Introducing Sabree Kansagra, Chief Operating Officer of Women in Banking & Finance

Women in Banking & Finance is delighted to announce the appointment of Sabree Kansagra as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Sabree is a Chartered Accountant with professional experience at KPMG and Interpath Advisory, where she worked on complex and time-critical situations, supporting strategy development, executive decision-making and operational change. Her career has focused on helping organisations navigate challenges, strengthen their operations and build sustainable, effective structures for the future.

Alongside her professional career, Sabree is also co-founder of Friendsline International, a charity dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of women and girls. Through this work she has played a key role in governance and in developing a sustainable, purpose-led operating model that supports long-term impact.

Since joining WIBF, Sabree has been spending time with the WIBF team andour volunteers to develop a detailed understanding of how the organisation works and how our programmes are delivered. She has a particular focus on data, operations, governance and processes, recognising their importance in supporting effective, scalable delivery, strong decision-making and the continued growth of WIBF’s impact across the financial services industry.

Her appointment comes at an important time for the organisation as WIBF continues to expand its networks, programmes and partnerships across the sector, supporting women at every stage of their careers and working with organisations committed to building more inclusive workplaces.

We asked Sabree to share what inspired her to take on the role, what she is most excited about, and what she hopes to achieve as Chief Operating Officer of WIBF. Her reflections are shared below.

Why am I joining WIBF?
Advancing gender equality has always been incredibly important to me, both professionally and personally. Alongside my career in restructuring, I co-founded Friendsline International, which supports the wellbeing of women and girls in developing countries.

Joining WIBF felt like a natural extension of that commitment within an industry I know well. The financial services sector has enormous influence on economic opportunity, yet women remain underrepresented, particularly in senior roles across the sector. WIBF plays a unique role in connecting the industry and supporting women, to drive change.

As a mum of two young girls, I feel an even stronger motivation to contribute to that progress. I want them to grow up in a world where their opportunities are not shaped by gender, and where industries like financial services are able to benefit from the full talent available to them.

What am I excited about
The strength of the WIBF community! We bring together an incredible network of professionals, volunteers and organisations who genuinely want to make an impact.

There is a huge amount of experience, insight and goodwill within this community. When that collective energy is brought together, it has the potential to create real change across the sector.

What do I hope to achieve?
My hope is ensure WIBF continues to be a catalyst for progress across the industry. I have been amazed by the passion, drive and commitment of the team and volunteers I have met, and it has reinforced just how much WIBF can achieve through its community and partners.

WIBF already delivers a huge amount through its programmes, partnerships and community. My focus is to strengthen the foundations that support this work so that WIBF can scale its reach, deepen its impact and support even more women throughout their careers.
Through unlocking opportunities for women across the financial services sector, the industry will thrive.