In a year of geopolitical, climate, technological, and energy upheaval, markets have mirrored this volatility. For the UK, it remains to be seen what the investment landscape will look like under a labour government. These changes, alongside a bumper year for elections across the globe ushering in regime change, mark a new phase in the current economic cycle, bringing opportunities and challenges for pension schemes and their trustees. It is now a critical time for pension scheme trustees to make strategic decisions.

This session will address:

• How regime changes will impact investment
• What should pension schemes be most concerned about from a macro perspective
• Some key geopolitical and macro drivers and trends that will inform the global investment outlook

As DB schemes approach full funding and consider their end games, many trustees will need to consider how to manage their existing illiquid asset holdings. This session will focus on sales of illiquid pooled fund holdings to third party buyers, a key option for trustees to reduce their illiquid asset holdings ahead of an insurance transaction. We will explore the key processes, issues and potential pitfalls in these sales and how to prepare for and make the best of these opportunities where they arise.

The last few years have been filled with turbulence for private markets in UK Pension Funds, initially due to the gilts crisis leading to the denominator effect, drawdowns across private asset classes and then recent government reforms to increase pension investment in private markets. We initially look back to assess the drivers of growth and the challenges experienced within private markets, then look forwards to identify opportunities not just across asset classes, but also in the access to markets through new semi-liquid vehicles.

As the global push for net zero accelerates, investors are facing both opportunities and challenges in aligning their portfolios with sustainability and ESG principles. This session will explore the investment required to transition to a sustainable and inclusive future, offering insights into how the net zero challenge reshapes investment strategies. We will explore “Carbonomics” – the economic impact of carbon reduction initiatives – and how these insights can help to inform long term investment decisions.

This is your chance to mingle, connect, and replenish your energy amidst the Investment Conference's vibrant atmosphere. Join us in savouring a spread prepared to elevate your midday experience. Whether you're networking, sharing insights, or simply taking a moment to unwind; Take a plate, and enjoy!

This session will explore the future of investment governance, the options available to investors and the importance of clarity in governance. Nick Lewis, Manager Director at Redington and lead of Redington’s advice on investment governance and outsourced solutions, will also explore what the Outsourced Chief Investment Officers (OCIO) and Fiduciary Management (FM) models offer investors. It will feature case studies, best practice views, and expert insights on the benefits and challenges of adopting these models, aiming to equip stakeholders with the knowledge to make informed decisions on the future of their governance.

With many DB schemes achieving full funding, many schemes have and continue to allocate a portion of their assets to credit. The benefits are numerous, a spread over gilts for capital growth, liquidity, hedging liabilities and potential risk transfer pricing, and the ability to integrate responsible investment objectives. AXA IM draws on its extensive experience in managing CDI portfolios for UK Defined Benefit pension schemes to address:

• How to design a cashflow driven investment portfolio to match your risk, return, and endgame objectives
• Quantifying key risk metrics in a CDI portfolio
• Responsible Investment integration specific to a CDI portfolio

The DB pensions landscape is changing. In recent years, significant moves higher in interest rates have led to dramatically improved scheme funding levels. These shifting tectonic plates of markets and funding positions have resulted in a similarly seismic shift in DB scheme strategy, with endgame solutions now front and centre of scheme agendas. Schemes are also increasingly seeking to incorporate responsible investment considerations.

We are seeing three preferred endgame choices emerging from conversations with our clients:

• Buyout
• Run-on
• Both

Whatever your scheme's preferred destination, in this session we'll look at how you can construct the way forward

Social impact investing is sometimes more misunderstood when compared with environmental or ESG investing. Therefore, social impact investment experts from Big Issue Invest are her to expand understanding on this topic.

This session will address:

• An explainer on social impact investing and how it is different
• How impact is measured within these investments
• Examples of investments and how they deliver stable returns