Mauritius will take centre stage as the host destination for the 7th Annual Africa Pension Funds and Retirement Summit™ 2026, one of the continent’s most authoritative gatherings dedicated to the pension and retirement industry. Taking place from 19 to 22 May 2026 at the InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort, the summit will bring together a distinguished assembly of pension fund executives, trustees, institutional investors, regulators, policymakers, and industry strategists from across Africa and beyond.
Now in its seventh edition, the summit has firmly established itself as a premier platform for shaping the future of pension systems across the continent. This year’s edition arrives at a critical juncture — as Africa’s pension and retirement sector navigates an increasingly complex landscape defined by geopolitical shifts, persistent currency depreciation, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the rapid acceleration of digital transformation.
The 2026 edition is designed to move beyond discussion and into strategy. Delegates will engage in a series of high-level keynote addresses, panel discussions, case studies, and breakout sessions spanning some of the most pressing issues facing the industry today. Key themes on the agenda include overcoming threats to pension portfolio stability, the integration of ESG principles into African pension fund investment, pension fund infrastructure investment, political risk and governance, the role of AI and digital transformation in fund management, and extending pension coverage to the informal sector.
Case studies will spotlight regulatory innovation from South Africa’s Two-Pot Retirement System and examine lessons Africa can draw from the Netherlands’ pension three-pillar model — providing delegates with both a continental and a global lens through which to refine their strategies.
The summit will feature an exceptional line-up of speakers, including H.E. Ms Lerato Dorothy Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union; Mr Guy Opperman, former UK Pensions Minister (2017–2022) and Consultant at Smart Pension; Ms Geraldine Fowler, President of the Institute of Retirement Funds Africa (IRFA), an organization operating across the African continent; Mr Muyangwa Muyangwa, Director General of NAPSA; and Professor Laurens Swinkels of the Robeco Pension Fund, Netherlands, among many others. The breadth and seniority of the faculty reflects the summit’s standing as a truly pan-African and internationally connected event.
Charity Wockelmann, CEO of Africa Pensions, commented: “It is wonderful to be back in Mauritius for the 7th Annual Africa Pension Funds and Retirement Summit — a destination that has become synonymous with the values we champion: stability, integrity, and a genuine commitment to Africa’s financial future. Each year, this summit grows in ambition and impact, and this edition is no different. We are bringing together the brightest minds on the continent to move beyond conversation and into action, shaping pension systems that are resilient, inclusive, and built for the long term.”
The choice of Mauritius as the host destination is both deliberate and fitting, reflecting its undisputed position as Africa’s leading International Financial Centre (IFC). In the latest Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 39) published in March 2026, Mauritius climbed 8 places to rank 50th globally, cementing its status among the top 5 financial centres in Africa and reinforcing its reputation as a trusted, competitive hub.
The Mauritian financial services sector is the primary pillar of its economy, directly and indirectly accounting for a quarter of total GDP and employing over 36,800 people. As a globally recognised financial hub, Mauritius is home to over a thousand global funds with a collective AUM exceeding USD 80 billion. Its strategic GMT+4 time zone, extensive network of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs), sound legislative framework, and political stability make it an unparalleled location for a summit of this calibre. The InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort — featuring the largest hotel conference space on the island with over 35,000 sq. ft. of meeting facilities — provides the ideal setting for four days of substantive engagement, networking, and collaboration.
