On the shortlist: Jill Henderson

Jill has been shortlisted for the Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership as Chair of WIBF Scotland, following her recognition as Volunteer of the Month in February 2025. Having recently stepped back from the role, this nomination celebrates the impact and legacy she leaves behind.

As Chair, Jill was a driving force in building a vibrant community for women in finance across Scotland. She championed salary transparency, raised awareness of the gender pension gap, and curated events shaped by member feedback – from career development to menopause – giving women the tools and confidence to thrive.

Highlights included a packed Edinburgh awards night that showcased the reach of WIBF Scotland and broadened engagement across the sector, including strong male participation. Colleagues praise Jill’s collaborative, visible leadership – from keynotes to workshops – and her ability to spark open conversations on gender parity and financial wellbeing.

Through her passion and advocacy, Jill leaves a lasting legacy of inclusion, inspiration, and empowerment across Scotland’s financial services community.

You’ve been shortlisted for Volunteer of the Year after your recognition as Volunteer of the Month in February. How does it feel to see your leadership of WIBF Scotland celebrated in this way?

I’m thrilled to have this recognition amidst the incredible volunteers we have at WIBF. Stepping back as chair for Edinburgh and co-chair for Scotland was emotional, so this was the perfect send off!

As Chair of WIBF Scotland, you built a vibrant and supportive community across Edinburgh and Glasgow. What have been the highlights of leading this network, and what impact do you think it has had on women in finance?

I am incredibly proud of the team we built in Edinburgh and most of all the community. The absolute highlight of my time in WIBF was the awards night last year.  We were packed out, with standing room only, which was a massive accolade to the community we have created.  To see so many men there too, meant that we’ve broadened the message and are truly making change happen.

In my time with WIBF we created a programme of activity where we discussed everything from menopause to career challenges, every topic was curated around the feedback from our community.  It makes me proud to think we’ve helped women in their careers and all the aspects that touch working in finance.

Your professional expertise in women’s financial empowerment has brought real depth to your WIBF work. How have your career experiences shaped the initiatives you’ve championed, such as salary transparency and addressing the gender pension gap?

I’ve been galvanised by financial inequality, I have also made lots of mistakes along the way which impacted me financially, so I’m driven to help others avoid these pitfalls and find a way to thrive.  We live in a state of social inequality where women are at a disadvantage, so my hope is that by being vocal and sharing personal stories we can help others have confidence in their careers and financial choices.

Colleagues describe you as a visible and inspiring leader, from keynotes to workshops. Why do you think visibility and open conversations are so important for driving gender parity in financial services?

Stories are everything, they bring problems to life and help people visualise a way through.  By being vulnerable, sharing my personal experiences, it hopefully illustrates how easy we can walk into challenges but also practical steps to make things better, to find autonomy.  If I can do it then anyone can!

Volunteering at this level requires huge commitment. What have you personally gained from leading WIBF Scotland, and how has it influenced your own development and career?

I’ve been lucky to work with an amazing group of ladies who have been equally as committed.  When you work well as a team you can achieve anything! My role at WBF has helped me in building confidence in public speaking, I’ve broadened my network and I’ve met some inspiring ladies whose experiences have pushed me to be brave and go further – it’s been a blast!

Finally, what would you say to someone thinking of getting involved as a WIBF volunteer, especially if they want to create positive change in their local financial services community?

If you have a passion for our industry, if you want to help others and make a change…this is the place to be!