PensionsEurope Conference 2017

18:00 – 20:00        

Welcome drinks reception at the Bip, House of the Capital Region
kindly sponsored by Ius Laboris

MEP Brian Hayes ECON rapporteur on IORPII 

The impact of the current political uncertainty, including Brexit, on pensions

08:30 - 09:30     

Registration opens – refreshments served

09:00 – 09:15
Plenary 1

Welcome address

Janwillem Bouma, Chair, PensionsEurope  

09:15 – 09:45
Plenary 2

Conference interview:
Making pensions more secure: the regulator’s role

Got a question on EIOPA’s approach to stress tests, cross-border pensions, risk assessment or anything else? Please send your questions in advance to info@pensionseurope.eu

Fausto Parente, Executive Director, EIOPA
Interviewed by Matti Leppälä, Secretary General, PensionsEurope

09:45 – 10:45
Plenary 3

Financial stability in times of uncertainty

This year, The Netherlands, France, the UK and Germany are holding elections. The UK is embarking on Brexit negotiations and markets are reacting to incoming US President Trump policies.

What is the role of pension funds in providing financial stability? What are the challenges ahead?

• Linda Fache Rousová, Financial Stability Expert, DG Macro-prudential Policy and Financial Stability, ECB 
• Wouter Thalen, Manager Public Affairs, PFZW 
• Matti Leppälä, Secretary General, PensionsEurope

Moderator: Janwillem Bouma, Chair, PensionsEurope 

10:45 – 11:15

Refreshment break

11.15 – 11.45

Plenary 4

From high risk to de-risk

Increasing liability levels are threatening the existence of Defined Benefit plans and challenging sponsoring employers.  Offloading risk to insurers is becoming more popular. We will explore the options and legal considerations for schemes and employers.

• Hugo Laing, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland
• Caspar Young, Chief Business Development Officer, Legal & General Re
• Eric Bergamin, Partner, Bergamin Pensioenrechtadvies (in association with Eversheds Sutherland)

Moderator: Francois Barker, Head of Pensions, Eversheds Sutherland

11:45 – 12:45
Plenary 5

Uncertainty and other challenges: how pension schemes are responding

Low interest rates, stress tests and implementation of the new IORP Directive are just a few of the issues on the pension agenda. Colleagues from schemes in different countries explain how they are tackling current economic and political challenges.

• Kevin O’Boyle, Group Head of Pensions, BT 
• Arnoud Vossen, Manager large pension funds, DNB
• Fabrizio Fiocchi, Head of Product Development and Advisory Services, Eurizon Capital

Moderator: Jerry Moriarty, Chair DC Standing Committee and Vice-Chair, PensionsEurope; and Chief Executive, Irish Association of Pension Funds 

12:45 – 14:00

Lunch in main hotel restaurant

14:00 – 15:00
Plenary 6

European DC - What's next?

The shift from DB to DC pensions continues and now also Germany plans to start with workplace DC. The new IORP II should make providing cross-border pensions easier. There may be further initiatives on Pan-European Occupational DC legislation. Upcoming proposal on a Pan-European Pension Product (PEPP), will highlight the role of personal pensions.

• Christian Lemaire, Global Head of Retirement Solutions, Amundi  
• Verena Menne, Policy Adviser, aba 
• Manuela Zweimueller, Head of Policy Department, EIOPA

Moderator: Pierre Bollon, Vice-chair, PensionsEurope and Chief Executive, AFG

15:00 – 15:15

Refreshment break

15:15 – 16:15
Plenary 7

Fintech showcase – a game-changer for pensions?

Expectations of fintech are sky-high. But what are the practical challenges in applying the latest technology to pension schemes – especially when they operate across borders? And does fintech really have the capacity to transform engagement with members?

• MEP Cora Van Nieuwenhuizen, ECON rapporteur on FinTech
• Joep Beukers, Director Innovation, APG
• Mads Kaagaard, CCO, PFA Pensions
• Jose Veiga Sarmento, President, APFIPP

Moderator: Matti Leppälä, Secretary General, PensionsEurope

16:15 – 16:45
Plenary 8

Keynote address

Secure pensions in an uncertain world: the EC perspective

European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on CMU mid-term review, EMIR, and  PEPP

16:45 – 16:55
Plenary 9

Closing remarks

Janwillem Bouma, Chair, PensionsEurope