Six hundred of the most inspirational leaders and advocates in the finance sector gathered at the Women in Finance awards held at the Grosvenor House in London to celebrate the achievements of 130 finalists out of over 400 nominations, across a broad range of sectors within financial services, like corporate law, banking, and accountancy.
Recognising the strides made by exceptional women across these fields, the event provided a new way to identify much-needed role models in mid-to-senior roles in finance, promoting further dialogue around diversifying the talent pipeline and tackling the sector’s notorious pay and promotion gap.
Organised by GrowthBusiness.co.uk and consumer investment magazine What Investment, the Women in Finance Awards has already set a precedent as a large-scale diversity-first event in this sector.
The event received overwhelming support from trade associations and financial firms of all sizes. Presenting the ceremony were Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh. Both women acclaimed fame after winning the gold medal in field hockey for England in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In welcoming the men and women to the event, Tania Ferreira, Senior Conference Producer at Bonhill Group plc, said: “In this age of greater technological advancements, with new competitors entering the market and the ever-changing customer trends, it is vital to have the right people and skills within your teams. The professionals being honoured at the Women In Finance Awards are innovators, real game changers and they are invaluable assets to their organisations and to the industry. They are the role models that will inspire the next generation of female professionals.
“It was amazing to see so many financial services professionals supporting and celebrating the achievements of our shortlisted nominees. It really is a testament to the strides we have made towards gender parity.”
Keynote speaker Claire Fox, Chief Operating Officer at Unicef UK, delivered a speech promoting the incredible work UNICEF is doing around the world. She urged the role models in the room to get involved and help raise the next generation of role models.
This year’s Women in Finance Awards were supported by UK Business Angels Association, London Stock Exchange, Women’s Enterprise Scotland, CISI, Voice at the Table, 30% Club, Schroders, Rolls Royce, Wesleyan, LV=, Visa, PwC, JP Morgan and Wealthier Network.
Women in Finance Awards 2019 winners:
Wealth Manager of the Year
Sponsored by J.P. Morgan
Winner: Charlotte Ransom, Netwealth
Fund Manager of the Year
Winner: Esther Law, Amundi Asset Management
Financial Advisor of the Year
Winner: Rebecca Robertson, Evolution Financial Planning
Ambassador of the Year
Sponsored by PwC
Winner: Miranda Brawn, The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation
Banker of the Year
Winner: Anne Boden, Starling Bank
Fintech Champion of the Year (Banking)
Sponsored by Visa
Winner: Cristina Alba Ochoa, OakNorth
Legal Advisor of the Year
Winner: Lesley Gregory, Memery Crystal LLP
Finance Team of the Year
Winner: Louise Jack, Macquarie Group
Insurance Leader of the Year
Sponsored by LV=
Winners: Shazia Azim, PwC, Rose St Louis, Zurich Insurance
Advocate of the Year
Sponsored by Wesleyan
Winner: Sarah Cooper-Jones, NatWest
Disruptor of the Year
Sponsored by the London Stock Exchange
Winner: Chloé Chambraud, Business in the Community
Fintech Champion of the Year (Funding)
Winner: Susanne Chishti, FINTECH Circle Ltd
Accountant of the Year
Winner: Lucianna Raffaini C Costa, Whirlpool UK Appliances
Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Juliette Souliman, Octopus Ventures
Employer of the Year
Sponsored by Rolls Royce
Winner: PwC
FinTech Champion of the Year (Open Innovation)
Winner: Devie Mohan, Burnmark
Specialist Investor of the Year
Winners: Anya Navidski, Voulez Capital
Diversity Initiative of the Year
Winner: Julie Humphreys, AIG
Woman of the Year
Sponsored by Schroders
Winner: Miranda Brawn, The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation
The Women in Finance Summit and Awards were followed by the Future Stars of Tech Awards held at The Brewery in London, on 27 June 2019. By identifying and promoting the tech industry’s top female career climbers, Future Stars of Tech presents a tomorrow where diversity is a positive force, not a challenge, in the world of technology. By boosting the visibility of female talent in the first eight years of their career, the initiative provides a platform for encouraging young females in the tech industry.
