WIBF PRESIDENT – MACQUARIE SIGNS AS HEADLINE AWARDS SPONSOR | WELCOME TO MOODY`S

I hope 2016 has got off to an inspiring start for you all. It certainly has for Women in Banking and Finance.

“I want to share with you the great news that Macquarie will be the headline sponsor for the 2016 Women in Banking and Finance Awards for Achievement. Macquarie is committed to diversity in our industry and we are proud that they have chosen to partner WIBF in our annual celebration of the excellent work done by, and for, women working in banking and finance.

“At the heart of Macquarie’s culture is the belief that a robust meritocracy is the foundation of our commercial success and we know that striving for gender balance at every level in the organisation is central to this now and in the future. Attracting and retaining women remains a challenge for the banking and finance industry and we need strong role models to show us what can be achieved. That is why Macquarie is proud to sponsor the 2016 WIBF Achievement Awards celebrating the talent and success of some truly inspirational women.” – Jane Magill, Chair of Balance at Macquarie

The 2016 Awards for Achievement will be launched on Friday 12th February, with nominations opening on the same day. Take a look at your colleagues and get ready to share news of their talent and their innovation with the wider industry. Get ready to celebrate!

I am incredibly pleased to tell you that we have a new Platinum corporate member – a warm welcome to Moody’s. We look forward to working closely with Moody’s for the benefit of the women in their organisation and in the industry generally. Moody’s is the first rating agency to join WIBF and we see this as a clear indicator that the full range of institutions in the finance industry feel confident that working with WIBF is the way to support women to advance in their careers.

Our new Champion for Women programme launched with a splash last week. Fifty senior members of the industry listened to the honest exchanges between our high-level panel. We are delighted that the launch of this programme was greeted with such enthusiasm. Making progress with the diversity agenda demands flexible approaches from us all, and WIBF aims to adapt and grow in the direction needed by our members. Many thanks to the members of the panel and to Jane Oliver, Head of the Champion for Women programme.

Our new website will go live in the middle of the month. I know you will be as pleased with it as I am.

– Janet Thomas, WIBF President”