The East Sussex Pension Fund, whose committee is chaired by Conservative Gerard Fox, has been honoured with a top award at a national awards ceremony for the way it is run.
The Fund has been named Local Government Pension Scheme Fund (LGPS) of the Year (assets over £2.5 billion) at the 2021 Local Authority Pension Fund (LAPF) Investments Awards.
The top award recognises the Fund’s excellence in implementing best practice, leadership across pension fund operations, investment performance, governance and administration, and collaboration and leadership within the LGPS.
The East Sussex Pension Fund was praised by the judging panel, who commented: “Not only was the Fund’s investment performance excellent, the judges were especially impressed by our winner’s approach to governance, administration, and collaboration.”
In addition, the Fund was highly commended in the Best Climate Change Strategy category, reflecting the work it has done to change and develop its strategy, processes and reporting in relation to climate and other environmental, social and governance risks.
Conservative councillor Gerard Fox, Chair of the Pension Committee at East Sussex County Council, said: “Winning the LGPS Fund of the Year award is a fantastic achievement and testament to the hard work of our officers and advisors in managing the Fund. “A great deal of work and thinking has been undertaken to address both the challenges and the opportunities presented by climate change, sustainability, and the energy transition. This has helped us to better align the Fund’s portfolio with these themes, allowing it to play a role both in providing climate solutions, as well as protecting the interests of our scheme members.
“Being highly commended for our Climate Change Strategy is a welcome acknowledgement of this ongoing work and the substantial changes that we have made.”
The LAPF Investments Awards are a mark of excellence in the field of pensions provision in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Cllr Gerard Fox (second from right) with Head of Pensions Sian Kunert receiving the award on stage.
