Pensions & Investments is delighted to announce the winners of the P&I WorldPensionSummit 2025 Excellence & Innovation Awards, recognising achievements in a year that saw noteworthy entries across a wide range of retirement plans and initiatives.
Winners and runners-up were revealed at the annual P&I WorldPensionSummit, held in The Hague, Netherlands, November 4-6. The awards were presented by Julie Tatge, Editor-in-Chief at Pensions & Investments.
A panel of global retirement industry leaders, all members of the WorldPensionSummit advisory board, judged entries from across the globe.
Awards were presented across three categories: engagement and communication, investments, and pension fund design and reform. There was also a “judges’ choice” award in each category, recognizing initiatives that may not have ranked highest in terms of scoring, but that judges felt deserved recognition due to their unique nature or circumstances under which they were created.
The winners and runners-up are as follows:
COMMUNICATION & ENGAGEMENT
Winner: Real World Financial Literacy Initiative, LifeGoals Financial Services Ltd
The LifeGoals Real World Financial Literacy Initiative is a Cypriot program that looks to transform traditional financial education by immediately connecting learning with practical implementation.
Unlike traditional programs that teach concepts without application tools, participants can instantly implement every concept learned, from opening emergency fund accounts to enrolling in retirement plans with tax benefits.
According to the judges, the initiative combines financial education, technology and employer partnerships to improve the financial understanding and savings of members, which is an effective approach that extends beyond heavy reliance on technology alone. The model can also be easily replicated in many other countries.
Runner-up: Innovative Pension Options and Decision Support for AZPF Members, AstraZeneca Pension Fund, U.K.
Judges’ Choice award: The Biggest Vacation of Your Life, Swedbank Investicijų Valdymas, UAB, Lithuania
INVESTMENTS
Winner: Mobilizing Pension Assets in Real Sector and Infrastructure, C-Quadrat Ampega Asset Management Armenia
This initiative from C-Quadrat Ampega Asset Management Armenia seeks to address two issues.
Firstly, that the growth of pension assets is outpacing the supply of investable local currency assets, constrained by underdeveloped capital markets and regulatory limitations.
Second, that the Armenian economy faces an increased need for investment in infrastructure, human capital, and innovation.
The initiative comprises three key components. The first is the establishment of a Strategic Investment Fund, a privately managed investment vehicle that mobilises long-term private capital, including pension assets, to finance infrastructure projects and real sector companies.
According to judges, this was an innovative initiative and completely makes senses considering the limitations to invest in the Armenian markets.
Runner-up: KWAP Dana Perintis (Pioneer Fund), Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) [KWAP], Malaysia
Judges’ choice award: The expansion of the investment regime in the Retirement Savings System, National Commission of the Retirement Savings System (CONSAR), Mexico
PLAN DESIGN & REFORM
Winner: Your Employee Saver, HAYAH Insurance Company P.J.S.C., UAE
Your Employee Saver by HAYAH has been designed to be the Middle East’s first comprehensive digital pension ecosystem designed specifically for expatriate workforces. This voluntary contribution platform integrates end of service benefits with flexible voluntary savings mechanisms for both employers and employees.
YES operates as a dual-purpose solution that transforms static end of service benefit arrangements into actively managed investment portfolios while simultaneously offering voluntary contribution capabilities.
YES also looks to address the unique needs of an internationally diverse workforce.
According to judges, the innovation is ambitious and moves pension design to a new level based on the concept of an ecosystem, including an advanced technological platform, corporate integration complexity and an ambition of user centric experience.
Runner-up: Innovation with purpose: CAAT’s DBplus with GROWTHplus Investment Account, CAAT Pension Plan, Canada
Runner-up: Contributory Pension – Digital Transformation and Lifecycle-Based Pension Services Reform, Employees Provident Fund, Nepal
Judges’ choice award: Axis Pension Plan, Axis Pension Trust LTD, Ghana.
