Celebrating our Mentoring Team

At Women in Banking & Finance UK, mentoring is one of our flagship programmes, helping women build confidence, develop new skills, expand their networks and take the next step in their careers.

Behind every successful mentoring partnership is an incredible team of volunteers whose commitment, expertise and enthusiasm make the programme possible.

Normally, our Volunteer of the Month shines a spotlight on one or two individuals. This time, however, choosing just one person simply wasn’t possible.

The WIBF Mentoring Programme succeeds because of a truly collaborative team. Each volunteer brings their own skills, experience and perspective, but it’s the way they work together, supporting one another and sharing a common purpose, that makes the programme so special.

That’s why this month we’re delighted to recognise our entire Mentoring Team as our Volunteers of the Month.

The scale of the programme continues to grow. In 2025, our mentoring programme doubled in size, supporting 491 mentees and welcoming 200 new mentors, demonstrating just how many professionals are eager to give back and support others.

What makes the programme particularly special is that every mentoring partnership is personally matched by a member of the team. Rather than relying solely on technology, each pairing is carefully considered, taking into account experience, goals, interests and aspirations to give every mentoring relationship the strongest possible foundation.

Over the past year, the team has worked tirelessly to deliver and continually enhance the mentoring experience for both mentors and mentees. Building on the successful launch of the PushFar mentoring platform in 2024, they have continued to refine and improve the experience for participants, while managing mentor and mentee matching, delivering learning sessions, launching the Future Me Mentoring Programme for students and using participant feedback to drive continuous improvement. Their collective efforts have strengthened one of WIBF’s most valued member benefits.

The team’s work extends far beyond administration. They create opportunities for meaningful connections, support professional development and help foster the inclusive, supportive community that sits at the heart of WIBF. Their dedication has enabled hundreds of mentoring partnerships to flourish, helping members gain confidence, broaden their perspectives and achieve their personal and professional goals.

We would like to recognise and thank:

• Sam Carnley – Mentoring Co-Lead, providing strategic leadership and helping shape the future direction of the programme. Sam has brought real vision, passion and energy to mentoring at WIBF. She is deeply committed to ensuring every participant has a positive and rewarding experience, balancing strategic thinking with a genuine focus on the individuals the programme supports. Sam was instrumental in introducing the PushFar mentoring platform in 2024, creating a more streamlined and accessible experience that enables mentors and mentees to connect, communicate and manage their mentoring relationships with confidence. Through her leadership, dedication and commitment to continuous improvement, Sam has played a pivotal role in helping the mentoring programme grow and flourish.
• Ras Gohil – Mentoring Co-Lead (London), helping to shape and lead the mentoring programme while developing and delivering its learning sessions. Her work ensures mentors are well equipped with the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to create rewarding mentoring relationships.
• Steph Ogunjimi – A member of the Birmingham Management Board, Steph plays a vital role in the day-to-day success of the mentoring programme. She leads the careful matching of mentors and mentees, recognising that creating successful mentoring partnerships is about far more than pairing names on a list. Every match is thoughtfully considered, taking into account each participant’s goals, experience and aspirations to give every relationship the strongest possible foundation.  Her thoughtful, people-centred approach and unwavering commitment make an invaluable contribution to one of WIBF’s flagship programmes.
• Muriel  Teisseire– Supporting the ongoing management and development of the PushFar mentoring platform, alongside programme coordination and delivery.
• Sue Till – Bringing invaluable experience, insight and dedication to supporting the mentoring community.
• Rachael Spiers – Helping to ensure the programme runs smoothly and continues to deliver a positive experience for participants.
• Bimsarie Weerathunge – Leading participant feedback and helping drive continuous improvement across the programme.
• Niamh Mooney – Supporting the launch and ongoing development of the Future Me Mentoring Programme.
• Lorna McAndie – Leading the Mentoring Programme in Scotland, creating valuable opportunities for members and strengthening mentoring support across the region.

We also need to mention Hannah Petit in the WIBF Operations team who supports the mentoring team!

Together, this exceptional group of volunteers has given countless hours to supporting others, often behind the scenes and alongside demanding professional careers. Their collaboration, generosity and shared commitment have had a lasting impact on individuals across the WIBF community and continue to strengthen one of our most valued member programmes.

To every member of the Mentoring Team, thank you. Your passion for helping others grow, your willingness to share your expertise and your commitment to creating opportunities for women across financial services embody everything that volunteering at WIBF is about.