Speakers
-
Dawid Konotey-Ahulu CBE DL CBE DL, Co-founder, mallowstreet
Dawid is a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded Redington and mallowstreet with Robert Gardner. Dawid remains involved in mallowstreet as a Board Director.
Most recently Dawid co-founded The #10000BlackInterns programme with Jonathan Sorrell (President of Capstone Investment Advisers), Michael Barrington-Hibbert (founder of Barrington-Hibbert Associates), and Wol Kolade (Managing Partner of Livingbridge), the group which founded #100BlackInterns in August 2020.
Through the #100BlackInterns initiative, leading players in the investment management industry have come together to address the chronic underrepresentation of Black talent in that sector. Since its launch, the programme has garnered extraordinary support with 200 investment management companies offering internships in the Summer of 2021 to Black students in the United Kingdom as a way of attracting a more diverse range of talent to their industry.
Following the launch of #100BlackInterns, the #10000BlackInterns initiative has been designed to help transform the horizons and prospects of young Black people in the United Kingdom. The 10,000 Black Interns programme will offer paid work experience across a wide range of sectors, providing training and development opportunities and creating a sustainable cycle of mentorship and sponsorship for the Black community.
-
Steve Charlton Managing Director Defined Contribution EMEA and Asia, SEI
Steve joined SEI in 2017 as SEI’s Defined Contribution Managing Director for EMEA & Asia. In his role, he is responsible for building upon the success of SEI’s UK DC proposition across global markets. Steve has 35 years’ experience in the pensions industry, with a particular expertise in defined contribution plans. He joined SEI from Vanguard Asset Management where he was their defined contribution manager for Europe. Prior to Vanguard Steve had a 20-year career in consulting working for Mercer, Punter Southall, and Towers Perrin.
-
Michael Robinson Head of Investment Development, Aegon
Michael is Head of Investment Development at Aegon UK, working to bringing new and innovative solutions to DC members. This has recently focused on the Mansion House Accord and the allocation of alternative asset classes into Aegon’s largest DC default, leading on the design and launch of three bespoke LTAFs. Further, Michael is leading on investment innovation at the decumulation stage, aiming to give members a better experience not just up to, but through retirement. Michael is a Chartered member of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
-
Tegs Harding Director,Legal & General WorkSave Mastertrust
Tegs, an established professional trustee, and Head of Sustainability at IGG, brings extensive experience in overseeing pension schemes across various sectors, encompassing DC, master trusts, DB, and CDC schemes. As a qualified actuary, her expertise extends to profound insights into pension finance, risk management, and regulatory landscapes.
-
Sharon Bellingham Master Trust Lead & IGC Lead, Scottish WidowsAn experienced pensions professional, Sharon comes with 30 years DC Pensions experience across a wide range of disciplines. She joined Scottish Widows in 2020 and is a member of the Master Trust Scheme Strategist Committee which has responsibility for driving forward the strategy and development of the Scottish Widows Master Trust. She also works closely with the Master Trust Trustee Board.
Sharon is a member of the PLSA Master Trust Committee and she also chairs the ABI Master Trust Working Group.
-
Robert Cochran Robert Cochran,Workplace Savings Engagement and Innovation Specialist, Scottish Widows
Prior to focusing on Engagement and Innovation Robert lead the Employer and Employee Engagement teams at Scottish Widows, where he championed clear, impactful communication around pensions. His team reached thousands annually through seminars and events, driven by Robert’s passion for demystifying pensions and embedding them within broader financial wellness strategies. Collaborating closely with LBG’s digital resources, he’s now at the forefront of integrating technology—apps, gaming and AI—to enhance pension understanding and interaction.
A respected voice in the industry, Robert regularly appears in print and on radio, and hosts the Scottish Widows Workplace Pensions Podcast. He’s a sought-after speaker at conferences and a trusted advisor to policymakers. As a founding partner of Pension Engagement Season and National Pension Tracing Day, Robert plays a pivotal role in national efforts to improve retirement outcomes. With a degree in Marketing and Finance, he blends strategic insight with deep sector knowledge, making him a leading advocate for pension engagement in the UK.
-
Martha Brindle Senior Director, Public Markets – Equities, bfinanceMartha joined bfinance in January 2021 as a Director in the Public Markets team, specialising in equity manager research. She leads equity manager selection mandates on behalf of DC plans and other institutional investors globally. Since 2024, she is also Chair of the firm’s Responsible Investment Committee. She has over 12 years’ experience in the fund management industry, with previous roles including equity manager monitoring at Stamford Associates, a UK-based investment consultancy. Martha is a CFA Charterholder, holds the CFA Sustainable Investing Certificate, CFA Certificate in Climate & Investing, and a first class BSc in Economics from the University of Nottingham. Within the broader investment management industry, Martha also co-Chairs the Consultants’ Working Group on behalf of the Asset Owner Diversity Charter.
-
David Butcher Founder, Mindful Pensions Limited
Independent Contributor David has more than 40 years’ experience in the pensions industry. A CEO three times in his executive career, David also has 9 years’ governance experience as a non-executive director/trustee on 5 pensions boards including BlackRock Pensions, and the master trust boards at Legal & General, Scottish Widows, and The People’s Pension. David also brings diversity of experience having been a board member of two research organisations in financial services and chaired two organisations in the wellbeing and mindfulness sector. A practitioner of mindfulness for more than 50 years, David is the Founder of Mindful Pensions, whose objective is to bring the benefits of mindfulness to the pensions industry.
