The Private Markets Pensions Investment Forum
Winter Conference – Ironmongers’ Hall, London
Tuesday 28th January 2025
09:15 – 19:30 GMT
Agenda
09:45 – Welcome & Introduction
Chair: Mark Thompson
Programme Director: Stephen Glover
10:00 – How Can the Government Support Pension Investment in Private Markets?
Moderator: Mark Thompson
Presenter: Roland Phillips
Panellists:
Sally Bridgeland,
Ian Connatty, Douglas Hansen-Luke
Session Type: Presentation / Panel Discussion
Sponsored by: Future Planet Capital
11:00 – The Private Markets Landscape in the UK
Presenter: Oliver Bell
Session Type: Presentation
11:20 – Coffee Break
11:50 – Investing in Nature...
Presenter: Robert Gardner
Session Type: Presentation
Sponsored by: Rebalance Earth
12:15 – The Investment Realities for Pension Funds
Moderator: Charlotte Moore
Panellists: Stephen Budge, Chris Hitchen, Veronica Humble, Ruston Smith
Session Type: Panel Discussion
Sponsored by: LCP
13:00 – Devil's Advocates Summary
Devils: Kerry King, Neil Mason, Mark Tennant
Session Type: Morning Summary
13:10 – Lunch
14:10 – Optimal Implementation - Finding the Right Fund Structures
Speaker: Jignasa Patel
Session Type: Presentation
Sponsored by: Carne Group
14:30 – Private Credit... but Not As You Know It
Speaker: Duncan Sankey
Session Type: Presentation
Sponsored by: Cheyne Capital
14:55 – The Critical Decision Factors in Private Market Investing
Facilitator: Paddy Dowdall
Moderators: Scott Anderson, Rachel Brougham, Andy Cox, Hill Gaston, Mark Hedges, Ian McKinlay, Stephanie Nuttall, Hugh Smart
Session Type: Roundtable Discussion
15:40 – Coffee & Networking Break
16:00 – Beyond Pooling: How LGPS Funds Are Driving Direct VC Investment
Speakers: Scott Anderson, Craig Douglas
Session Type: Presentation
Sponsored by: World Fund
16:30 – Local Investment Opportunities in Private Markets
Speaker: James Livingston
Session Type: Presentation
Sponsored by: Foresight Group
16:55 – Devil's Advocates Summary
Speakers: Mark Thompson (Mod), Jamie Broderick, Denise Le Gal, Luke Webster
Session Type: Afternoon Summary
17:05 – Chair's Closing Remarks
Speaker: Mark Thompson
17:15 – Drinks Reception
Speakers
Chair

Mark Thompson
Chair of the Trustee Board
M&G Pension Scheme
Devil's Advocates

Jamie
Broderick
Board Member
Impact Investing Institute

Kerry
King
Executive Director of Capital Markets
Accounting for Sustainability

Denise
Le Gal
Chair
Brightwell

Neil
Mason
LGPS Senior Officer
Surrey Pension Fund

Mark
Tennant
Trustee
Country Landowners Pension Fund

Luke
Webster
Chief Investment Officer
Greater London Authority
Roundtable Facilitator

Paddy
Dowdall
Assistant Executive Director
Greater Manchester Pension Fund
Presenters

Scott
Anderson
Investment Manager
EAPF

Oliver
Bell
Doctoral Candidate
Leeds University Business School

Craig
Douglas
Partner
World Fund

Robert
Gardner
CEO & Co-Founder
Rebalance Earth

Jignasa
Patel
Managing Director Business Dev
Carne Group

Duncan
Sankey
Head of Credit Research
Cheyne Capital
Panel Moderator

Charlotte
Moore
Freelance Journalist
Independent
PANELLISTS

Sally
Bridgeland
Chair
Brunel Pension Partnership

Ian
Connatty
Managing Partner
British Growth Partnership

Douglas
Hansen-Luke
Executive Chairman
Future Planet Capital

Chris
Hitchen
Chairman
Border to Coast Partnership

Veronica
Humble
CIO
Cushon NatWest

Ruston
Smith
Chairman
Tesco Pension Fund
ROUNDTABLE MODERATORS

Rachel
Brougham
Trustee Executive
BESTrustees

Andy
Cox
Chair
NatWest DC Plan

Hill
Gaston
Principal
Mercer

Mark
Hedges
Trustee Director
Nationwide Pension Fund

Ian
McKinlay
Senior Adviser
Avida International

Stephanie
Nuttall
Head of Pension Scheme Executive
M&G plc
EVENT INFO
Private market allocations are growing at many pension funds, especially within the LGPS and increasingly at larger DC schemes and Master Trusts, based upon the belief that these investments will deliver both attractive long-term performance as well as diversification benefits and positive societal impact.
In addition, the UK Government has embarked on an ambitious programme to encourage the pensions industry to invest further still in private assets, especially through the creation of the British Growth Partnership administered by the British Business Bank, as well as calls for consolidation among both LGPS and DC plans as announced at the Mansion House.
While opportunities abound, key to a step change in these investments will be to ensure that fiduciary and due diligence obligations are satisfied, and that vehicles can be developed that overcome scale, size and track record requirements, especially in earlier stage venture capital projects.
The conference will gather many of the major investors and asset allocators across the UK pensions industry, together with government-backed organisations, private investment managers and other leading stakeholders. A comprehensive picture of the state of pensions investment in private markets will be presented, followed by extensive debates on the contribution that these assets will play in the future success of the industry and for the economy at large.
In common with all SGPE Masterclasses, the conference will be highly interactive, with free and frank exchanges of views, a focus on original and thought-provoking content, and with participants encouraged to engage and contribute proactively throughout.
Venue
The Private Markets Pensions Investment Forum will be held at Ironmongers’ Hall in London.
Venue Address: Shaftesbury Place, off Aldersgate Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8AA