PIMFA Forum: Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women in Wealth Management and Financial Advice

Liz joined PIMFA (then known as the Wealth Management Association) as Chief Executive in 2014.

She has 30 years financial services experience, 19 of which as a Chief Executive. She successfully transformed and advised several businesses through redefining strategy, re-branding, change management and inspirational leadership, creating profitable businesses.

She has substantive experience of people and corporate culture risk, regulatory knowhow across the industry – banking, insurance and wealth management and providing good practice guidelines for the industry to adopt.

She is an accredited coach and industry leader encouraging collaborative participation of diverse groups of industry experts to address sector challenges and to leverage industry resources for collective benefit.

Liz holds a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Occupational Psychology from Birkbeck.

Kameka is Head of Human Resources (“HR”) at Walker Crips Group and founder of Let’s Talk Diversity and Inclusion (“LTDI”). She has extensive HR experience, particularly in diversity, equity and inclusion (“DE&I”), recruitment, conflict resolution, change management, employee relations, learning development, and employer of choice initiatives. Kameka is commercially savvy and has experience of collaborating with senior management to conduct strategic HR planning to boost corporate goals and reaffirm HR best practices within DE&I initiatives.

Kameka has a proven track record of successfully implementing DE&I strategies, ensuring better representation from various groups within organisations. This achievement stems from addressing strategic plans for talent acquisition, retention, succession planning, as well as learning and development initiatives. Additionally, Kameka has led projects spanning organisational transformation and programme design to company acquisitions, from due diligence to ‘TUPE’ transfer. This showcases her exceptional communication skills, adept analysis and the ability to establish trust-based working relationships.

Outside of work, Kameka is actively involved and passionate about supporting youths and those suffering from mental health, through her role as a committee member of the YMCA. Kameka is involved in speaking at seminars to promote DE&I initiatives and to also empower women who are vulnerable within society. She mentors them in developing interview techniques and assists with CV writing to help gain employment.

Rebecca Owers has extensive UK-wide experience in wealth management and mortgages. She is a qualified financial adviser and stays close to her distribution roots in her current role as Head of Investments Wealth Solutions & Insurance (IWS&I) for HSBC UK where she sets the strategy owns the customer propositions and has P&L responsibility for the UK Wealth business.

Prior to her current role, Rebecca led the Specialist Services part of the business which included Wealth and Tax Technical Consultants, a Retirement Advice Centre of Excellence, and a SIPP/SSAS division. As part of the Wealth and Personal Banking ExCo she plays a key role in setting the UK strategy with her team of c230 FTE. Rebecca sits on the board of HSBC Trust Company managing £1.8bn AUM and oversees the Trust Services business as well as being director of several subsidiaries.

Growing up in a typical working-class family, Rebecca inherited a strong sense of fairness from her parents. Her life experiences have led to her being deeply involved in Diversity Equity & Inclusion resulting in numerous awards over recent years. Rebecca is the Executive Sponsor for the Pride Employee Resource Group and Menopause Group as well as an ambassador for several other Employee Resource Groups and charities. She created and chairs the Belonging in IWS&I Committee and launched the Step Forward Programme which has supported the careers of over 380 black and ethnically diverse colleagues. Passionate about supporting change across the industry, Rebecca sits on PIMFA’s DEI & Talent Committee and is a Judge for their D&I awards. An active mentor, Rebecca leads coaching circles and continues to support the individual careers of several colleagues across HSBC.

Rebecca is married to Tim, and mum to 9-year-old Emily. Working flexibly allows her to enjoy a successful career as well as being a present mum.

Sheena has worked within the financial services industry for over 15 years. She is knowledgeable in driving positive change through the creation and implementation of effective strategy and leadership, and is experienced in organisational re-branding and M&A activity.

She holds a combined honours BSc in Psychology and Sociology and an Executive MSc in International Marketing from King’s College, London which she studied for while working full time at PIMFA. She also recently achieved MCIM status at the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

Sheena joined PIMFA (formerly the Wealth Management Association) in November 2010.  Over the last 10 years her team has implemented major organisational restructuring – including three new websites, the introduction of content management and client relationship management tools, e-marketing capabilities, e-commerce and CPD event modules. Sheena oversaw all the communication elements related to the organisation’s re-brand in 2013 and the merger with APFA in 2017. She is currently responsible for PIMFA’s media relations, brand management, projects, content creation, social media, database and website management, marketing and publications.

Her last role was at the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) where she worked in marketing, communications and event management.  Prior to this she worked at Euroclear SA/NV UK & Ireland (EUI) and National Savings and Investments (NS&I) with roles in similar areas.

Leanne joined M&G Wealth Advice in May 2023, and is responsible for strategic enablement and driving optimal efficiency and productivity across the business.  Key to this role is working closely with the Executive leadership team to collate insight, assimilate and compile reports and manage delivery.  She is also importantly responsible for linking the leadership team and the broader business through a programme of regular formal and informal communications

Most recently she spent two years as Executive Business Manager with Sesame Bankhall Group working directly with the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman.

Prior to this Leanne enjoyed a rewarding 18-year career with Standard Life Aberdeen where she held several key roles including Advice Paraplanner and National Platform Support Manager.  It was during this time that she attained her Regulated Diploma in Financial Planning.

Leanne is passionate about creating a sector that is fair and inclusive for all as well as attracting new talent into the world of advice.  She continues to work with PIMFA and other key industry bodies to champion our industry and the rewarding careers it has to offer.

Jasmin has worked at the Wealth Management firm Killik & Co for the past 15 years; focusing on Professional Development for the business which incorporates T&C and L&D as well as running their internal trainee programmes. She recently completed her MSc in Human Resource Management with her dissertation focusing on gender diversity issues within the industry. She is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD

Nikki joined EY in 2016 after completing her undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of Nottingham. Since joining EY she has supported many companies within the Wealth and Asset Management Sectors to improve their operational processing, working closely with Wealth Managers and managing EY Teams to achieve the required outcomes. Examples of the types of work include the implementation of new strategic retail investment platforms, automation reviews and development of apps to allow clients to better manage and understand their current portfolio’s. Nikki is also passionate about social mobility across Financial Services and sits on EYs Social Mobility Network Committee.

James has been with Killik & Co since 2005.  He is a Partner and their Chief Human Resources Officer, based in their Ipswich office.  He is also a member of their Operations Committee and chairs both the Fitness & Propriety Forum and the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum.

James and his team look after the end-to-end recruitment, compensation, and benefits, training & continued professional development, and general health & wellbeing of all staff across our Mayfair and Ipswich offices, as well as our Branch and House of Killik locations.

In his spare time, James enjoys surfing, playing golf, and spending family time by the coast.

Noor is a PR Client Assistant at JPES Partners, a role she has recently started, where she represents clients across the global asset and wealth management industries, and real asset clients in the UK. 

  She joined the specialist communications consultancy after completing an internship in the Group Regulatory Policy team at Lloyds Banking Group, and a PR traineeship with the Taylor Bennet Foundation and HSBC. 

  Prior to joining the public relations industry, Noor worked in a sustainable-focussed start-up after completing an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Surrey. 

Ellie qualified as a solicitor in 2023 and currently works in the Financial Services team at Farrer and Co. 

  During her training contract, Ellie spent time working with the corporate tax team and developed an interest in the tax considerations that are relevant for fund managers. As a qualified solicitor, she provides advice on regulatory issues in the financial sector and on the establishment and management of investment funds. 

Giorgia joined Killik & Co in 2021 having previously worked at an investment platform in the city for five years. She works with individuals, families and corporations to construct bespoke portfolios and investment solutions whilst taking into account their needs, knowledge and experience. She also works closely with Killik & Co’s wealth planners to create a holistic overview, ensuring that portfolios reflect client’s wider financial circumstances. 

  Giorgia is an avid football fan; if she’s not watching Liverpool in her spare time, she can be found reading non-fiction or planning her next holiday. 

  Her qualifications include the Investment Management Certificate, Investment Advice Diploma and Investment Operations Certificate. She is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (ACSI) and currently working towards her Chartered Wealth Manager Qualification. 

Tasneem has recently graduated with a BA in History and Politics. She currently works as a public affairs consultant, specialising in financial services. With prior internship experience at HSBC, she has gained invaluable insights into the inner workings of prominent financial institutions. 

  She also works with PIMFA to help the wealth management and financial advice sectors attract diverse talent. Tasneem is passionate about getting women to invest and empowering their presence within the financial services industry. 

AML and Sanctions Director for FIS Global, an American multinational corporation and leader in financial technology and services. As a Director at FIS Global, I am passionate about helping businesses and communities thrive by advancing banking and Capital Markets solutions, whilst remaining compliant with AML and Sanctions laws and regulations. As a UK based AML and Sanctions specialist I am appointed the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for two FCA regulated entities. 

The solid foundation and support I have built on is in the heart of England, Birmingham, where I was born and raised in an extensive family, which is where I returned, following a legal career. I entered the world of financial services as a freelance paraplanner for mortgages, pensions, investment, succession planning, supporting a network of Independent Financial Advisors. 

It is here I faced my greatest challenges and had my greatest achievements, in being a wife, and mother of two amazing children. Continuously balancing, encouraging, growing, flourishing together by virtue of my obsession on all things to do with positive mindset and my faith, good health and fitness! 

Sulochana is a Senior Manager in the Investment Management & Wealth Consulting practice at Deloitte.  She has 15 years’ experience within the Wealth Management industry holding roles in both Industry and Consulting, with specific focus on large-scale platform implementations and front office proposition design and development.  Her current area of focus is leveraging Digital capabilities to help her clients in their advice propositions, advise clients on their strategic technology priorities and to build relationships with WealthTech startups. 

  She was a finalist for Wealth Manager of the Year at the Women in Finance Awards 2019 and in her spare time coaches a number of junior talents in the business and wider industry. 

Sarah joined Killik in November 2019 as Chief Marketing Officer. She is a Partner and sits on our Executive Board.

Having founded her marketing career with Procter & Gamble, she has experience across a range of sectors and well-known brands Marks & Spencer, HSBC and Which? 

  Sarah’s focus on our clients, together with building strong teams and partnerships, is all aimed at helping us understand, communicate with and deliver for our clients, to the best of our ability. 

  Outside of Killik & Co, Sarah is a Trustee and supporter of a registered charity named Sands. 

As a seasoned public speaker and financial educator, Gee brings over 25 years of expertise in finance and entrepreneurship to the table. 

  Driven by a passion for inspiring women in finance, an advocate for gender equality and women’s financial independence, striving to be a role model for future generations, including her daughter. 

  Sustainability is also at the core of her philosophy, extending beyond environmental impact to encompass flexible work arrangements, financial freedom, and personal health. 

  As the host of St. James’s Place’s Partnership recruitment events and career-change podcasts, “The Switch” and “SJP Adviser Stories,” Gee explores the secrets of success and shares insights to empower listeners in advancing their careers. 

Throughout university, whilst studying towards her degree in Finance and Marketing, Kate has been involved in many societies and initiatives aimed at supporting and empowering women within and out with the realm of finance.

Kate began her career just 5 months ago on the M&G graduate programme, working in financial advice at the point where proposition meets the adviser. From being involved in process improvement to creating content for advisers, she has found her time at M&G so far very fulfilling.

She is currently working towards obtaining the Investment Advice Diploma (IAD) alongside work. Passionate about empowering the next generation of women in the field, she is hoping to learn from and contribute to this exciting event.

Sofia started her Wealth Graduate Scheme at M&G in September 2023 after having completed a Master of Arts in International Business Management and Mandarin. She started her scheme working in a Quality Operations Project Team where she was involved in assessing and reimagining the role that Quality has in the Customer and Adviser experience with M&G.

She works with various teams, both UK and Mumbai-based, to advocate and implement these changes within all of M&G Wealth.  While working on these projects, Sofia is also studying for the Investment Advice Diploma and is the Secretary of M&G’s gender network Elevate which champions gender balance across M&G through events and policies.