Registration is now closed. For further information please email jjones@tuc.org.uk

With a general election on the horizon, the conference will explore the challenges facing an incoming government in pensions policy. 

Delegates will hear from shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall on Labour’s pensions priorities, and from chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt on the investments needed to transform the UK economy. 

There will also be a range of workshops and panel discussions covering the state pension, auto-enrolment, ESG investing, trustee diversity and inclusion, pension scheme communications and more. 

Agenda  

09:50 – Opening remarks 

• Kate Bell, assistant general secretary, TUC 

10:00 – Keynote  

• Liz Kendall, shadow work and pensions secretary 

10:30 – Panel discussion: Auto-enrolment – the next steps 

• Sarah Wooley, general secretary Bakers, Food, and Allied Workers Union 
• Anna Brain, research associate, Pension Policy Institute 
• Patrick Thomson, head of research, analysis and policy, Phoenix Insights
• Nicola Smith, head of rights, social and economics, TUC (Chair) 

11:25 – Coffee break 

11:45 – Panel discussion: The role of the state pension in a strategy for ageing 

• Caren Evans, national officer, Unite 
• Sasjkia Otto, senior researcher, Fabian Society 
• Chris Brooks, head of policy, Age UK 
• Jan Shortt, National Pensioners Convention (Chair) 

12:45 – Lunch 

13:45 – Workshops 

1. Communications masterclass  

• Alex Ryan, head of pensions, Unite Pension Scheme 

2. Pass-through voting in pooled funds 

• Paul Hunter, head of policy, Pirc 
• Cllr Heather Johnson, vice-chair of pensions, Camden 

3. The case for re-opening DB schemes 

• Hilary Salt, partner, First Actuarial 
• Jos Vermuelen, head of solution design, Insight Asset Management  
• Rehana Azam, North West regional head, NAHT

14:35 – Workshops 

1. How to avoid the Pensions Ombudsman  

• Tony Attubato, head of early resolution, the Pensions Ombudsman 
• Tina Norris Technical Pensions Specialist, the Pensions Ombudsman  

2. The S in ESG investing  

• Hilkka Komulainen, head of responsible investment, Aegon  
• Dooley Harte, pensions official, UCU

3. Applying TPR’s Single General Code 

• Nick Gannon, policy lead, the Pensions Regulator 

15:25 – coffee 

15:45 – Keynote: Transforming the UK’s infrastructure 

• Sir John Armitt, chair, National Infrastructure Commission 

16:15 – Panel discussion – The role of pension schemes in funding infrastructure 

• Andrew Dobbie, national officer for capital stewardship, Unison 
• Nigel Peaple, director of policy and research, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association 
• Heather Mulahasani, head of strategic opportunities, AustralianSuper 
• Janet Williamson, senior policy officer, TUC (chair) 

17:00 – Conference ends 

We want everyone attending TUC events to have a safe and enjoyable experience. If you require any adjustments or assistance to participate at this event, please let us know.