WIBF President – Our year in review

2015 has been an outstanding year for WIBF. We should all be incredibly proud of our network and of ourselves.

“It has been a year when:

• nominations for our WIBF Awards for Achievement grew by 73 per cent
• a year when we have had increasingly frank conversations with our corporate members to ensure that our organisation can be even more relevant to both our corporate and individual members
• we set up our task force to better understand the support and network Millennials require to flourish in the banking and finance industry, which will report next year
• we had our first male Champion for Women at the WIBF Awards for Achievement.

This means that it has been an outstanding year for you. Our members’ achievements, your achievements, inspire and encourage us to be as useful to you in your career ambitions as possible. We have an invigorating programme of events ready to go in 2016.

Our Personal Excellence Programme team has put together an inspiring series of monthly workshops, for all career levels. The sessions begin on Monday 11 January.

The Women on Boards Programme will kick off on Wednesday 3 February with Helen Pitcher OBE, Chairman and Executive Coach giving a talk on Walking the Tightrope of Board Responsibility – The Role of NEDs in Financial Services. Then in May, WIBF Patron, Noreen Doyle, will host a panel on Banking Boards. Noreen sits on the Board of Credit Suisse and was recently appointed as Chairman of the British Bankers’ Association (BBA).

Other sessions planned for 2016 include Finding a boardroom role in the education sector, Banking Standards and Networking your way to the Boardroom. In January we will launch our Champion for Women Programme. This exciting new programme aims to build a network of high-level women and men, within Women in Banking and Finance, to share common experiences, facilitate collaboration and relationship-building across companies and also to act as champions for women in the financial sector. With previous award winners as core members we believe this Programme will answer how the WIBF Awards for Achievement can continue to inspire and celebrate achievement in our industry throughout the year. More in the new year.

The marvellous achievements of this past year bodes well for next year and we want to make it as easy for you as possible to obtain the tools we offer, to network with like-minded women, to join our PEP, and to think about the next steps you’ll take in your career. WIBF is ready for the challenges of 2016. We have a bold and vibrant new look that will be revealed in the new year. It will reflect our promise to support and lead our members – as you know you’ve got to look the part for the job you want to do.

If you have visited our website lately, you will have seen the holding page promising a new look website (rest assured, joining us and booking events is still possible during this time). Our experts are putting the finishing touches on the new online portal, which will be worth the short wait, and, like the new look, will be bold, straight-talking, impactful and vibrant. I can’t wait and know many of you will feel the same. As 2015 comes to a close, change is in the air – and it is change for the good.

Inspire and celebrate – that is what WIBF is all about. I’d like to thank you all for the inspiration you provide and the celebration you cause. This time of year naturally makes us look at where the year has taken us and where the next year is leading us. Take time to re-charge, re-evaluate and rest with your family and friends over the holiday season. When you return in the new year the new-look WIBF will be ready to help you on your way. With all the very best festive wishes for a merry Christmas and a peaceful, happy and successful new year.

– Janet Thomas, WIBF President”