Asset Owners Network current activities
WHAT WE DO
The A4S Asset Owners Network is a chair-only forum for pension funds. It brings together chairs from UK and European schemes, supporting open discussion, peer learning, and practical action on the systemic risks shaping the future of pensions, the economy and the planet.
More details can be found here [link to network main page]
For pension fund chairs
Peer exchange that goes beyond best practice
Confidential roundtables within our UK and European chapters enable chairs to share real-world challenges and solutions on issues such as climate transition, nature loss and social impact. The focus is on what is driving effective board oversight and long-term value creation.
Decision-useful learning
Our Pensions Deep Dive webinar series and other learning sessions turn complex technical topics, such as climate scenario analysis, stewardship, and nature-related risks, into clear, actionable insights for trustees and boards. Each session is designed to build understanding and confidence in navigating emerging sustainability considerations.
Direct dialogue with policymakers and regulators
We facilitate structured engagement between chairs and senior officials, which has included HM Treasury, the Department for Work and Pensions, EIOPA and the European Investment Bank. These discussions allow members to provide input into key policy reviews and regulatory developments shaping the pensions landscape, ensuring the voice of asset owners is heard at the highest levels.
Tools to act now
We provide practical guidance, “top tips”, and question sets that boards can use to embed sustainability into governance, investment strategy and manager oversight. Resources cover areas such as climate and nature integration, scenario analysis and stewardship, supporting chairs to translate ambition into action.
HOW WE WORK
- Chapters: UK (established 2018) and mainland Europe (established 2024), each offering tailored peer engagement and strategic dialogue to reflect regional context and priorities.
- Formats: Virtual deep dive webinars, confidential roundtables, and in-person sessions at major industry events, creating space for senior, open discussion among peers.
- Focus areas: Governance for sustainability, system-level risk and opportunity management, effective corporate- and systemic-level stewardship.
RECENT IMPACT
- Providing confidential space for chairs to share insights to policymakers as part of recent government and regulatory consultations, ensuring that the “investor voice” includes that from pension scheme boards.
- Building awareness and action to ensure scenario analysis is decision-useful and is used to inform strategic discussions at a board level.
- Supporting sector-wide work on how addressing system-level risk aligns to trustees’ fiduciary duty.
- Raising the bar on how sustainability is integrated into the UK bulk purchase annuity (BPA) market, supporting the nearly £1 trillion assets under management of UK closed defined benefit pension assets planning a buy-in or buyout. With over 40 organizations as Charter signatories, including all UK BPA providers, signatories have committed to adopting the Charter principles and participating in cross-industry working groups to support implementation and process efficiency. This has included developing the Bulk Annuity Sustainability Survey (BASS) which is now the industry standard for assessing BPA providers on their sustainability credentials.
- Establishing dialogue between members and the wider global finance and accounting community, regulators and policymakers on specific challenges to explore ways forward and where relevant develop this into project-based outcome-focused engagement.
