Future of Pensions Summit 2025

Natalie Adeoba

Senior Pensions Manager, Royal Mail

I’ve worked in pensions for almost 10 years, helping organisations and trustees deliver well-run, sustainable schemes that work for both members and employers. My experience spans in-house benefits and pensions management for multi-billion-pound defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) schemes in addition to governance roles supporting trustee boards across a variety of sectors. Alongside this, I’ve been involved in projects to strengthen member engagement, improve financial wellbeing, and embed good governance practices.

I joined Royal Mail in 2023 as Senior Pensions Manager and was fortunate to be part of the team that launched our new Collective Plan. I’ve led the ongoing management of our group risk benefit arrangements and have worked closely with colleagues to strengthen our approach to auto-enrolment compliance, safeguarding employees’ pension benefits while supporting the organisation’s long-term pension strategy.

I enjoy working collaboratively, finding practical solutions, and making sure the topic of pensions, however complex, is accessible and meaningful for the people they’re there to support.

Michael Allen

Markets Strategist, SEI

Michael serves as a Markets Strategist in SEI’s Investment Management Unit. Mike is responsible for gaining a deeper understanding of client goals and objectives in order to develop and manage investment solutions that are aligned with their needs. 

In addition to having direct responsibility for a number of bespoke client portfolios and investment strategies, as part of the asset allocation team, Mike also has responsibilities that span asset class and strategy research as well as participating in SEI’s active asset allocation programme.

Prior to joining SEI, Mike was Chief Investment Officer for Momentum Global Investment Management, a multi-asset, multi-manager investment firm. Mike was portfolio manager for the firm’s diversified growth strategy for the UK institutional market and co-portfolio manager for their outcomes-based offering for the UK retail market. Prior to joining the multi-manager business, Mike was a fixed income portfolio manager covering government and highly rated corporate debt markets at RMB Asset Management.

Ken Anderson

Director, DC & Financial Wellness, Mercer

Ken is a senior member of Mercer’s DC & Financial wellness team, advising clients to deliver great outcomes for them and their people. Ken leads Mercer’s DC MOT benchmarking service, supporting employers to compare their pension approach relative to other employers, helping them to identify ways to reduce cost, mitigate risk and increase value for them and their people

Antonia Balaam

DC Clients & Head of Master Trust, Aegon

Antonia is a qualified Actuary with 28 years pensions experience.  Her background is in consultancy, working initially as an Actuary to large defined benefit schemes at Aon and Willis Towers Watson, before switching to focus on DC schemes 13 years ago.

As part of the senior leadership team at Aegon, Antonia is responsible for the DC clients and relationship teams across Aegon’s workplace business, as well as personally managing a select portfolio of Aegon’s largest clients.

More recently Antonia was appointed as Head of Master Trust, bringing together Aegon, the Master Trust trustees and employers in delivering the innovation and collaboration needed to drive excellent member outcomes.

Ollie Biobaku-Mason

Head of DC Member Proposition, L&G

Olasumbo serves as the Head of DC Member Proposition in the DC Distribution. She oversees the development and enhancement of L&G’s DC member proposition, ensuring it remains innovative and effective. Olasumbo engages with clients and external stakeholders to maintain L&G’s leadership in DC innovation. She leads a team of communication professionals who assist clients in developing effective communication strategies, from scheme implementation to ongoing engagement with pension scheme members. With 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Olasumbo has collaborated with some of the largest pension schemes, creating strategies and tools to simplify complex scheme designs and changes. Prior to joining L&G, Olasumbo held communication consulting roles at Hymans Robertson and the creative agency Like Minds. She is committed to enhancing member engagement and understanding what drives individual behaviour, as well as advocating for greater diversity within the pension industry. Olasumbo holds a Certificate in Strategic Communication Management and earned a 2:1 BSc in Politics and International Relations from the University of Southampton.

Steve Charlton

DC and Solutions Managing Director, Institutional Group, EMEA and Asia, SEI

Steve Charlton joined SEI in 2017 as SEI’s Defined Contribution and Solutions Managing Director for EMEA and Asia. In his role, he is responsible for building upon the ongoing success of SEI’s U.S. and U.K. DC proposition across global markets. Steve has over 30 years’ experience in the pensions industry, with particular expertise in defined contribution plans. He joined SEI from Vanguard Asset Management, where he was the Defined Contribution Manager for Europe. Prior to Vanguard, Steve spent 15 years consulting with some of the largest DC clients in the U.K. whilst working at Towers Perrin (now Willis Towers Watson), Punter Southall and Mercer.

Robert Cochran

Workplace Pensions Engagement and Innovation Specialist, Scottish Widows

Robert has lead the Scottish Widows Employer and Employee engagement teams, dedicated to crafting impactful messages and materials for a variety of pension seminars and engagement events. His team's outreach touches thousands of employees annually, fueling Robert's passion for demystifying pensions. His commitment to simplification is evident in his team's collaboration with LBG digital resources, aiming to integrate pensions into the broader context of Financial Wellness for employees. With the increasing role of digital engagement through APPs and AI Robert has focused on this area to really take understanding and interaction with pensions to the next level.

A recognized voice in the industry, Robert is a regular fixture in print and on the radio, and hosts the Scottish Widows Workplace Pensions Podcast. His insights on pension engagement, technology, and data are sought after at industry conferences, and his interactions with policymakers over the years have been influential. As a founding partner in Pension Engagement Season and National Pension Tracing Day, Robert has been at the forefront of initiatives that strive to improve retirement outcomes for individuals.

In addition to his extensive professional experience, Robert holds a degree in Marketing and Finance, underscoring his expertise in the financial sector. His educational background complements his practical knowledge, making him a well-rounded specialist in his field.

Andy Dunlop

Head of Pensions Engagement, Nestle UK

As the Head of Engagement in Nestlé pensions, I have overall responsibility for the pensions engagement strategy, which includes pensions communications as well as engagement on broader financial matters.

I also lead the financial wellbeing programme in Nestlé UK & Ireland, working with our provider – nudge – to increase our employees’ financial wellbeing while they are at Nestlé.

Finally, I support the Company and the UK pension fund trustees with DC strategy, governance & management matters.

I joined Nestlé in 2017, following many years at Unilever UK in various roles.

Kingsley Durr

Affiliate Manager, interactive investor

Kingsley Durr is an Affiliate Manager at interactive investor, driving growth through strategic partnerships in the finance sector. Known for his analytical mindset and creative approach, he brings fresh thinking to affiliate strategy and a sharp eye for a good deal.

Victoria East

Head of Client Relations, WEALTH at work

Victoria East is the Head of Client Relations at WEALTH at work, bringing over 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has spent the last 8 years at WEALTH at work, where she has held several key roles, including a Financial Coach and a Business Development Manager. In these positions, she played a pivotal role in delivering impactful financial education to employees and championing the importance of financial wellbeing.

In her more recent role as a Relationship Manager, Victoria was dedicated to helping organisations strengthen their employees' financial resilience on topics such as pensions, tax, share schemes, investments, and retirement planning. Now, as Head of Client Relations, Victoria oversees the successful implementation and delivery of tailored financial wellbeing solutions. Her focus is on creating exceptional value for clients while supporting their employees' financial health and long-term financial success.

Hannah English

Head of DC Corporate Consulting, Hymans Robertson

Hannah is head of DC Corporate Consulting services. She has extensive experience defined contribution pension schemes and is responsible for the management and advising on the strategic direction of numerous high profile corporate clients. In particular, Hannah specialises in DC pension scheme design, change and implementation.   

Hannah joined Hymans Robertson in September 2013, qualified as an actuary in 2018. This has enabled her to consider joined up DB and DC pension strategies. 

Lydia Fearn

Partner, LCP

Lydia re-joined LCP in 2022 to support the growth of the DC and financial wellbeing business and deliver advice to clients of all types and sizes.

The team advise a wide range of clients, both trust and corporate, supporting them on all areas of DC including investment strategy, scheme design, communication strategy and their wellbeing strategy with a focus on financial wellbeing.

Previously, Lydia was the Head of Pensions Consulting at Capita and the Head of DC and Financial Wellbeing at Redington.

Jeni Flanagan

Principal and Senior DC Consultant, Barnett Waddingham

Jeni is a Principal and a Senior Client Relationship Manager. She is an experienced DC consultant and provides advice to a wide range of corporate and trustee bodies in relation to their Defined Contribution (DC) workplace pension arrangements. This includes scheme design, restructures, ongoing governance and member engagement.

By working with corporate and trustee bodies, Jeni is acutely aware of the overarching aim of enhancing member outcomes and enables these by providing clarity and focus to our DC strategy advice and tailored solutions.

Maisie Flower

Financial Wellbeing Specialist, Hargreaves Lansdown

Maisie has been working with corporate clients at HL since 2020, spending 12 months in the Client Support team before moving to specialise in pensions in 2021. For the last two years, Maisie has been delivering financial education sessions to the full breadth of HL Workplace members. Maisie is passionate about engaging younger employees with their personal finances, specifically addressing the challenges of saving for their first property and helping develop their confidence with money management decisions.

Catherine Foot

Director of the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement, Standard Life

Catherine Foot is Director of the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement, a think tank focused on ensuring long-term financial security for everyone. A social researcher, policy analyst, campaigner and writer, she founded the Centre (originally launched as Phoenix Insights) in 2021.

Catherine has spent her career working to improve public policy and business practice, with a focus on pensions, employment, health, social care and housing. Before her current role, she was the founding Director of Evidence at the Centre for Ageing Better, and has held senior roles at the King’s Fund and Cancer Research UK.

She is passionate about creating fairer systems that support people to thrive throughout longer working lives and into retirement, and believes that building partnerships across the public, private and voluntary sectors is essential to driving lasting system change. Her current work explores how policy and business must adapt to the changing realities of how we work, save and retire, in order to improve the financial prospects of future generations of retirees. Catherine regularly speaks at conferences, advises on government policy, and is a commentator on pensions, employment, ageing and financial wellbeing.

Jo Gallacher

Content Director, REBA

Hugo Gravell

Principal and Investment Consultant, Barnett Waddingham

Hugo works closely with trustees and sponsors of UK defined contribution (DC) pension schemes in relation to investment matters. He works with both own trust and master trust schemes and is driven by a desire to improve the quality and certainty of retirement outcomes for members.

Hugo’s expertise centres on designing, monitoring, and reviewing investment strategies for DC schemes according to their own specific beliefs and circumstances. Alongside advising clients, he has a key role in shaping our research from a DC perspective, in particular for research into new and innovative strategies, sustainable investment, and equity & multi-asset investments.

Alex Hadonou

Senior Consultant, Aon

David Harvey

Master Trust Leader, NatWest Cushon

David is Cushon’s Master Trust Lead and has worked in the DC pensions market for over 25 years. During that time, he has worked on both “sides of the fence” at Consultants and Insurers and has built up a really good understanding of what both companies and members look for and value when it comes to pension provision. 

Alison Hatcher

Head of Trusteeship, Vidett

Alison joined Vidett in May 2025 as Head of Trusteeship. She helps provide member-focused outcomes for our clients and shape our business into the future.

Before joining Vidett, Alison was an independent pensions consultant and professional trustee and Non-Executive Director (NED) of The Pensions Regulator (TPR). She had previously been the CEO of HSBC Retirement Services Limited and Head of Global Pension Strategy Corporate Clients.

Alison is one of the founders of Women in Pensions, an industry group set up to support women. She is an active pensions and retirement market participant speaking at conferences.  She previously sat on the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) Board.

Jill Henderson

Head of Workplace Strategic Relationships, Scottish Widows

Jill celebrates 26yrs at Scottish Widows this year, having spent most of this time in and around Workplace Pensions.

Most recently Jill took on the role as Head of Workplace Strategic Relationships, building relationships with Financial advisers, consultancies and workplace clients.

Previous roles include interim Head of Workplace Relationships, and Partnership Director. 

Jill has a long-standing passion for financial equality, is Co-Chair of the Sottish Widows Women In Retirement workstream.

Mark Hewitson

Head of Client Development, WEALTH at work

Mark has many years of experience in financial services, including delivering service innovation and pension scheme member services for major FTSE companies.

He leads the team responsible for developing and implementing a range of financial education and guidance services for our existing clients and for companies and Trustee boards across the UK.

Mark also actively manages partnerships with major institutes for retirement savings professionals including the Pensions Management Institute and Pensions Policy Institute and leads the development of our at-retirement services for workplace pension schemes and pension scheme members.

Stuart Hopley

Relationship Director, Scottish Widows

Stuart joined Scottish Widows in 2002 and has over 25 year’s experience of working with Independent Financial Advisers, Employee Benefit Consultants, Trustees and Employers. Prior to joining Scottish Widows, Stuart held Account Manager and Business Development roles at Legal & General and Scottish Amicable.

Stuart has a vast experience of Auto Enrolment and a passion for helping people better understand and make the most of their workplace savings. 

Stuart hosts our webinar programme and is responsible for a team of Scottish Widows Workplace Relationship Managers and supports our wider relationships with Key Workplace clients and Employee Benefits firms.

Fleur Innazzo

Associate Partner Wealth, Aon

Fleur Iannazzo has been in financial services for 15 years, working in Melbourne, Hong Kong and London. Most recently Fleur set up a financial coaching business, in which she provided one-to-one behaviour-focused financial coaching to high-net-worth individuals. She is an award-winning author, with her book ‘The Money Pizza’ winning Best Book UK at the Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards 2025. 

Fleur holds a Masters in Coaching and Behavioural Change from the Henley Business School, is a CFA Charterholder and is accredited as a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. 

Olivia Jeffrey

B2B Relationship Manager, interactive investor

Olivia leads partnerships at interactive investor, with a career spanning early-stage investment advisory and recruitment. She focuses on building and managing strategic collaborations with third-party providers to deliver products and services that support organisations and their employees.

Kirsty Moffat

Senior DC Investment Consultant, Hymans Robertson

No bio provided

Richard Mosley

Pensions and Later Life Analysis, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

No bio provided

Kelly Newton

Client Director, Vidett

Kelly joined Vidett in June 2025 to lead governance and secretarial services, supporting all types of trustee boards and governance committees and taking the lead on our General Code service line. She also acts as a co-trustee and is a committee member for the East Midlands Pensions UK (formerly the PLSA) regional group.

Kelly’s previous experience includes in-house pensions management within two large employers, covering both DB and DC.  Kelly has hands-on experience with the set up and running of an own trust DC scheme, and also working with trustees and employers to establish governance committees, where they have opted to use a Master Trust. Kelly advocates for great governance for members, and employers, to get the best from their pension schemes.

Mike Robinson

Business Development Director, Standard Life

Mike joined Standard Life in November 2021 and has been their Business Development Director for nearly four years now, helping to spearhead their strong growth over the last few years. He specialises in Pensions & Savings, specifically Workplace DC where he has spent to majority of his career providing solutions to large employers here in the UK, both for Standard Life and previously as a consultant. He brings a wealth of knowledge across all aspects of DC - from policy evolution, trustee and scheme sponsor strategy, investments, engagement and ultimately how to drive the best possible outcomes for members.

He has a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and holds the Investment Management Certificate and Investment Advice Diploma. Outside of work he enjoys nothing more than being active outdoors with his wife and children.

Will Sandbrook

Managing Director, Nest Insight

Will Sandbrook is Managing Director of Nest Insight – the public benefit research and innovation centre focused on financial security for low and moderate income households. He has spent 20 years working in strategy, public policy, research and communications roles relating to personal finance and pensions, including working for the UK government on financial inclusion policy and the design and implementation of their landmark automatic enrolment programme.

He has worked at Nest since 2008 in a number of roles including leading the strategy, policy, research and data teams. In 2016 he oversaw the launch of Nest Insight, which he has led ever since.

In his role at Nest, Will has published papers on pensions policy, workplace emergency saving and financial wellbeing in the AARP International Journal, the International Journal of Pensions Management and with the World Bank, among others, as well as authoring and contributing to a number of Nest Insight reports. He has spoken on these topics at conferences and events in the UK, Europe, Asia and North America. Will is also a visiting fellow in the school of Psychology and Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics.

Phil Sandford

Creative Director of Workplace, Standard Life

Phil’s focus is partnering with clients to find creative, innovative ways to engage and educate members and help more people secure a life of possibilities. With a background in marketing and advertising, Phil has worked across a range of industries and brands in the UK, Australia and New Zealand including financial services, tourism, higher education, sport, health, media and advertising, and is passionate about the role of creativity to connect with more people and bringing important messages to life in refreshing, relevant and meaningful ways.

Rishal Singh

Head of Client Engagement, Mercer Master Trust

With over twelve years of experience in the financial services industry, Rishal specialises in client relationship management and defined contribution (DC) solutions, with expertise in the Australian superannuation and banking sectors. Her key strength is translating complex messages into clear, actionable insights that motivate clients, members, and stakeholders. This is supported by excellent communication skills and a proactive, growth-oriented approach to developing strategies that meet evolving needs.

Kate Smith

Head of Public Affairs, Aegon

Kate is Head of Public Affairs at Aegon, with over 35 years of experience in the pensions industry. She’s been at Aegon since 2006, and previously worked at PWC, Mercers and Friends’ Provident. Kate is a Fellow of the Pensions Management Institute.

Kate’s focus is on the ever-changing pension environment and the evolving shape of the workplace pensions market. Kate led the Trustees’ submission for the authorisation of the Aegon Master Trust with the Pensions Regulator.

Kate’s mission is to seek to achieve good outcomes for savers, promote the value of saving and highlight the importance of regulated professional advice to help people achieve a lifetime of financial security Kate is a frequent commentator in the financial and consumer press.

She’s a founding member of the Pensions Equity Group (PEG) and co-chair of its policy workstream. She’s also a corporate trustee of a defined benefit pension scheme.

She’s twice winner of the Woman in Financial Advice awards (2018 and 2019). In 2021 Kate was recognised as a role model for Women in Banking & Finance (WIBF) for her work in highlighting the gender pension gap and was shortlisted for Professional Pensions Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 and 2025.

Sarah Steel

Director of Corporate Relationships, Natwest Cushon

Sarah Steel is a Fellow of the Pension Management Insitute and the Director of Corporate Relationships at NatWest Cushon. She plays a key role in building trusted relationships with corporate clients, employee benefit consultants, trustees, and internal stakeholders to deliver strategic growth and drive innovation in the pensions and financial wellbeing sectors. 

Sarah is also a Director of Better with Money, the specialist financial wellbeing company, acquired by NatWest Cushon is 2022 and before that spent over 25 years in pension consultancy and strategic relationship roles at Aon, Hymans Robertson, Bluefin and Gissings (both now part of the Capita Group). 

Richard Turner

Senior Corporate Distribution Manager, Hargreaves Lansdown

Gill Wadsworth

Financial Journalist, REBA

Gill Wadsworth has more than 25 years’ experience in financial journalism.

She specialises in institutional investment, specifically pensions and fund management.

Prior to going freelance in 2008, Gill worked for several Financial Times titles and continues to write for a range of investment titles and corporate clients.

Steve Watson

Head of Policy & Research, NatWest Cushon

Steve is Cushon’s Director of Policy & Research. He has spent over 30 years of his career advising organisations on all aspects of pensions and workplace savings both in the UK and internationally.

Stephen Watson | LinkedIn

Alex Whitley

Partner, LCP

Alex’s main role is helping companies set their pension strategies while ensuring that these plans are nimble to take advantage of opportunities that come up. He has significant Board-level experience covering many different circumstances, opportunities, challenges and risks for employers within their pensions management. 

Louise Whyte

Head of DC Sales & Strategy, L&G

Louise Whyte is Head of DC Sales & Strategy at Legal & General where she leads the development and execution of strategic initiatives across the DC business. With extensive experience in asset management, Louise has built a strong reputation for delivering client solutions and forging lasting partnerships with pension schemes trustees, employers and their advisers. Louise is passionate about financial wellbeing and equality in pension savings.