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President`s Message – October 2018

news published date 8 October 2018
  • News

ALUMNI DINNER | FT WOMEN AT THE TOP CONFERENCE | BRITISH ACCOUNTANCY AWARDS

October is the beginning of the fourth quarter of the year, and it also represents the last quarter in which to realise our goals and ambitions for 2018!  With a full calendar of events scheduled to the end of the year, it promises to be a busy time for WIBF and our members.

A highlight of the month was the second annual Awards Alumni Network Event, sponsored by Standard Life Aberdeen, with Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex as our guest and keynote speaker.  It was an amazing evening held at the IOD in London, and the Countess of Wessex took time to speak to each of the guests as well as addressing the gathering as a whole.  Do have a look at the photos via this link.

I had the pleasure to attend the FT Women at The Top Conference this year on the 20th September, and was delighted to see many other WIBF members there as well.  There were a number of interesting insights on the day, but some that struck a chord with me included:

  • Gender equality is a “business issue”, not just a “women’s issue”
  • Technology – I don’t want my world designed by someone who doesn’t represent or know me
  • Don’t replace paternalistic culture by a maternalistic culture
  • When women are involved in creating peace treaties, those peace treaties last 30% longer
  • Deliver change, not progress

I am also delighted to share with you that Cristina Chimenti, our very own WIBF Chief Financial Officer, was the only female short-listed candidate for the CFO of the Year Award at the Annual British Accountancy Awards held on 26 September at The Grosvenor in London.  Congratulations to Cristina on an amazing achievement, and a huge thank you for all the outstanding work you do as Treasurer at WIBF, an increasingly complex and demanding role as we continue to grow WIBF both in members and breadth of programmes and initiatives.

I am looking forward to October and catching up with you, our members, at some of the exciting events planned.

Vivienne Artz

President, Women in Banking and Finance