What it takes to make it to the top! Women and Achievement - London

Mei Sim Lai OBE is the Keynote speaker at the Women on Boards Event:

Women are making positive strides in the executive world with some remaining a formidable force in tough sectors including banking and finance. To make it to the top takes tenacity, high visibility, a constantly push of one’s ability, taking strategic risks and becoming much more proactive in widening your opportunities and seizing the moment.

In our series of ‘Women on Boards’, given that Women in Banking and Finance Network is celebrating its 30th anniversary and celebrating its success in terms of growth and accomplishments, we are delighted to have Mei Sim Lai OBE as our speaker. She has an impressive portfolio of non-executive directorships on various corporate and public boards, having had a successful executive career in the accountancy world. What did it take for her to make it to the top? How did she do it? How did she ensure that she was constantly pushing herself whilst celebrating her achievements? What is she most proud of? Come and find out more.
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MEI SIM LAI OBE DL FCA FCCA

Born and educated in Malaysia, Mei Sim is of Chinese origin. She came to London in 1970 to train as a Chartered Accountant. In 1979, she became the first female Partner at the leading firm of City Chartered Accountants, Pridie Brewster, established in 1914. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. She is an Ambassador for ACCA and sits on their SME Advisory Committee. Following 26 years as a Partner at Pridie Brewster she set up her own Chartered Accountancy firm LaiPeters & Co based in the City of London. She is also the Managing Director of her consultancy company LaiPeters Limited.

Alongside her work at LaiPeters & Co, Mei Sim currently holds and has held a number of Public, City and Charity appointments.

She is a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Greater London and Her Majesty The Queen’s Representative for the London Borough of Brent. Mei Sim is Chairman of the Brent YOU ( Youth Organisations-Uniform ) involving the Air Training Corps, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force., Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade., St John Ambulance, the Scout Association, Girlguiding Laser and the Volunteer Police Cadets in Brent.

Her public appointments include being a Public Works Loan Commissioner since 2001, a Member of the Senior Salaries Review Body ( 2002 -2009), a Member of the MoD’s Diversity Panel ( 2001-2007), a Member of the DTI’s Ethnic Minority Business Forum and Chair of their Access to Finance Group( 2000-2007). She is also a Member of UKTI’s China Business Task Force.

Mei Sim is a member of the University of Nottingham Globalisation and Economic Policy ( GEP) Strategic Advisory Board as well as being a Visiting Professor at London Metropolitan Business School.

From 1999 to 2007 Mei Sim was a Non Executive Director of Westminster Forum. The Forum seeks to foster closer links between senior figures in business, the City and the professions with their counterparts in Westminster and other fields of public life.

For over 8 years she was a Non Executive Director of St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington as well as being a Special Trustee of this world renowned Teaching Hospital. She has served on government bodies dealing with race and employment and education issues. Mei Sim was also a Panel Member of the Financial Services Tribunal for 7 years from 1994 to 2001.

Her charity appointments include being Vice Chairman of The Attlee Foundation, a Corporate Ambassador for SSAFA and an official Ambassador for Wellbeing of Women
and a member of their Audit Committee.. She served as a Trustee of Womankind, an international development charity for 8 years. Mei Sim has also been a member of the British Red Cross City of London Christmas Market Committee for many years. She sits on the Board of The 48 Group Club and is a Non Executive Director of International Women of Excellence.

Mei Sim was the Chairman of City Women’s Network from 1988 to 1990. She belongs to several other networking groups including PAWA ( Pan Asian Women’s Association ), AIWF (Arab International Women’s Forum) , the Overseas Malaysian Executive Club, and The Indus Entrepreneurs Network of which she is a Charter member. Mei Sim is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In November 2009 she was elected Chairman of Forum UK, the organisation for top women of outstanding and diverse achievement in the UK.

Since 1991, Mei Sim has been running the City of London Branch of the Institute of Directors as its Honorary Secretary. She also runs their China Interest Group.

In addition to being Junior Warden of the World Traders Livery Company, Mei Sim is on the Court of the Worshipful Company of Horners. In 2006, she became the second Lady President of the City Livery Club since it was established in 1914. She now chairs their Women in the Livery Group and the Discussion Group.

Mei Sim was delighted to be appointed OBE for services to Equal Opportunities in the 2004 . In October 2009, she was honoured with The International Alliance of Women 2009 World of Difference Global Award for her contribution to the economic empowerment of women.

ELIZABETH UWAIFO is a partner in the International Finance Group in London. Her practice covers a wide range of derivatives (including interest rate, currency, equity and credit derivatives and repurchase and securities lending transactions). She has significant experience in derivatives based structured products. Her experience includes advising on the structure and documentation of transactions and the enforcement of rights thereunder. Her clients include investment banks, funds, insurance companies and other financial institutions. Ms Uwaifo has written several articles and is co-contributor to books on the subject. Prior to her present position she was Vice President and Head of Derivatives Legal Negotiators at Union Bank of Switzerland. She has been actively involved in developing market standard documents for various products within her practice area. She has also been involved in several high profile award-winning synthetic securitisation transactions. English Solicitor.

Registration
WIBF members and non members please register online to book your place and use our secure payment page via WorldPay to pay the required fee where applicable.

Please email ann.leverett@wibf.org.uk for any other information relating to this event.