SPS Current Investment Issues for Pension Funds

Melaine Cusack

Client Director - Pension Trustee & Governance

ZEDRA

Melanie brings a diverse wealth of experience from across the pensions industry addressing both statutory and non-statutory actuarial and non-actuarial aspects of UK pension provision. As a qualified actuary she worked for global consulting firms including Towers Perrin (now Willis Towers Watson) before becoming a professional trustee in 2009.

Melanie’s focus has always been primarily defined benefit over defined contribution, albeit many of her clients have both benefit strategies. Her strong project management skills, pragmatic “can do” attitude combined with her technical appreciation of the actuarial science enable her to support fellow trustees and their sponsors in arriving at well-constructed, collaborative funding solutions. As her clients move towards closure and wind-up Melanie works with advisers to actively explore and challenge the constantly evolving opportunities and solution in liability management, risk reduction, potential consolidation and ultimate buy out.

She balances her works with some of the UK’s largest pension schemes, alongside her desire to support charities and the not-for-profit sector.

Always conscious that, in her role as a professional trustee, the sharing of her experience and mentoring of colleagues and fellow trustees is paramount in striving to achieve the best outcome for members and their sponsors. Melanie is a well-known and highly respected industry figure having been an active participant on the in-house Professional Standard Committee, and currently sits on The Pension Regulator’s Diversity & Inclusion Working Group and is Chair of the Winmark Pension Chair Network