Day one: Wednesday 10 February
Please refer to the Conference platform agenda for detailed session times.
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10.00am
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Welcome to Conference
KEYNOTE 1
Super – the next horizon
Superannuation has undergone a decade of analysis, critique and disruption and a seemingly endless cycle of review. So, where do we go from here? It’s time to regroup and think strategically about what members and funds need to achieve sustainable outcomes. This session will start with an address by the Hon. Paul Keating, the architect of compulsory superannuation, sharing his big-picture thinking as the industry looks to its next horizon and explores its role in nation building. Then, an expert panel will examine the need for fundamental change and dive into super’s relevance and purpose for a new generation of members, canvassing issues including tax treatment, the SG rate, competition, innovation, solutions for low-income members and implications for super from the gig economy.
KEYNOTE 2
Driving towards recovery: Can Australia steer its own path?
Australia’s road to prosperity has been, for the most part, long and straight, but 26 consecutive years of economic growth has come to an end. What needs to go right now to ensure the economy doesn’t languish in the breakdown lane? Is Australia able to steer its own course or will China and other international influences mean there are curves ahead? This session will look at the implications of how household debt, balance of payments issues and shoring up export markets will pave Australia’s recovery.
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12.30pm – 1.15pm
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Lunch
Lunch with the Leaders
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1.15pm
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PARALLEL 1
Pensions, policy, pandemic – how did the world fare?
While COVID-19 continues to rage around the world, some jurisdictions are emerging while others are still working through their emergency response measures. Globally, how are pensions systems faring? Our Global Pensions Summit session this year will explore the lessons learned so far from a wide cross-section of viewpoints and what needs to be done to repair, reset and refocus long term. Has the pensions model broken during the crisis or is it even stronger than before? Did emergency public policy measures operate fairly and deliver social equity?
PARALLEL 2
Managing risk in uncertain times
There’s nothing like a global crisis as an impetus to reassess how we manage risk. While risk management is a key element of running a superannuation fund, this session will focus on the risk takers within funds, what factors influence them and how to establish a successful risk culture that permeates through the fund. In the COVID-19 era what is the appetite for risk and what frameworks can help risk takers better understand the strategic objective? How can a fund appropriately evaluate the strength and resilience of their risk appetite framework and level of risk reporting, noting that these factors will be closely scrutinised by regulators in a fast-moving policy landscape?
PARALLEL 3
Illiquid assets in superannuation – a bridge too far?
The early release of super program saw over $30bn in unexpected redemptions flow from funds in 2020. Has this changed the game for superannuation fund investment, specifically, their allocations to illiquid assets? A panel of leading thinkers from the industry will explore the case for illiquid assets in this new environment, addressing the perfect storm of early access withdrawals during volatile markets and the ongoing appetite for funds to participate in long term illiquid opportunities. The session will pose some key questions: Have we gone too far in effectively offering members daily liquidity on their accounts? What are the practical challenges of including unlisted assets in portfolios? Will the Your Super Your Future under performance test curtail ongoing investment by funds in critical infrastructure?
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2.00pm
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PARALLEL 4
Energy: the future is renewable
The transition globally from fossil fuel energy to renewables is in full swing but what does that mean for superannuation from both an investment and a business perspective? Where is Australia on the journey? What is the cost to the economy and the impact on jobs? Can renewables provide the levels of reliability we require and what infrastructure investment is required? This exceptional panel will take a fresh look at the energy marketplace now, including advances in battery storage, solar and wind technologies, the role of gas and the introduction of hydrogen.
PARALLEL 5
Community threads: connecting all Australians to a better future
Industry regulation requires super funds to recognise the unique needs of all members. While we are all aware of different factors that can affect members’ needs, there seems to be a gap for people who have overcome hardships or have unique situations. Now more than ever, our purpose needs to centre around protecting the people that form the diverse fabric of our communities. We need to adapt our policies, procedures, products and member support to be more accessible and inclusive. It’s time to listen to our members’ voices so we can better understand their needs – so every Australian can live a life filled with choices options and freedoms. Because we can’t do better, until we know better.
PARALLEL 6
To merge or not to merge?
With shrinking numbers of member accounts, dramatic falls in valuations, the early release of super program and intense regulatory scrutiny, it’s no wonder funds are considering whether they can sustain their current financial models. Faced with choices to increase member fees, use reserves, defer capital investment designed to enhance member engagement, many are contemplating if it’s time to look at a merger to reap benefits from greater scale. But is there systemic risk from more concentrated memberships and a lack of diversity? This panel will look at the industry’s possible responses to issues identified by APRA Heatmaps and pose the question: is bigger really better?
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2.50pm
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KEYNOTE 3
Building a better, braver new world? The role of debt, stimulus and pensions
LIVE Q&A
With governments around the world saddled with burgeoning COVID-19 debt and unprecedented levels of stimulus from central banks, what will be the role of patient responsible pension capital in the coming decade? Lord Adair Turner will address the outlook for investment in renewables and emerging energy infrastructure and technology, and what role pension and superannuation funds can play in decarbonising surface transport, building sustainable supply chains and transforming the built environment. He will identify how pension funds can work with other stakeholders to provide the capital needed to meet our aspirations for net zero 2050, against a backdrop of clamouring demand for a low carbon future.
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3.25pm
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Daily wrap-up
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