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Anna Lane

President’s Message – January 2021

news published date 10 January 2021
  • Thoughts & Opinions

Welcome from our new President, Anna Lane

It feels a truly momentous time to be taking over as 23rd President and CEO of Women in Banking and Finance. As I write to you now, we find ourselves once again in the throes of lockdown restrictions and juggling work with a myriad of family, home, health and schooling pressures. Over and above the current challenges, it seems clear that a significant change for us, following the shift in our working patterns and improved technology over the last year, is that many will choose to continue working both remotely and/or flexibly if offered the opportunity.

Although I can count myself a veteran of the 2007-2009 financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a far more profound impact on industry and society at large. The impact of Brexit is a further area of uncertainty. However, in any crisis it is vital to ensure that there is access for all to the available opportunities and resources. It is this inclusivity that drives innovation and recovery and, in consequence, the business case for gender, disability and ethnic diversity is stronger than ever.

Today perhaps there is no more pertinent demonstration of innovation than in the development of the Covid-19 vaccines which are a triumph of diverse thinking, collaboration and ingenuity.

It is our flexibility, diversity, cooperation and creativity that will to help us to emerge stronger than before from the current economic crisis – the likes of which many of us will not have seen in our lifetime.

My vision and ambition for WIBF

I take great inspiration from the concepts of inclusion, innovation and collaboration. It is my intention to incorporate these key themes into my vision and ambition for WIBF whilst building on the work of previous Presidents and volunteers. I shall also actively seek opportunities to partner with peer networks and organisations that share our values.

I would like to thank our outgoing President, Vivienne Artz OBE, on behalf of the whole WIBF community. Her leadership, and commitment to advancing equality of opportunity for women, has been truly inspirational. I very much look forward to working alongside Vivienne as she takes her place on our Advisory Board.

Finally, I am looking forward to working with the team and volunteers. Your views are important and I welcome ideas and feedback from the whole WIBF network. Please do get in touch with your thoughts and suggestions via [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you!