National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems

The Voice for Public Pensions

Print Page

FALL Call for Speakers


NCPERS invites you to submit proposals to speak at the 2025 Financial, Actuarial, Legislative & Legal (FALL) Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL, October 26-29. We are seeking dynamic and engaging sessions that provide valuable insight, practical strategies, and innovative solutions for public pension professionals. Whether you're an NCPERS service provider, fund member, or stakeholder, we encourage you to share your expertise and contribute to the success of FALL 2025.
 

     Deadline to Submit: August 8 at 5PM EST



MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED

NCPERS is a membership-based organization. All speakers must be an active member organization to participate in our events. Proposals submitted by non-members will not be considered. To inquire about membership, please call 202-601-2445 or email membership@ncpers.org.

 

WHAT IS THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE?

All proposals must be submitted by Friday, August 8 at 5:00 PM EST. Submissions received after this deadline will be placed on a waiting list for consideration as space allows. 


WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN A SESSION?

NCPERS invites compelling, well-crafted proposals that align with the needs and interests of public pension trustees, staff, and stakeholders. We are particularly interested in sessions that reflect the following qualities:
 
  • Timely and Relevant Topics
    Proposals should address current challenges, innovations, and best practices in the public pension industry. Topics may include investment strategies, governance, fiduciary responsibilities, regulatory updates, member services, and other emerging issues.
  • Engaging and Impactful Content
    We value sessions that encourage audience participation, offer practical tools or takeaways, and leave attendees with actionable insights.
  • Subject Matter Expertise
    Presenters should have proven experience or specialized knowledge in their topic area. The ability to deliver clear, informative, and engaging content to a diverse audience is essential.
 

WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE?

Most attendees at the FALL conference are trustees and staff from public pension plans. Others include representatives from plan sponsors, unions, and retiree organizations. The event also draws service providers such as asset managers, custodial banks, investment consultants, attorneys, and actuaries.

 

WHAT ARE THE TOPICS BEING CONSIDERED?

We welcome proposals that cover a wide range of subject areas relevant to public pension systems. Topics under consideration include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Challenges, Trends, and Future Directions for Public Pension Funds
  • Investments and Financial Principles
  • Actuarial Principles
  • Legislative and Regulatory Developments
  • Legal Environment and Compliance
  • Corporate Governance
  • Ethics and Fiduciary Responsibilities
  • Healthcare, Benefits, and Retirement Planning
  • Administrative Efficiency and Technology Solutions
  • Best Practices in Pension Fund Management
  • Risk Management and Mitigation Strategies
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Public Pension Management
  • Cybersecurity and Data Protection
  • Pension Plan Communication and Member Engagement
  • Sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Investing
  • Crisis Management and Contingency Planning
  • Emerging Technologies (e.g., AI, blockchain) and Their Impact on Pension Funds
  • Behavioral Economics and Member Decision-Making
  • Leadership and Change Management in the Public Pension Sector
If your proposed topic doesn’t fit neatly into one of these categories but offers strong educational value for our audience, we still encourage you to submit.

 

WHAT HAPPENS IF MULTIPLE PROPOSALS COVER SIMILAR TOPICS?

NCPERS typically receives more speaking proposals than available session slots. When multiple proposals are submitted on similar topics, we may combine presenters into a single, shared session. This approach allows us to feature a broader range of perspectives and increases the likelihood of being selected to present at the conference. If your proposal is selected for pairing, we will coordinate with all speakers to ensure a cohesive and well-structured session.
 

CAN I SUBMIT MULTIPLE PRESENTATIONS?

Yes, however, to ensure broad member representation and make room for a diverse range of voices, NCPERS accepts only one proposal per company or organization. While we welcome multiple submissions, only one proposal will be selected for presentation. This approach allows us to accommodate as many member organizations as possible within our limited number of session slots.
 

LEARNING FORMATS

Learning formats support instructional methods that help match your educational content with the best way to deliver your content.
 
Standard Presentation (30, 45 or 60 minutes)
Lecture-style presentation usually given by one or two speakers, highlighting one major topic or idea.

Panel Discussion (45 minutes)
A discussion lead by a moderator with up to three panelists presenting perspectives around a specific topic.
 


​PROPOSAL REVIEW & SELECTION CRITERIA

All proposals will be evaluated by the NCPERS Education Committee. Selections will be based on the following criteria:
 
  • Educational merit and learning objectives
  • Originality and uniqueness of the content
  • Relevance to current issues and the interests of our audience
  • Overall clarity, organization, and quality
  • Feedback from prior presentations (if applicable)
  • Level of engagement with NCPERS (preferred consideration is given to CorPERS members)


PRESENTATION EXPECTATIONS

If your proposal is accepted, NCPERS expects all speakers to agree to the following:
 
  • Meet all deadlines for submitting required materials and responding to communications.
  • Coordinate with co-presenters to ensure a cohesive and well-organized session.
  • Promote your session through your professional and social media networks (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook).
  • Confirm speaker participation in advance—each proposed speaker must be contacted and agree to participate if selected.
  • Maintain active NCPERS membership—speaker participation is limited to individuals affiliated with member organizations.
  • Submit final presentation materials by the deadline provided in your confirmation email.


PRESENTATION MATERIALS

If your proposal is accepted, you will be asked to submit your final presentation materials by the deadline provided in your confirmation email. Please plan ahead to allow time for preparation, internal review, and any required edits.


TIMELINE

To help you plan accordingly during the proposal process, please make note of the overall timeline below:
 
  • Call for Speakers Closes: Friday, August 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST.
  • Submissions received after the deadline will be placed on a waiting list.
  • Selected presentations will be notified the week of August 25-29.

Questions? Contact Jessica Ransome at 202-601-2449 or education@ncpers.org.
​