Timetable

 | IAPF Conference   |   9:00am - 13:00pm  |  Tuesday 27th May 

8:30 

9:00

Delegate registration Buffet breakfast

Welcome 

Conference Chair Caroline Rowan, Head of Retirement Consulting, Aon

Benefits and Pitfalls of the AE journey that lies ahead in Ireland A talk and Panel Discussion from the Minister who took UK Automatic Enrolment to 8% and reformed DB.  The benefits and mistakes that were made with AE rollout, the wider implications on DB, the demise of corporate pensions and the rise of master trusts. To include a discussion on the comms plan needed to sell Irish pensions to Irish people given the tax changes. And how does government handle industry and industry deal with government, whatever their political persuasion going forward. A brief discussion on decumulation, infrastructure investing, dashboards, employee benefits and more

Guy Opperman, former UK Pensions Minister

Beyond Compliance: Creating Value-Driven Auto-Enrolment Experiences for Employees.  As pensions enter a new era with the introduction of Auto-enrolment, we explore how employers can go beyond compliance to create meaningful benefits for their employees. Our presentation will highlight an employee-centric approach to meeting Auto-enrolment obligations, turning a regulatory requirement into an opportunity to enhance employee financial well-being. We’ll also share key insights from our latest independent research.  

Shane O’Farrell, Director of Workplace Markets in Irish Life Employer Solutions, Irish Life

Staying the Course: Navigating Volatility in DB and DC Pensions  As markets remain unsettled, trustees are being tested, not just on their investment decisions, but on their overall readiness to respond. All the usual flight controls—risk assets, hedges, liquidity, currencies, and even governance models—are being challenged. This session will reflect on how both DB and DC schemes may need to revisit their thinking in light of prolonged volatility, and why staying patient, staying diversified, and focusing on the long term is more important than ever.

Magdalena Kennedy, Senior Investment Consultant, Aon Solutions Ireland Ltd

Pensions Authority – direction of travel for the next 5 years  Brendan will outline the Authority’s 5 year strategy and share progress on the Authority’s reform programme and will outline the next steps in consolidation, the ongoing roll out of SRPs and the development of a data strategy

Brendan Kennedy, Pensions Regulator, Pensions Authority

 11.am   -

11.30am Coffee Break

Tariffs and Beyond: Risks and Opportunities in European Real Estate The presentation will focus on key macroeconomic events from German fiscal stimulus to US tariffs, with a deep dive into the implications for the real estate market.   

Simon Wallace, Global Co-Head of Real Estate Research & Head of the UK Real Estate Group, DWS 

Legal and Regulatory Update  Sarah will take us through some of the main legal and regulatory changes that have impacted on employers and trustees of occupational pension schemes over the past 12 months (including DORA, the legal aspects of automatic-enrolment, the  Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Act, 2025 and recent ESG developments) as well as taking a look at expected changes coming down the track such as the Employment (Contractual Ages) Retirement Bill, 2025.

Sarah McCague, Partner in the Pensions Group of Arthur Cox

Auto Enrolment Update An update from the Department on the progress made towards implementation.

Tim Duggan, Assistant Secretary General, Department of Social Protection

1:00    - 

2:00 Lunch

2:00

Ends Timetable is subject to change