The PLSA podcast

The biggest pensions event of the year is getting closer. Maggie Williams, Viewpoint editor, speaks to the PLSA's Marcin Stepan about the stellar speaker line-up and 30+ types of session at the PLSA's Annual Conference 2022. We also catch up with two of our speakers: Chris Corfield from Crown Agent's Bank tells us about how digitisation is transforming pension payroll, and Rupert Sheldon from Fiera Real Estate discusses ESG in the real assets market and building resiliency in portfolios. 

Good, long-term returns can only come from companies that are well governed. Board behaviour, executive pay, company purpose and reputational risk management are just some of the factors that define the ‘G’ of ESG. 

In this Episode G, Viewpoint editor Maggie Williams speaks to David Fairs of The Pensions Regulator, Stephen Barrie of the Church of England Pension Board and Alyshia Harrington-Clark from the PLSA, to find out what the ‘G’ of ESG means in the context of pension scheme investment.

It’s the turn of ‘S’ : social, as we look at viewpoints on ESG. From exploitative work practices that undermine long-term business performance, to diversity and inclusion at Board level, the impact of ‘social’ within ESG investing is becoming more high profile.

The PLSA's Viewpoint editor, Maggie Williams, speaks to Caroline Escott, Senior Investment Manager – Active Ownership at RPMI and Karen Hurst, Senior Policy Advisor: Investment & Stewardship at the PLSA. Further thoughts come from Baroness Helena Morrissey and Peter Wallach, Director of Pensions at Merseyside Pension Fund. 

The first in our Viewpoint: ESG podcast series. Over the course of three programmes, we’ll be giving each of the E, S and G of ESG – Environmental, Social and Governance - its own show, digging into some of the key investment issues for UK pension funds.

First it’s the turn of ‘E’ - environment – possibly the highest-profile of the three components, given the significance of climate change at government level, both in the UK and further afield, and how that is affecting scheme’s investment risk management, return profiles and investment opportunities. Maggie Williams, Viewpoint editor, speaks to PLSA Chair Richard Butcher and Deputy Director of Policy Joe Dabrowski. Plus we hear from Pensions Minister Guy Opperman and Adair Turner. 

Nigel Peaple, the PLSA Director or Policy and Research, joins Head of Membership Engagement James Walsh to look back over the key policy issues of the year for the PLSA and its members. And he also tells us what's on his pensions Christmas list. 

Ahead of the PLSA's Local Authority Update event, Tiffany Tsang talks to James Walsh about current issues for the LGPS, including McCloud, employer flexibilities, GMP equalisation and pressure on resources - and what Local Authorities need to tackle them. 

What's in the Pension Schemes Bill and how does the PLSA go about influencing changes? Lawrence Vousden, the PLSA's Head of Media and Government Affairs, explains what's happening to James Walsh, Head of Membership Experience.

Lizzy Holliday, the PLSA's Head of DC, Master Trusts and Lifetime Savings, talks to Edward Bogira, Editor in Chief, about the PLSA's current work on DC pensions and looks ahead to Annual Conference 2020 in October. 

Changing investment demands, a new funding code, change for the LGPS and the economic impact of coronavirus: there is a lot for DB and LGPS schemes to manage in 2020. Joe Dabrowski, the PLSA's Head of DB, LGPS & Standards talks to Head of Member Engagement James Walsh about what the PLSA has been doing to help.

The consultation on the response to the McCloud judgement could have significant impacts on cost for the Local Government Pension Scheme, as the Government grapples with how to rectify historical discrimination, first flagged by firefighters and judges. James Walsh and Tiffany Tsang discuss what it means for PLSA members.