PensionsEurope Conference 2015

18:00 – 20:00

Welcome drinks reception Le Cocktail at BIP – House of the Capital Region, (Koningsstraat 2-4, 1000 Brussels), sponsored by Towers Watson
Guest speaker - Lord Hill of Oareford, European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union

08:30 – 09:00

Registration opens – refreshments served 

09:00 – 09:15
 

Welcome address
Joanne Segars, Chair, PensionsEurope and Chief, Executive NAPF (UK)

09:15 – 09:45
 

The Parliament, Politics and Pensions

The Rapporteur for the IORP Directive gives his perspective on the proposal and reflects on how it will benefit Europe's citizens.

Brian Hayes MEP, Rapporteur, IORP Directive (IE)

Chair: Joanne Segars, Chair, PensionsEurope and Chief Executive, NAPF (UK)

09:45 – 10:45
 

What’s the right investment strategy for European pension funds in a volatile low interest rate world?

With renewed economic and political uncertainty across the European Union how can pension funds maintain a focus on the long-term and manage emerging risks?

• Christopher Nichols, Investment Director, Multi-Asset Investing, Standard Life Investments (UK)
• Jim Foley, Director, Trustee Decisions and Chair, Irish Association of Pension Funds (IE)
• Jaap van Dam, Managing Director Investment Strategy, PGGM (NL)

Chair: Pierre Bollon, Vice-Chair, PensionsEurope and Chief Executive, AFG (FR)

10:45 – 11:15

Refreshment break 

11:15 – 11:45
 

Transitioning to a low carbon economy: challenge and opportunities

With climate change now increasingly recognized by investors as a major risk for their investments, how can pension funds decarbonize their long-term assets and hedge this risk without sacrificing financial returns.

Frédéric Hoogveld, Investment specialist Low Carbon & Smart Beta strategies, Amundi (FR)

Chair: Christian Böhm, Board member of PensionsEurope and CEO, APK Pensionskasse AG (AU)

11:45 – 12:45
 

Creating European Pension Funds – challenges and opportunities

How do you operate a pan-European pension fund? What are the benefits and what are the obstacles to establishing cross-border schemes? How will the new IORP Directive contribute to the spread of cross-border schemes?

• Lukasz Budzynski, Global Head of Pension Advisory, Sanofi (PL)
• David Finn, Director, International Consulting Practice, Towers Watson (UK)
• Philip Neyt, Chair, Belgian Association of Pension funds (BE)
• Jung-Duk Lichtenberger, European Commission, DG FISMA

Chair: Klaus Stiefermann, Board member, PensionsEurope and Chief Executive, ABA (DE)

12:45 – 14:00

Lunch 

14:00 – 14:45
 

Pension fund governance and best practices

Good governance is central to the operation of good pension provision. But what does good governance look like? We hear from best practice examples from across the EU.

• Jerry Moriarty, Chair, PensionsEurope DC Standing Committee and Chief Executive, Irish Association of Pension Funds (IE)
• An van Damme, Partner, Ius Laboris (BE)
• Paul Duijsens, Strategic Advisor , Executive Office ABP (NL)

Chair: Sonia Maffei, Director of Social Security, Real Estate, Anti-Money Laundering and Data Protection, Assogestioni (IT)

14:45 – 15:15

Refreshment break

15:15 – 15:45
 

Europe, politics and the economy: a briefing for institutional investors

A seasoned observer of the Brussels scene assesses the impact of the new European Commission, analyses the prospects for the Euro and discusses the EU agenda.

Stephen Fidler, Brussels Bureau Chief, Wall Street Journal

Chair: Matti Leppälä, Secretary General/CEO, PensionsEurope

15:45 – 16:15
 

Keynote address

The Chairman of EIOPA reviews the regulator’s achievements to date and sets out its future programme for strengthening European pension provision in future. What will the Holistic Balance Sheet (HBS) bring? How can a European framework for personal pensions be created? 

Gabriel Bernardino, Chairman, EIOPA

Chair: Matti Leppälä, Secretary-General/CEO, PensionsEurope

16:15 – 16:30
 

Closing remarks

Joanne Segars, Chair, PensionsEurope and Chief Executive, NAPF