Alumni Return to Inspire: Six Pension Professionals Visit Schools

Six members of the IAPF community gave up their lunch hours — and in some cases full afternoons — last month to visit secondary schools across Dublin, Cork and Limerick as part of a pilot careers outreach programme connecting pension professionals with students exploring futures in finance, law and public policy.

The initiative, organised in partnership with a national schools careers network, placed IAPF member volunteers in transition year and fifth year classrooms, where they spoke about their career paths, the work of pension funds, and the kinds of skills the sector is looking for in the next generation.

The visits ranged from formal presentations to open Q&A sessions, with students asking everything from how pensions actually work to how much trustees get paid (the answer, to some students' surprise, is typically nothing — trusteeship is a voluntary role). Several visitors brought anonymised case studies to illustrate how investment decisions made by pension funds ripple out into the real economy.

"I had one student ask me why anyone would do this job for free," said one participant, a trustee from a Dublin-based scheme. "I told her that managing money on behalf of thousands of people who are depending on you is one of the most meaningful things you can do professionally, whether or not you get paid for it. I think she got it."

For several of the professionals involved, the visits prompted reflection on how little visibility the pensions sector has among young people — and how much work remains to be done to attract diverse, curious talent into an industry that will play a defining role in the financial security of future generations.

The IAPF is planning to expand the programme in the next academic year and is inviting member volunteers to register their interest through the member portal. No formal presentation experience is required — only a willingness to share your story.