WIBF Awards 2025 – Meet the Judges

We are delighted to introduce the distinguished judges for the 2025 WIBF Awards for Achievement. Each brings exceptional experience, insight and commitment to recognising and celebrating talent across the financial services industry. Together, they represent a diverse range of perspectives spanning leadership, innovation, governance, diversity and inclusion. Thank you all for your time and expertise.

Meet the judges:

Annette Spencer
Annette Spencer was appointed Chief Executive of the Association of Corporate Treasurers in September 2023. She previously held senior roles at membership associations The Investment Association and The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, and her earlier career was spent in communications, policy and marketing roles in financial and professional services, including at a number of FTSE100 companies.

Caroline Connellan
Caroline has over 25 years’ experience transforming and growing businesses across financial services. Most recently CEO of M&G Wealth, she has also led Brooks Macdonald Group plc and served as a Board Director of the Investment Association. With a career spanning senior roles at HSBC, Standard Life and McKinsey, she is now a Senior Advisor to private equity with a focus on Wealth.

David Germain
David is a multi-sector NED with over 30 years’ experience in financial services and global Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 institutions. He brings deep expertise in digital, data and AI-enabled transformation, alongside a commitment to culture, diversity and strong governance. Passionate about mentoring future leaders, he also advises on ESG, stakeholder engagement and building resilient organisations that thrive through change.

Dominie Moss
Founder of The Return Hub and TRH Search, Dominie is a recognised leader in connecting organisations with diverse senior talent. With over 20 years’ City experience, she founded The Return Hub in 2016 to champion career returners and has since been honoured with multiple awards. She also advises policymakers and launched the #TimetoReturn campaign to drive gender equality in the workplace.

Gwen Faure
Until recently the Mentoring Lead at Women in Banking & Finance, Gwen has spent the past decade designing and leading programmes that empower women at pivotal moments in their careers. Her own transformative experience as a mentee inspires her commitment to ensuring mentorship is accessible when it’s needed most.

Heather Melville OBE, CMgr, CCMI
Partner at Stork & May, Chancellor of the University of York and Patron of WIBF, Heather brings 40+ years of leadership experience across banking, technology and professional services.

Katharine Wooller
Katharine has worked in financial services since 2000, holding senior roles across investment banking, hedge funds, asset management, retail financial services and digital assets. Now Chief Strategist at FTSE-listed Softcat PLC, she supports innovation and transformation in over 2,500 firms, with a particular focus on cyber and AI. A published author, keynote speaker and media commentator, she also holds a number of NED roles.

Linda Russheim
With over 20 years’ experience in financial services, Linda spent 12 years at Mercer Investments, where she became Global Head of Marketing. For the past 12 years she has run her own firm, HT Financial Marketing, and also serves as a Board Member of the Diversity Project – Investment Industry. Her work spans the investment and savings industry, giving her deep insight into the challenges facing marketing teams from multiple perspectives.

Nishma Gosrani OBE
Nishma is a Financial Services Partner at Bain & Company in London and co-founded Stratos, the Financial Services Female CEO Club, with Amanda Blanc DBE in 2020. She served on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Business Council from 2023 to 2024 and recently stepped into the role of Chair at Women in Banking & Finance.

Ruth Handcock OBE
Ruth is CEO of Octopus Money, a money advice brand that believes financial guidance should be available to everyone, regardless of income or wealth. Awarded an OBE in 2025 for services to financial services and investments, she has also led Octopus Investments and sits on the Octopus Group Board. With a career spanning consultancy, fintech, spirits, banking, and even a stint with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Trade, Ruth is passionate about social mobility and currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at Aldermore Bank.

Samantha Seaton
A seasoned FinTech executive, Sam is a pioneer in using technology to help consumers make the most of their money. Returning as a judge for the WIBF Tech Leader category, she brings deep expertise in digital transformation, emerging fintech solutions and technological innovation. With her proven track record, Sam is perfectly placed to help recognise women driving meaningful change in the industry.

Sophie Hulm
As Head of Skills Policy at the City of London, Sophie was the founder and architect of a Government-commissioned Socio-Economic Diversity Taskforce. Sophie sees a clear link between the skills and labour challenges which exist in UK financial services and the need for greater socio-economic diversity at senior levels. Sophie joined Progress Together as Chief Executive in September 2022.
Sophie currently sits on the SteerCo for the 30% Club and has led a number of high-profile initiatives, including the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards. Throughout her working life, Sophie has focused on the power of business to bring about change, including working for a welfare-to-work organisation, a Corporate Responsibility membership body, and as a trustee for Governors for Schools.

Tanya Tracey
Tanya Tracey is the Chief Executive Officer of GAIN UK (Girls Are Investors) and a Board Trustee for GAIN Sweden. An experienced executive leader, Tanya has worked across the non-profit sector and global investment banks. At GAIN, she champions gender diversity in investment management by empowering and educating the next generation of professionals through school and university partnerships and outreach programmes. Previously, Tanya held senior roles at firms including J.P. Morgan, Nomura, and BNY Mellon, and has been a committed advocate for inclusion through her work with CFA UK’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion programmes.

To find out more about the awards, visit this page.