FAREWELL FROM JANET THOMAS | CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF THE WIBF AWARDS ON 9 JUNE | PAST WINNERS – GET IN TOUCH

‘President, Women in Banking and Finance’ is a name badge I have been proud to wear for the past three years. I have been proud to represent you, our members, and proud to step forward with you to seek out opportunities for our network and embrace the meaningful role we can play in our sector during these uncertain times.

“Yes, these are uncertain times but WIBF has always been clear about the organisation’s role.

We are here to help our members forge the careers they want and to work with our corporate members to ensure that the development opportunities we provide are targeted to industry needs and create an effective path for women’s career development. Together, we want to increase the number of women working at all levels of banking, not only because that will be good for women but because it will be good for the economy and society.

These past three years have been very full but very rewarding. I took on the role of president with a remit, with a promise to our members that I would grow the network both in size and in influence. I step down satisfied that I have done this, leaving more corporate members and close to double the number of individual members. I also leave satisfied that my successor, Vivienne Artz, is the leader WIBF needs at this time. Her intellectual rigour will ensure that WIBF thought-leadership will be invaluable for the industry. I leave knowing that the values of the network – of reaching out to colleagues, of advising, of sharing – are Vivienne’s values, too.

I have kept up the pace in my last weeks as WIBF President! Last month, I was invited by the Prime Minister, Theresa May, to mark International Women’s Day with her at 10 Downing Street. It was a marvellous celebration of women of all backgrounds – sport, armed forces and business. Later in the week, Citi hosted the launch of this year’s WIBF Awards for Achievement. Manolo Falco, Managing Director, Head of Investment Banking for EMEA at Citi, gave a compelling speech about the importance of diversity for Citi and how sponsoring the 2017 WIBF Awards supports Citi’s efforts to create a diverse working environment. I finished the month with an Institute of Directors’ event at the Cass Business School where I was in conversation with Lady Barbara Judge CBE, Chairman of the IOD, who shared her insights on current affairs and the advancement of women in the workplace.

TWENTY YEARS OF WOMEN IN BANKING AND FINANCE AWARDS

Nominations for the 20th annual WIBF Awards for Achievement closed on Friday and the shortlisting process has already begun. Thank you, everyone, who took the time to acknowledge the achievements of colleagues with a nomination for this year’s awards. There would be no WIBF Awards for Achievement without you.

Find out who has been shortlisted for this year’s Awards for Achievement at the end of April.

This will be the 20th Awards for Achievement. Twenty years of celebration. Twenty years of ‘look at what these women have achieved’. I have seen for myself how the awards have grown in significance during my three-year tenure as President with the increasing demand for places at the Awards Luncheon meaning a successful move to a bigger venue – from the Dorchester to the London Hilton on Park Lane – and record increases in nominations year on year.

Remind yourself of the wonderful celebration we had at the Awards Luncheon, last year online link.

Why don’t you join us this year? Join us at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Friday 9th June for an afternoon of inspiring winners and valuable networking. We are delighted that this year’s Awards Luncheon is sponsored by Citi. Find out about the keynote speaker, Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange, and the judges on the WIBF website where tickets for this year’s Awards Luncheon are now on sale here.

TWENTY YEARS OF AWARD WINNERS – GET IN TOUCH

This year will be a great celebration of the achievements of the 2017 nominees and winners. However, it will also celebrate the more than 50 award-winners who have come before. I would be delighted if past winners would get in touch with WIBF and join us at this year’s Luncheon to mark their achievements and those of all the women, teams (and the one man) who came after and, of course, are still to come. Do email [email protected] to be part of the celebration.

WIBF 2017 CHARITY – BAKHITA HOUSE

We will not be holding a raffle at this year’s Luncheon but, of course, we, and I am sure you, still want to maintain the important charity element of our Luncheon. This means that we really must appeal to you to engage with fundraising for our 2017 charity, Bakhita House, which is doing such necessary and compassionate work with female victims of human trafficking, women who have had their freedom taken away and human dignity disregarded.

Please be ready to give cash or cheque donations at the Luncheon. Please give generously – these women need our help.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

I will officially hand over the presidency of WIBF to Vivienne Artz at the 2017 WIBF Annual General Meeting on Monday 24^th April, 6-8pm. All members are very welcome. Please see details on the WIBF website.

WIBF is a partnership with each individual member and with every corporate member. We really are all in this together. Thank you for the honour of being your President.

I wish you all the very best in your careers in the future.

Janet Thomas

WIBF President“