President`s Message – February 2020

WIBF 23rd AWARDS for ACHIEVEMENT LAUNCH

The 2020 WIBF Awards were launched in London at a splendid breakfast event on Thursday 16th January, hosted by our headline sponsor, Citi, and in Edinburgh on the 17th January, hosted by institutional member, EY. It was inspiring to hear from former shortlisted nominees and winners, both individual and institutional, to learn how they approached nominating colleagues and how shortlisting, nomination and winning had an extraordinary effect on their careers. We were delighted to be joined by some of our illustrious judges too. It really was a terrific start for our Awards in this 40th anniversary year.

There is just one month left in which to nominate your colleagues, your friends, your associates. Take the time to nominate an amazing individual or team, and team and help recognise and celebrate the incredible role models around us.

We know that the WIBF Awards for Achievement are not simply an honour but are a facilitator of the changes our industry must make to increase the equality and opportunity that our society and our businesses desire and deserve.

Nominate them. It makes a difference to us all. Nominate via our website by Friday 28th February.

WIBF AND ITN PROGRAMME SERIES

WIBF is proud to have demanded progress for the gender agenda for the past 40 years; we have demanded progress from our sector, from the government, and from ourselves, and we are keen to spread the word of the achievements of our fantastic members over the past forty years and going forward.

This is why we are excited to co-produce, with ITN Productions Industry News, a news-style programme anchored by a national newsreader, created to raise awareness of the challenges for women working in the financial services sector today and the work being done to mobilise change.

Investing in Equality will examine the gender-parity gap in the financial services sector today and will look at what is being done to close it. This is your opportunity as an Institutional member organisation to participate in this production and showcase what you have achieved.  Please contact [email protected] for more details.

The programme will launch at WIBF’s Awards for Achievement in June!

WOMEN IN FINANCE SUMMIT, WEDNESDAY 12TH FEBRUARY

WIBF is presenting the Women in Finance Summit in partnership with City and Financial Global.

Pertinent, engaging speakers include John Glen MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister, June Felix, CEO, IG Group, and Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, CEO, 20-first. I will chair the conference, and themes of the day include: Government’s diversity initiatives. How do we create and keep a unique culture with so many employees? and Taking a panoramic view of women in finance: the impact of gender balance on the workforce, customers, shareholders, supervisors and society. It promises to be a very stimulating and useful day so do join us. There is a discount code for WIBF members (discount code WIF4WIBF). Details and registration via www.cityandfinancialconferences.com/womeninfinance2020

ACCELERATING CHANGE TOGETHER

We are making great progress on our thought leadership initiative, and there is still time for members to participate in this practical, insightful research which will help us all identify and address the challenges of the talent pipeline.  Please contact [email protected] for more details, and help make this initiative truly impactful.

SCOTLAND

I had an excellent trip to Edinburgh last week, participating in a Data Protection Event hosted by Pinsent Masons on international Data Protection Day, a meeting hosted by Standard Life Aberdeen with some of our members, and an induction event for our new volunteers; what a fabulous, engaged and inspiring group you are. Thank you for hosting me at such a great event. Read more about the evening below.

Welcome to WIBF’s new COO, Deborah Vickers; we’re delighted to have you on the team.

It is wonderful to have you all on board. Together, we can make WIBF’s 40th anniversary year really count. As a thank you gift to our members, we have commissioned a 40th anniversary notebook. We look forward to sharing these with you soon.

Best Wishes,
Vivienne Artz
President, WIBF

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