About Gareth Gibbins
Founder & Principal, The Pension Forge
Why I Built The Pension Forge
After 20 Years, I Saw a Gap
After two decades in the pension sector - across plan design, governance, regulatory work, and international policy - I kept seeing the same gap everywhere.
Pension organizations have excellent research. They know what innovation looks like. They've seen expanded member services in Denmark, pension coverage solutions in the UK, behavioural insights from leading academics. The knowledge exists. The research is solid. The case studies are compelling.
But the gap between knowing what works and actually launching it? That gap is enormous. Ideas stall in committees. Global best practices don't translate because the regulatory context is different. Pilots get discussed but never shipped. Innovation stays theoretical.
The challenge isn't knowledge. It's implementation.
So I built The Pension Forge to bridge that gap. To help pension organizations turn knowledge into action — through expert advisory on today's operational challenges, and through research-to-practice translation that actually ships what's working globally.
Your partner for expertise and execution.
who you're working with
Gareth Gibbins
BCom | MIR | LLB
Experience
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20+ years in the global pension sector
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Senior roles with one of Canada's largest pension plans, led policy, legal, research, learning and advocacy teams
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Navigated governance modernization, simplified complex plan design, executed complex asset transfers, implemented research-based member tools at scale
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Chaired committees across industry organizations, including Ontario's pension regulator and the Ontario Bar Association
Affiliations
Associate Fellow, National Institute on Ageing (NIA)
International Advisory Board, World Pension Summit
Social Infrastructure Working Group, International Centre of Pension Management (ICPM)
Twenty Years of Hands-On Experience
I've been in your seat. I've led innovation teams, navigated governance challenges, implemented member tools, and managed stakeholder complexity at scale. This isn't theoretical consulting. I've lived the gap between idea and launched product, and I know how to bridge it.
Deep Global Networks
I bring connections across leading pension systems — Nordic countries, Australia, UK, Netherlands, Asia-Pacific. I don't just report what they're doing. I translate what's working internationally into approaches that fit your regulator context, organizational culture, and member population.
Boutique by Design
When you work with The Pension Forge, you work directly with me throughout. No junior consultants. No delegation. No bait-and-switch. Senior expertise from first conversation to final implementation. Personal relationships. Flexibility to adapt. Accountability throughout.
what i bring
Three Things that Matter
beyond work
What Drives Me
With two boys on the autism spectrum, I'm passionate about advocating for neurodiversity in the workplace. I've led grassroots programs to effect real change in this area because I believe organizations are stronger when they actively include neurodiverse talent.
After my family — and perhaps the San Antonio Spurs — I enjoy nothing more than connecting and collaborating with like-minded individuals to help shape the future of pensions and social infrastructure. The best work happens in relationships built on trust, mutual respect, and shared commitment to getting it right.