Savings, investing & the gender divide: what’s changing and why it matters

About this event

How we save, invest and plan for the future is shaped by far more than income alone. Gender, career paths, caring responsibilities, confidence, culture and even the language used around money can all influence financial outcomes over a lifetime.

Join WIBF for an important and timely discussion exploring the realities behind women’s financial experiences - from the gender pay and pension gaps to generational attitudes towards investing, career breaks, long-term financial security and the growing influence women are having on financial decision making.

Our panel will examine why many women still feel excluded from financial conversations, what practical steps can support better long-term outcomes, and whether current financial systems were truly designed with women’s lives and careers in mind. The discussion will also explore how confidence, risk, advice, social media and changing workplace patterns are reshaping attitudes towards money and investing across generations.

Alongside honest discussion and practical insights, the event will provide the opportunity to network with peers and continue the conversation after the panel.

Timings:

5pm - Arrive from
5.30pm - Panel discussion commences
Followed by Q&A and networking
7:45pm - close

Our panel

Chief of Staff to the Group CEO, L&G Aysha Patel (Moderator)

Aysha works across L&G Group’s strategic priorities, supporting executive decision making and coordinating activity across multiple business lines.

Prior to this, Aysha held senior roles within L&G’s Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) business. She most recently served as New Business Origination Lead, responsible for developing early-stage relationships with trustees and sponsors and building the pipeline of future transactions. Alongside this, she was Business Manager to the CEO of the business from 2023 to mid-2024, supporting leadership across a period of significant market activity. During her time in PRT, Aysha also played key roles in the pricing and execution of several landmark transactions, including the £4.8bn buy in with the Boots Pension Scheme in 2023.

Before joining L&G, Aysha worked in Willis Towers Watson’s consulting business, specialising in liability management and pension scheme de-risking. She is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

Finance Director at Aldermore Bank Anna Homewood

Anna Homewood is a qualified accountant with extensive leadership experience in the banking industry. At Aldermore Bank, she leads the Group Financial Planning & Analytics team. In this role, Anna oversees strategic planning, forecasting, business partnering, pricing governance, and executive reporting.

Alongside her finance career, Anna is a passionate advocate for Diversity & Inclusion. She co‑chairs Aldermore’s Family & Carer’s Employee Network and has served as a Board Trustee for the national charity Working Families since 2025. The charity is dedicated to removing the barriers faced by people with caring responsibilities in the workplace.

Anna’s commitment to supporting working parents is grounded in her own lived experience. As a senior leader and mother of two young boys, she understands first‑hand the importance of flexible, supportive work environments in helping parents to thrive both at work and at home.

Managing Director, Workplace Savings, Legal & General Katharine Photiou

Katharine is the Managing Director of L&G’s 5.5-million-member Workplace Savings business. It’s a growth area for the Group with over £90bn assets under management, including the UK's largest commercial master trust.

She’s focused on driving better outcomes for its members by understanding their financial needs and helping them plan for their retirement at every stage of their working lives. She also serves as CEO of the Portfolio Management Services business.

Katharine has been with L&G since 2015, and brings over 30 years’ experience in employee benefits and corporate consulting, including senior roles at Friends Provident, Barclays Personal & Corporate Banking and Mercer. In 2024, Professional Pensions magazine recognised her career achievements with the Women in Pensions Lifetime Achievement Award.

She graduated from Lancaster University with a BSc in Marketing. She’s also achieved a range of Chartered Insurance Institute Qualifications and more recently the plus SAFe 4 Agilist certification. She’s passionate about driving innovation in pensions and wider savings. On a more personal level she’s married, lives in London and supports a number of animal welfare charities.

Legal & General Asset Management, Senior Client Director Suneet Chavda

Suneet works in L&G’s Defined Contribution Pensions & Workplace Savings team, where he supports clients with their pensions and broader savings benefits that are offered to their employees. His role involves working across numerous stakeholders to drive stronger engagement and understanding of long-term savings, with a view to boosting employees’ retirement outcomes.

Alongside his core role, Suneet is actively involved in industry‑wide initiatives, including as a member of the Research & Insights Committee at NextGen Pensions, where he has contributed to research and analysis on areas such as the socioeconomic diversity of professionals in the pensions industry.

In addition, Suneet has held a number of voluntary governance roles outside work. He previously served as a Trustee and Treasurer for Citizens Advice Birmingham, supporting the organisation’s financial oversight, and continues to volunteer as a career coach with MyBigCareer, mentoring young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.