24 November 2025 - Harnessing DB surpluses for a stronger pension future

Join us at 18:00-21:00 GMT for an in-person masterclass dinner with Van Lanschot Kempen and EY.

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We are delighted to invite you to an exclusive dinner discussion for CFOs, Pensions Directors, Finance Directors and professional trustees, bringing together senior leaders to explore the evolving endgame universe of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes.

Rather than focusing narrowly on DB surpluses, this dinner will set those discussions in the broader context of endgame options. We will examine how different solutions, from traditional buyouts to run-on models, are shaping the market, and where asset-led discounting and Clara fit into this evolving landscape.

The evening will provide a collaborative forum for challenge, fresh insight and forward-thinking opportunity. Themes will range from the strategic deployment of surplus assets for member and shareholder benefit, to the role of innovative frameworks and responsible leadership in driving long-term outcomes.

As with all our curated dinners, each course will anchor a focused discussion topic, creating a dynamic and engaging environment for open dialogue among peers.

Themes will include:

  • Unlocking the potential of DB surpluses amid a shifting regulatory and economic landscape.
  • Practical pathways to align surplus deployment with improved DC outcomes. 
  • Broader societal implications and the role of leadership in driving innovative solutions. 

We would be delighted if you could join us for what promises to be a highly engaging and impactful evening. With plenty of government announcements and new initiatives being announced between now and the dinner, we expect a lot to chew over by September.

Date: Monday 24 2025
Time: 18:00-21:00 GMT
Location: EY head office, 1 More London Place, London SE1 2AF
Space is limited – we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

Who should attend?
This event is open to CFO's, Pension Directors, Finance Directors and Professional Trustees
Register here

18:00-18:30  

 Welcome and networking drinks
 Kick off the evening with networking drinks and light bites.

18:30-18:45  

 Introduction and scene setting
 Introduction and context setting with Charlotte O'Leary, CEO, Pensions for Purpose.

18:45-19:15 

 Starter - The evolving endgame universe
 Exploring the full spectrum of endgame options, from buyout to run-on, and how innovations such as Clara are expanding the choices  available to schemes.

19:15-20:00  

 Mains - Asset-led discounting and run-on strategies
 A deep dive into why asset-led discounting should be considered as part of a run-on strategy, how it can be applied in practice, and its role in the broader endgame toolkit. with Pat Race, Managing Director, Van Lanschot Kempen.

20:00-20:30

 Dessert - Surpluses, society and responsible deployment
 Examining how surplus assets can be mobilised responsibly, including through frameworks such as the City of London Compact, to balance   shareholder value, member benefit and societal impact, with Kevin Humpherson, Partner, Pensions Consulting, EY.

20:30-21:00 

 Networking night cap
 Wrap up the evening with a final round of drinks and further networking opportunities.

 

Sponsor

Founded in 1737, Van Lanschot Kempen is the oldest independent financial institution in the Netherlands. While its heritage remains a point of pride, the firm is firmly focused on the future.

Rather than offering a broad range of services, Van Lanschot Kempen specialises in a select number of areas where it can deliver the greatest value—most notably in fiduciary management and high-conviction, active investment strategies.

Venue Partner



EY provides both trustees and corporates with an end-to-end service across a pension scheme’s life from benefit design to risk transfer solutions. We bring the expertise of our covenant consultants and pensions consultants together to our clients, cultivating a partnership to co-create the right solution for corporates or trustees and their pension schemes.

Speakers

Pat Race, Managing Director, Van Lanschot Kempen

 

As a Managing Director and an experienced practitioner in the Client Solutions team, Patrick Race brings all aspects of the Van Lanschot Kempen services to our larger UK fiduciary management clients. 

 

Before joining the firm, Pat was a partner at KPMG LLP and then a founding partner of Isio Group Limited as part of the sale and management buyout of KPMG’s pensions advisory business. Prior to that, Pat had a long career with Mercer Limited in the UK and Mercer Inc. in the US, leading for a period both the UK investments business and the Midwest Zone investment team, based in Chicago. 

 

Pat’s client work has focused on large defined benefit clients (GBP 2-10bn), mainly on the corporate side but with some local authority and public fund work carried out too. Pat has advised across the full range of investment consulting topics including large scheme set-up, establishing investment principles and objectives, setting strategy and structuring LDI portfolios and hiring the right set of investment managers to deliver both public and private market client briefs. 

 

Pat is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and former examiner for the investment exams. Pat has a BSc in Mathematics from Nottingham University and maintains a close association with Citizens Advice Leicestershire having volunteered as an assessor during a recent career break. 

 

Kevin Humpherson, Partner, Pensions Investment, EY

 

Kevin is a Partner in EY and leads the UK Pensions Investment team, providing investment advice and investment governance support to a range of clients including UK pension schemes, corporate sponsors, charities, endowments and global asset owners. Kevin joined EY in October 2023 and is supported by a team of 15 investment professionals across London, Edinburgh and Leeds. Kevin has worked as an investment advisor since 2011 and prior to joining EY, Kevin was a Director in Deloitte’s UK investment practice.

 

Kevin graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a MSc in Business and Marketing, has a BSc in Neuroscience and holds the Investment Management Certificate.

 

Host

Richard Giles, Senior Director & Community Lead, Pensions for Purpose

 


Pensions for Purpose exists as a bridge between asset managers, pension funds and their professional advisers, to encourage the flow of capital towards impact investment. Our aim is to empower pension funds to seek positive impact opportunities and mitigate negative impact risks.

Our Community allows members to learn from leaders in the impact investment industry. We provide a trusted environment to interact, collaborate and share knowledge. Members engage in a programme of activity to shape their strategy in ESG, sustainable and impact investments.

For more information, please email the Membership Manager.