2021 Africa Pensions And Retirement Summit Holds In South Africa From 20-22 October  

*Nigeria’s PenOp CEO, Oguche Agudah, Selected As Speaker

The Global Retirement and Pension Funds industry is at a crossroads. The slowing down of the global economy coupled with an unexpected Global Pandemic has forced the industry to introspect, innovate and reform.

To this end, the Federated Management institute, Africa Insights and various Industry partners have concluded plans for the hosting of the second Annual Africa Pensions and Retirement Summit from the 20th to the 22nd October 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The theme of the Summit is “Reform, Resurgence and Resilience.”

The organizers of the 2021 edition of the Summit have invited pension professionals and industry thought leaders to explore participation, sponsorship or speaking opportunities during this continental showpiece.

This summit, according to organizers, will provide participants with critical insights into the pensions industry’s best practices, key and emerging developments, investment strategies, governance and compliance insights, sustainability foresight, trustee development, financial inclusion and pension coverage-and will feature industry leaders, stakeholders, regulators, keynote speakers, academics, researchers, thought leaders and delegates drawn from the African continent and beyond.

NB: This summit is fully hybrid with both in-person (limited availability) and virtual attendance and will feature speakers and delegates from the entire African continent and conforms to all COVID19 regulations. Find attached the draft programme for your perusal.

The continental event will bring together key stakeholders, pension funds, trustees, industry thought leaders, financial services intermediaries and key note speakers from across the continent representing Southern, Eastern, Western and North Africa to discuss and share best practices and key industry insights impacting the pensions and retirement industry in Africa.. The 2nd Annual Africa Pensions and Retirement Summit will be staged as a fully hybrid event with both virtual and in-person participation for speakers and delegates.

Call For Papers:

We will be accepting proposals for presentations from industry and thought leaders, subject matter specialists and academics which may include key note presentations, industry insights, case studies, research and surveys for solo or panel discussions. The draft programme being co-curated alongside industry thought leaders and our production team will be available in the coming days.

Over View:

The Global Retirement and Pension Funds industry is at a crossroad. The slowing down of the global economy coupled with an unexpected Global Pandemic has forced the industry to introspect, innovate and reform. This summit will offer great insights and thought leadership to industry stakeholders on key strategies to navigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and will offer practical solutions and measures to enable the industry reform, remain resilient and create new impetus for a post pandemic growth,

The 2nd Annual Africa Pensions and Retirement Funds Summit 2021 will be the platform for like-minded and forward-thinking retirement and pension funds professionals to re-group and address the challenges and opportunities currently faced by the industry to mobilise and future-proof the retirement and pension funds for its members’ livelihoods.

Never before has it ever been so critical for pension funds to protect their members’ future livelihoods. The rising cost of living is not something to take likely and as the biggest investors to an economy, retirement and pension funds have an opportunity to fast track economies around the world to grow and protect members’ current and future livelihoods.

Other sub-topics amongst others to be tackled include: ‘COVID 19 Pandemic and financial resurgence of Retirement and Pension funds: A new approach for a new decade: Investigating how long-term strategies can weather short-term storms’; ‘Pension supervision, administration, management, governance and compliance’; ‘Alternative investments for pension funds- infrastructure, real estate, hedge funds, private equity, art, cryptos etc’; ‘Africa Pension reforms and legal/regulatory frameworks’; ‘Asset and Fund management’; ‘Risk, governance and compliance’; ‘Employee benefits and benefit design, product design and innovation’; ‘Member communications, role of technology and trustee fiduciary duties’; ‘Asset allocation, diversification and portfolio development’.

Other are ‘Investing in Alternative asset classes’; ‘The future of retirement and pension fund supervision and investment: What should the industry prepare themselves, current and post COVID 19 pandemic’; ‘Post-retirement medical covers, preservation and regional pension transferability’; ‘Harmonisation of the industry through legislation and other reforms around Africa’; ‘Re-evaluating risk governance and strategic oversight roles and responsibilities of retirement’; ‘Investment performance bench-marking in a pandemic’; ‘Impact investing, sustainable Finance and climate risks’; ‘Governance’;  ‘Micro pensions in Africa- Financial inclusion for the informal sector’; ‘Technology disruptions and innovations in the Pensions Industry’ and The role of insurance in cushioning funds from economic shocks.

Some of the confirmed speakers, the organizers revealed, include:

• Robert Rubinstein: Founder /CEO, TBLI Group, Netherlands
• Shafeeq Abrahams: CEO and Principal Officer, Eskom Pension & Provident Fund, SA
• Goodson Kapaso: Manager Policy and Analysis / Ag. Deputy Registrar, Pensions and Insurance Authority, (Zambia)
• Oguche Agudah: Chief Executive Officer, Pension Funds Operators Association of Nigeria (PENOP) Nigeria
• Dr Colin Habberton: Co-Founder, The Relativ Group, SA
• Chimuka Haamukwanza: CEO, Mukuba Pension Trust, Zambia
• Simon Wafubwa: CEO, Enwealth Financial Services, Kenya
• Tanya Van Lil: CEO, Southern African Venture Capital & Private Equity Association
• Nicola Comninos: Chief Risk Officer JSE and Chairman of Johannesburg Stock Exchange Pension Scheme, SA
• Issaka Ibrahim: Head, Metropolitan Pension Trust, Ghana
• Gareth Collier: Director, Crue Invest, SA
• Nicole Martens: Director, Martens Advisory, SA
• Caroline T Juma: Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya
• Mr Semoli Mokhanoi: Director: SADC & Head of Business Development, Mergence Investment Managers , SADC
• Mr Louis van Vuren: CEO, Fiduciary Institute of South Africa (FISA), SA
• Mr Henry Kyanda: Managing Director, Everstrong Capital (Kenya)
• Ms. Sinenhlanhla Dlamini: Director of Institutional Business, Old Mutual Investments Group (SA)
• Raymond Manhika: Chief Executive Officer, Motor Industry Pension Fund (Zimbabwe)
• Asim Gani: Director, Independent Actuaries & Consultants (IAC) SA
• Elizabeth Rabvukwa: Chief Executive Officer, Zimnat Investment Cluster, Zimbabwe (Additional participants will be added).

Organisers emphasized the need of pension stakeholders not to miss the meeting of like-minded, forward-thinking Retirement and Pension Industry Professionals which offers opportunity for them to” gain first-hand and actionable insights into global and continental retirement and pension funds landscape from some of the most brilliant minds in Africa

“Bench-mark your organisation’s strategies and future plans against your industry peers

“Participate in panel discussions that delve deep into mobilising the industry to future-proof Retirement and Pension funds for members’ livelihoods and for economic growth

“Be part of this solutions-orientated meeting and take back actionable insights back to your organisations

“Network and engage in transformative conversations and discussions with your industry peers and colleagues at an Industry Cocktail Function on the 21st October 2021.”

Those expected to attend this important event, organizers explained, are all Pension and Retirement, Fund Industry Professionals, and financial services intermediaries, wanting to forge ahead implementable strategies to tackle current challenges and take advantage of continental and global opportunities to grow their portfolios for their members and contribute to a resilient continental and global economy.