Three organisations were recognised for outstanding innovation in pensions and retirement fund strategies at the 2024 WorldPensionSummit.

At the 2024 Pensions & Investments WorldPensionSummit in The Hague, Netherlands, three institutions were honoured for their innovative approaches to advancing global pensions and retirement systems. The Excellence and Innovation Awards, organised by Pensions & Investments, celebrated achievements in three categories: communication and engagement, investment strategies, and pension fund design and reform. The awards also included special Judges' Choice honours. Recognised winners demonstrated significant strides in enhancing participant experiences, improving fund management, and employing creative digital solutions to better serve beneficiaries. In the communication and engagement category, Australia’s Aware Super, managing approximately A$175 billion, won for its strategic outreach initiatives, including an interactive retirement income service and educational resources for participants. Singapore’s Central Provident Fund’s “Paying it Forward” campaign and Kenya’s CPF Financial Services were also acknowledged for their impactful contributions. Highlighting innovation in investment strategies, the Dow Employees’ Pension Plan (DEPP) in Michigan gained top recognition for developing tactical asset allocation over a rigorous three-year process, underlining the importance of precision in portfolio management. LifeGoals Provident Fund in Cyprus and Lithuania’s SB Asset Management also received accolades, recognised for distinct initiatives prioritising lifecycle investing and sustainable asset modernisation, respectively. For pension fund design and reform, Azerbaijan's State Social Protection Fund was celebrated for its efficient digital hub facilitating social benefit distribution. Ghana's Metropolitan Pensions Trust and Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) in Canada followed with inclusive programmes addressing low-income and informal workers, as well as enhancing part-time employee benefits. This year’s awards underscored the value of innovative practices and reforms in strengthening pension systems globally. Through distinguished efforts, these institutions exemplified groundbreaking methods to adapt to the evolving demands of retirement planning and institutional fund management.