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NCPERS FALL Conference Delivers Real Value Virtually


The NCPERS Financial, Actuarial, Legislative & Legal (FALL) Conference, scheduled for September 29 and 30, is a creative response to extraordinary circumstances. It is, essentially, an unconventional convention that will bring our community together for two days of in-depth learning and networking from the safety of our own workspaces.


 

NCPERS FALL Conference Delivers Real Value Virtually


Sometimes it seems that the world has stopped, but in the public pension arena, we know that's not true. Pension systems are busy and are keenly focused on delivering on their promises to their members. To help our members continue to do just that, we at NCPERS are focused on delivering quality educational offerings.

The NCPERS Financial, Actuarial, Legislative & Legal (FALL) Conference, scheduled for September 29 and 30, is a creative response to extraordinary circumstances. It is, essentially, an unconventional convention that will bring our community together for two days of in-depth learning and networking from the safety of our own workspaces.

The FALL Conference is structured into three tracks to provide opportunities for in-depth learning in Financial, Actuarial, Legislative & Legal matters impacting public pensions.

The schedule provides time for everything you expect from an NCPERS conference—keynotes, breakout sessions, networking, and even an exhibit, all delivered virtually. And it is compact, with sessions scheduled six hours each day, starting at 11 A.M. EDT and concluding at 5 P.M. EDT.

Two keynotes will serve as bookends for the conference. We will open with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, presenting our opening keynote. The renowned labor leader, educator, and lawyer will address our imperative to protect public employees and pensions during a triple crisis—a health crisis, an economic crisis, and a justice crisis. In the closing session, we will hear firsthand from a pioneering doctor and medical researcher, Camillo Ricordi, on efforts underway to develop a potentially groundbreaking therapy for Covid-19 patients. A distinguished professor at the University of Miami, Dr. Ricordi will illuminate how we can all band together to fight the battle against Covid-19.

In between, we will have 18 separate breakout sessions—seven in the financial track, six in the legislative and legal track, and five in the actuarial track—as well as four express talks. Sessions will explore big-picture issues, such as pandemic aftershocks, societal changes, and the outlook for global equity markets, as well as more granular matters, such as responding to cyber-attacks, reconsidering pension obligation bonds, and sustainable investing strategies.

Participating is easy. You will receive an email from NCPERS with your log in instructions; once you have logged in to the ‘welcome' page, go to the ‘agenda' page for all of our sessions. You will be able to join the sessions live here and view the sessions until December 1!

Getting the most out of a virtual conference is easy too, but it does take planning. It's important to block out time to attend, just as you would if you were traveling out of town for a conference. Put away distractions and silence your phone so you can concentrate on the learning experience. Test your technology before you get online. Use the live chat function to participate in Q&A sessions. Engage on social media, and reach out to people you've met or would like to meet.

We are all continuing to adapt and adjust to the situation in which we find ourselves. Our signature events like the Annual Conference & Exhibition will be back as soon as it's safe. But in the meantime, our gathering space is virtual, and our need to keep learning and growing hasn't changed. We look forward to seeing many of you at the Fall Conference.

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