About

The International Organisation of Pension Supervisors (IOPS) is an independent international body representing those involved in the supervision of private pension arrangements. The organisation currently has around 60 members and observers representing approximately 50 countries and territories worldwide - from Australia to Zambia - covering all levels of economic development adn bringing together all types of pension and supervisory systems.

The IOPS, formed in July 2004, was instigated by the International Network of Pension Regulators (INPRS), an informal network of regulators and supervisors. It was felt that a more formal, independent, body could better serve as a world-wide forum for policy dialogue and the exchange of information, as well as the standard setting body, promoting good practices in pension supervision. The major goal of the IOPS is to improve the quality and effectiveness of the supervision of private pension systems throughout the world, thereby enhancing their development and operational efficiency, and allowing for the provision of a secure source of retirement income in as many countries as possible. 

The aims and purposes of IOPS can be summarised as:

• serving as the standard-setting body on pension supervisory matters and regulating issues related to pension supervision, taking into account the variety of different private pension systems;
• promoting international co-operation on pension supervision and facilitating contact between pension supervisors and other relevant parties, including policy makers, researchers and the private sector;
• providing a worldwide forum for policy dialogue and exchange of information on pension supervision;
• participating in the work of relevant international bodies in the area of pensions, including joint activities to improve statistical collection and analysis;
• promoting, conducting and facilitating the distribution and communication of research, and collecting information in co-operation with relevant international bodies 

The current President of the IOPS is Mr. Ross Jones, Deputy Chairman of the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority, with Mr. Edward Odondo, Chief Executive of the Retirement Benefits Authority of Kenya acting as Vice Chairman.  The other members of the Executive Committee are drawn from pension’s supervisors in  Chile, Hungary, India, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, the Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa and the UK.

The Chair of the Technical Committee of IOPS is Ms. Solange Berstein, Superintendent of pension funds, with Mr. Will Price, from the Pensions Regulator in the UK, acting as her Vice-Chairman.

The organisation cooperates closely with other international organisations involved in pension supervision policy development and dialogue, including the OECD, World Bank, ISSA, IAIS and IMF.

IOPS Principles of Private Pension Supervision