2027 Annual Conference & Exhibition Speaker Proposals Are Now Open
ACE brings together the expertise and experience of the NCPERS membership. Service providers, pension trustees, administrators, and plan staff contribute research, practical insights, and lessons from their work. These perspectives help attendees better understand the issues facing public pensions and apply what they learn to investment decisions, governance, technology, and plan operations.
The call for speakers for NCPERS 2027 Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) is now open. We invite our service provider members to share their expertise and help shape the educational program for May 16-19, 2027, in New York City. We also welcome proposals and participation from pension trustees, administrators, plan staff, and stakeholder members, whose firsthand experiences add valuable perspectives to the discussion.
Submit your proposal by January 8, 2027, at 11:59 PM ET.
What could you bring to the conversation
What are your pension clients asking about? What trends are emerging in your research, and what should plans understand before making their next decision? Your work may offer a timely perspective on an investment issue, a regulatory development, or a practical challenge facing pension systems.
ACE is an opportunity to share that knowledge with trustees, administrators, plan staff, and other professionals who support public pensions. Presenting allows you to contribute to their understanding, introduce a perspective they may not have considered, and encourage discussion across the pension community.
Trustees and pension fund staff are also encouraged to submit proposals and participate as speakers or panelists. Sessions that bring together service provider expertise and a pension fund’s experience can help attendees connect ideas to practice. Whether you propose a presentation or a panel, make clear what attendees will learn and how it relates to their work.
Topics we are looking for
The 2027 call for speakers focuses on four areas:
- The future of public pensions: Economic and workforce trends, legislative and regulatory developments, retirement security, and emerging challenges plans should be preparing for.
- Investments and funding: Investment strategy, portfolio construction, actuarial assumptions, funding policies, responsible investing, and approaches to managing risk and uncertainty.
- Governance and pension fund management: Board oversight, ethical decision-making, fiduciary responsibilities, fund management practices, and effective working relationships among trustees, staff, and service providers.
- Technology and operations: Practical uses of AI, administrative improvements, data quality, cybersecurity, business continuity, and lessons from implementing new systems or processes.
Have a relevant idea that falls outside these areas? Select “Other” on the submission form and explain how your topic would benefit ACE attendees.
Preparing your proposal
Start with a specific question or challenge your session will address. Consider who would benefit most from the discussion and what you want them to understand when they leave.
The submission form will ask you to:
- Identify your primary contact. This person will receive submission questions, selection notifications, and speaker coordination communications. You may also include additional contacts.
- Provide a session title and description. Aim for a clear title of 10 words or fewer. Your description should explain the issues you will cover, why they matter to public pensions, and the practical insights attendees will gain.
- Select the audience’s knowledge level. The form offers foundational sessions for attendees with 0-3 years of pension experience, intermediate sessions for those with 3-5 years, and advanced sessions for those with five or more years.
- Choose your format and length. Standard presentations and panel discussions may be 30 or 45 minutes. Express talks are 30 minutes.
- List your proposed speakers. Include names, titles, organizations, and contact information, along with any moderator. Confirm that everyone is aware of the proposal and available to present on May 17, 18, or 19.
Give your description enough detail to show what makes the session useful. For example, if you are proposing a case study, explain the challenge, the approach taken, and the lessons attendees can apply to their own plans. For a panel, explain how the speakers’ perspectives will contribute to the discussion.
Keep the scope realistic for the time available. A well-developed discussion of one important issue can give attendees more to work with than a brief overview of several unrelated topics.
Speaker requirements
ACE sessions must be educational and free of sales pitches or promotional content. References to products or services in a case study must support the learning rather than promote a business.
Presenters must have current NCPERS membership before their proposals can be confirmed. CorPERS proposals receive priority consideration, but acceptance is not guaranteed. If you have questions about membership, contact membership@ncpers.org.
All speakers must register for ACE 2027. CorPERS members receive one complimentary speaker registration; other speakers pay the standard registration rate.
Your organization may submit multiple proposals, but only one proposal per organization may be accepted. Before submitting, review the speaker requirements and event policies linked in the form, confirm your speakers’ availability, and check your proposal for completeness and accuracy.
What happens after you submit
Proposals will be reviewed January 9-31, 2027. Acceptance notifications will be sent February 1-5, 2027, to the designated primary contact. Submitting a proposal does not guarantee acceptance.
If your session is accepted, final presentation materials will be due April 30, 2027.
Share your expertise at ACE 2027
Think about the questions your clients and colleagues are asking, the findings from your research, or an issue you believe deserves more attention. Share the expertise that can help trustees and pension professionals evaluate their options, strengthen their practices, and make informed decisions.
Submit your proposal by January 8, 2027, at 11:59 PM ET.
For questions about the submission process, contact education@ncpers.org.