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 / 8 Sep 2021
Why we shouldn’t get too comfortable in our slippers
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Health & Wellbeing / 12 Aug 2021
How to spot if your employees are burning out
Aviva’s Dr Doug Wright looks at how to spot the signs of burn-out and what you and your employees can do to prevent it.
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11 Aug 2021
How you can help create a Living Pension for your employees
Steve Jackson, Senior Proposition Manager at Aviva, talks about a Living Pension for all workers and how you can make a difference.
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19 Jul 2021
Seven ways you can help your employees adjust to the relaxing of restrictions
Most of the restrictions we’ve all lived under for over a year are beginning to lift, but that’s something many people will find unsettling. It won’t be easy for many of us to simply return to life as we knew it.
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16 Jul 2021
The emotional impact of opening up society – how it may affect your employees
Debbie Bullock, Aviva’s Wellbeing Lead, talks about why the end of restrictions may not mean the end of anxiety for some people.
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16 Jul 2021
Financial wellbeing in the post-pandemic workplace
Workplace wellbeing packages are stronger with a financial wellbeing element. Here are some reminders about why it’s important.
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7 Jul 2021
Is financial stress affecting your balance sheet?
Dale Critchley, Policy Manger for Workplace Savings & Retirement looks at how employee financial wellbeing benefits businesses and individuals.
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24 Jun 2021
Working with your workers to make sure work works for them!
Aviva’s new report shows the vital role employers can play in improving employees financial and professional wellbeing post-Covid, says Iona Bain.
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22 Jun 2021
Why wellbeing is like a three-legged stool
A well-rounded wellbeing programme must focus on three elements – physical, mental and financial wellbeing – if it’s to do the job properly.
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15 Jun 2021
Thriving in the Age of Ambiguity
Last year we issued our first Age of Ambiguity report, looking at the blurring of lines between home and work life.
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Pensions / 4 Jun 2021
Financial wellbeing in the age of COVID-19: how you can help
Employees’ financial wellbeing has always mattered. Now the pandemic has raised more questions than ever, what can employers do to help?
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Health & Wellbeing / 17 May 2021
Why supporting menopause in the workplace is urgent and 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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12 May 2021
How to help when someone is not okay
What do you do if someone tells you they are not okay? It’s not easy to know what to say, but we have some tips to help you.
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Health & Wellbeing / 12 May 2021
The links between alcohol and mental health
Don Shenker, founder of the Alcohol Health Network, explains why alcohol awareness should be part of a wider wellbeing strategy.
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11 May 2021
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.
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Health & Wellbeing / 6 May 2021
Next week is Mental Health Awareness week
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