Insights, an AHC Podcast

The third of our series of podcasts with experts on the pensions industry, Dr. Iain Clacher is an Associate Professor in Accounting and Finance and Pro Dean International at Leeds University Business School, The University of Leeds. He is an expert on pensions and retirement saving and his work covers retirement decision making, pension fund investment, infrastructure investing, sustainable pension systems, trustee governance, and fund management costs and fees. He is also the Director of the Centre for Financial Technology and Innovation. Iain’s research and expertise has had a significant impact across a number of fields and has been used to advise a range of businesses, policy makers, and organisations including, The CERN Pension Fund, The City of London Corporation, The ONS, Aon, Zyen, The Work Foundation, and The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association. Iain was also the expert advisor on the qualitative analysis of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Retirement Outcomes Review and a member of the Institutional Disclosure Working Group of the Financial Conduct Authority, which established a framework for asset management cost and fee disclosures in pensions. Current projects include, work with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries examining trustee decision making; he is the lead researcher on a project with the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, the UK Sustainable Finance Initiative, and the UN Principles for Responsible examining split voting in pooled funds; and is lead researcher on the economic impact of block chain technology in farming supply chains in developing markets for the World Bank. In this interview with Tim Coleman from AHC, Iain discusses the implications of AI and Fintech on the future of the pensions industry and some of the innovations that are with us now.

In the second of our Insights series, AHC's Communities manager Tim Coleman talks to Lord Nat Wei via Zoom about his background and interest in the retirement industry. Lord Wei of Shoreditch served as the youngest male and only member of the House of Lords in the UK from a Chinese background. He started as a McKinsey & Company consultant before shifting into venture capital, social enterprise, and policy development. Lord Wei is the founding and current partner of the Shaftesbury Partnership, a member of the founding team of Teach First and former adviser at Absolute Return For Kids. A member of the advisory board of Future Planet Capital, the world’s first global platform to invest at scale in innovation emerging from leading universities to profitably address a multitude of global challenges. A former fellow of the Young Foundation, and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, Lord Wei is a member of the House of Lords and various Committees. He sits on multiple boards as chair and advisor across different industries.

Insights, an AHC Podcast Welcome to Insights, a series of podcasts in which AHC’s Communities Manager, Tim Coleman, speaks to pensions experts about some of the industry’s hottest topics. In this first edition, Tim speaks with Lesley Carline, President of the Pensions Management Institute (PMI). Lesley joined KGC Associates in 2012 after working for several providers including pensions systems, services and investment management, meaning she has a deeply holistic understanding of the industry. In her current role as President of the PMI, Lesley serves on the Advisory Council and its Board. She is also the Chair of the Policy & Public Affairs Committee, the PMI’s Master Trust Special Interest Group, and the Pensions & Retirement Income Sector Group. Lesley holds a Masters in Economic and Social History and is also a Chartered Marketeer. When not working, Lesley likes to spend time with her two dogs and developing her baking skills, although bread remains a challenge!