When you're choosing a Master Trust, nothing is more important than finding Trustees with the experience, vision and commitment to give you genuine confidence. This is what the Aviva Master Trust delivers for you.
The Trustees govern the Trust and are responsible for everything, from member communications to deciding which investments to make available to members.
The five members of the Aviva Master Trust board are all established and highly respected leaders from varying fields within the pensions industry.
All of the Trustees have worked within the UK pensions industry in various capacities for a considerable length of time and can demonstrate a varied set of appropriate skills.
In addition, each Trustee has their own specialist pensions background with complementary expertise - providing a broad diversity of experience on the Trustee Board. They are all committed to providing exceptional service for members.
Read more about the Trustees and their experience below:
Meet the Trustees

Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames
Elizabeth is Chair of the Trustee Board and has held roles within the workplace pensions and savings industry for over 20 years, and was shortlisted for Professional Pensions Personality of the Year 2020. She was for many years the Chief Executive of the HSBC Bank Pension Trust (UK) Limited. Elizabeth is also the current non-executive Chair of Barnett Waddingham LLP’s Management Board. She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Colin Richardson
Colin is a leading professional Trustee representing PTL Governance Limited since 2014 and was chair of the Aviva Master Trust from inception to May 2020. Colin is an actuary and worked as an employee benefit consultant. He has a wealth of experience on DC Master Trust, single employer trusts and hybrid schemes. He is accredited by the Association of Professional Pension Trustees (APPT) and holds the Pensions Management Institute Trustee Certificate. Colin was voted the Pensions Insight DC Professional Trustee of the Year.

Rebecca Cooke
Rebecca is Chair of the Trustees’ Audit and Risk Committee and worked as a solicitor in private practice for more than 30 years focusing on pensions law and with a specific interest in trustee governance and pensions for not-for-profit organisations. She was appointed as a trustee to the Aviva Master Trust in 2015 and has detailed knowledge of Aviva’s processes.

Jonathan Parker
Jonathan is Chair of the Trustees' Investment Committee. He has worked in the workplace pensions and savings industry for over 20 years. He is currently Head of DC and Financial Wellbeing at financial advice group Redington, as well as being a Trustee of Aviva Master Trust. Before taking on these roles, Jonathan held senior positions in insurance, consulting and asset management.

Tilly Ross
Tilly is Chair of the Trustees' Member Experience and Communications Committee. She is a qualified actuary and pensions professional. Tilly is an accomplished non-executive on boards and committees and has 25 years' experience. She was a non-executive director of the Pensions Regulator up to April 2020. Tilly was Global Head of Pensions at National Grid PLC.
Taking action to help scheme members
Providing support during the pandemic
Clear communication in difficult times
Responsible investment
Championing clear communication
Our Trustees are united in their ambition to provide the highest quality member communications. This crucial area of activity will be a major focus for the Trustees and for Aviva over the next 12 months.
The Trustees consider Aviva’s suite of communications to be both high in quality and comprehensive — but they’re keen to make further improvements, particularly in the way Scheme members can interact online with Aviva in the years leading up to retirement.
The Trustees have highlighted further improving the member experience and engagement with both employers and members as priorities over the next year. They intend to:
- Enhance the journey for Aviva Master Trust members at all life stages, with particular emphasis on those aged 50 and over, and on members wishing to take advantage of flexi-access drawdown.
- Help members engage more with their pensions and to increase their understanding and awareness of long-term savings for retirement. They firmly believe that increased engagement leads to better outcomes.
Finding out what employers and members really want
The Trustees are passionate about gaining a better understanding of members’ desired outcomes, through careful analysis of member demographics and behaviours. They will use this insight to identify key areas for change. In the first half of 2021, the Trustees surveyed members on their priorities when it comes to pensions to learn more about members' priorities and to ensure they are providing support and communications.
The Trustees will also be hosting regular hour-long webinars presenting current topics of interest to employers, as well as holding a Q&A session where employers can speak directly to the board and experts from Aviva. They are keen to meet with client employers and attend employer governance meetings where relevant.
Business perspectives
Expert business insight and analysis

Health & Wellbeing / 19 May 2022
Why supporting menopause in the workplace is important
Deborah Garlick, Director at Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, explains why introducing menopause support at work makes sense for savvy organisations.
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6 May 2022
4 ways SMEs can take the sting out of loneliness
As SMEs busily grow their hive, are they too busy to notice the workers who may stray from loneliness? They may be, but here are four ways to bring the colony together.
Take the stinger out

4 May 2022
Good medicine: what we can all learn from ‘social prescribing’
Social prescribing is a term that’s gradually becoming better known. It’s a way of describing the process of a GP or other NHS professional referring a patient to non-clinical services to help with their health and wellbeing.
Learn more

26 Apr 2022
Partner up to tame down workplace stress and anxiety
Work may sometimes feel like a sabre-toothed tiger is chasing you. So, is it the employers’ or employees’ responsibility to tame the tiger? Partnering together is key.
Tame the tiger

Pension / 22 Apr 2022
Taking your employees from work to retirement with an Aviva workplace pension
How does your workforce turn their pension pot into money in their pocket?
Learn more

Pension / 21 Apr 2022
What’s driving the move to master trust?
What's the attraction?
Discover more

6 Apr 2022
Seven ways to manage stress and anxiety
Life has the ability to put a spanner in the works at any time, so it’s normal that you and your employees could feel stressed from time to time.
Discover our tips

6 Apr 2022
Tune in, drop out disengagement: 5 ways to connect on ESG pensions
If members could watch their pension as a TV show, would they change the channel or have their nose to the screen?
Tune in now

Health & Wellbeing / 22 Dec 2021
5 ways alcohol awareness can be part of your wellbeing strategy
Don Shenker, founder of the Alcohol Health Network, explains why alcohol awareness should be part of a wider wellbeing strategy.
How to raise awareness

Sustainability / 20 Dec 2021
ESG and ethical investing: what’s in a name?
In recent years, ESG and ethical investing have become part of mainstream investing.
Read more

Good business / 24 Nov 2021
Mid-life MOTs… an employees’ tune-up for a better retirement
The journey to retirement is a long one, and plenty can change along the way.
Start up your MOT

Sustainability / 2 Nov 2021
Pension power: our best defence against climate change?
Shane O’Brien shows how we can all do our bit to help turn villains into heroes on climate change.
Feel the power

Sustainability / 29 Oct 2021
Investing to improve the world we live in
Laura Stewart-Smith explains how providers and pension schemes can keep members aware and engaged with ESG investing.
How you can help

20 Oct 2021
Wellbeing and business risk: what can’t be left to chance
Debbie Bullock, Aviva’s Wellbeing Lead, on why wellbeing is a business risk that needs to be taken seriously.
Avoiding risk

15 Oct 2021
Menopause is a business issue: what can employers do to help?
Aviva UK Health Medical Director Dr Doug Wright discusses ways to support employees experiencing the menopause and help them stay in work.
Be prepared

13 Oct 2021
How the Retirement Living Standards can improve pension incomes
The Pension and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA)’s Retirement Living Standards were recently updated. Discover how Aviva embeds the new figures in various initiatives.
Play your part