakers, sharing their valuable experience and insight such as:
This year’s engaging programme covers a wide range of critical topics including:
Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, continue your professional development and connect with pensions actuaries from across the profession. Secure your place and book now.
Director of the Pensions Policy Institute
Chris originally joined the Pensions Policy Institute in 2002 as Research Director, where he managed the research programme and wrote and presented many research reports. These reports analysed pensions (including state, private, and public sector), pension reforms, and other provision for retirement income.
In 2013 Chris became Director of the PPI where he has overall strategic responsibility for the management and operation of the institute. In 2019, he was appointed Principal of the Pensions Dashboard Programme at the Money and Pensions Service. This is on a part-time basis alongside his role at the PPI.
Chris was appointed as one of the three co-chairs for the 2017 Department of Work and Pensions automatic enrolment review. The review considered the success of automatic enrolment and explored ways that the policy could be further developed. Chris led on providing advice on the theme of contribution. He was also a member of the Joint Expert Panel that examined the valuation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme in 2018 and 2019. Chris is an Honorary Fellow of the IFoA.
President, Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
Kartina brings 25 years of diverse actuarial, risk management, governance, and regulatory experience. Her prior experience includes a Big-Four audit firm, the Bank of England, global insurance carriers, and brokers. Her most recent executive role is with WTW, the largest global insurance consultancy, as a Senior Director where she leads the risk, regulation, and governance proposition. Kartina also has non-executive experience, most recently for an FTSE-listed company and a fintech firm.
As a subject matter expert in the UK and European insurance regulation, she advises firms on resolving their regulatory issues and adding business value by helping boards in their decision-making. From roles as Chief Risk Officer, a member of the supervisory panel at the Bank of England, and a partner to C-suites and boards of various firms, she brings practical experience to business solutions.
Kartina holds leadership positions in the actuarial profession in the UK and globally. She has served on the IFoA Council for the past seven years and was a member of its Audit and Risk Committee. She was also on the Board of Directors of the Actuarial Association of Europe for four years.
Kartina is passionate about inclusion, social mobility, and education, which she has channelled through her role as the Chair of the IFoA Foundation for the past three years. She mobilised the charity to make a remarkable impact on the next generation of actuaries and the wider actuarial community.
Kartina became President-elect in September 2023 and President in July 2024.
| Activity | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome refreshments and meet the Pensions Board and its committees | 08:45 - 09:30 | Welcome refreshments and meet the Pensions Board and its committees Read more |
An opportunity for you to meet and engage with the members of the IFoA’s Pensions Board and its committees. Gain insights into the key initiatives, priorities, and ongoing projects that shape their work. Whether you are interested in contributing to a committee, learning more about its role, or simply wanting to connect, here’s your chance. | ||
| Welcome | 09:30 - 09:40 | Welcome Read more |
Speaker: Kartina Tahir Thomson, IFoA President | ||
| Keynote speaker | 09:40 - 10:40 | Keynote speaker: Chris Curry, Director of Pensions Policy Institute |
| Climate change and fiduciary duties: an update | 10:40 - 11:25 | Climate change and fiduciary duties: an update Read more |
It’s been over a year since the Work and Pensions Committee evidence session into fiduciary duties and climate change. This session will explore how (the UK’s regulatory environment and) the industry’s understanding of the topic has developed, and issues faced by trustees and their advisors as science and modelling, investment landscape, and world politics evolve. This is an interactive session designed to encourage active participation from attendees. The talk will be followed by a Q&A segment within the allocated time, allowing you to engage directly with the speaker and delve deeper into the topic. Speakers: Mike Clark, Ario Advisory, and Charlotte O’Leary, CEO of Pensions for Purpose | ||
| Morning refreshments | 11:25 - 11:45 | Morning refreshments |
| Busting CDC scheme myths | 11:45 - 12:15 | Busting CDC scheme myths Read more |
In autumn 2024 the government consulted on regulations that would enable multi-employer whole-of-life CDC schemes. This reignited arguments for and against the development of CDC schemes in general, when compared to existing retirement and investment products. This short session attempts to distinguish between fact and myth. It explores how CDC might develop to find a place within UK pensions. Speakers: Simon Eagle and Helen Draper, CDC Working Party This is an interactive session designed to encourage active participation from attendees. The talk will be followed by a Q&A segment within the allocated time, allowing you to engage directly with the speaker and delve deeper into the topic. | ||
| Update from CMI SAPS Committee | 12:15 - 13:00 | Update from CMI SAPS Committee Read more |
2024 was an interesting year for UK population mortality with the lightest mortality rates for many years. This session, delivered by a representative of the CMI SAPS Committee, will:
Speaker: Cobus Daneel, CMI This is an interactive session designed to encourage active participation from attendees. The talk will be followed by a Q&A segment within the allocated time, allowing you to engage directly with the speaker and delve deeper into the topic. | ||
| Lunch | 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch |
| The new DB funding regime: what are we seeing in practice? | 14:00 - 14:45 | The new DB funding regime: what are we seeing in practice? Read more |
With the new DB funding regime now well established, many trustee boards and sponsors may be looking ahead to their next valuation and thinking ‘what does this mean for me?’ In this session Lorna Johns, Senior Director in WTW’s retirement team talks through:
Speakers: Lorna Johns is joined by Martin McNamara, an actuary at The Pensions Regulator. He will give his view on how they are seeing schemes adapt under the new regime along with the new reporting requirements. This is an interactive session designed to encourage active participation from attendees. The talk will be followed by a Q&A segment within the allocated time, allowing you to engage directly with the speaker and delve deeper into the topic. | ||
| Legal update | 14:45 - 15:15 | Legal update Read more |
Focus on topical legal issues. Speaker: Andy Lewis, partner at Sackers This is an interactive session designed to encourage active participation from attendees. The talk will be followed by a Q&A segment within the allocated time, allowing you to engage directly with the speaker and delve deeper into the topic. | ||
| IFoA Regulatory Policy Team updates | 15:15 - 16:15 | IFoA Regulatory Policy Team updates Read more |
IFoA Regulatory Policy Team updates including:
Speakers:
This is an interactive session designed to encourage active participation from attendees. The talk will be followed by a Q&A segment within the allocated time, allowing you to engage directly with the speaker and delve deeper into the topic. | ||
| Closing remarks followed by networking | 16:15 - 16:25 | Closing remarks followed by networking Read more |
Speakers: Gemma Cayton, Chair of the Pensions Lifelong Learning Sub-committee and Pensions Board member | ||
1-3 Staple Inn Hall
High Holborn
London
WC1V 7QH