PIMFA, the trade association for wealth management and investment services, welcomed more than 300 professionals to the annual Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Awards on 10th October 2024.
The awards were held at the InterContinental Hotel Park Lane in London saw a significant number of entries that highlighted D&I initiatives across the industry.
Originally created in 2021, these awards aim to inspire organisations and individuals within wealth management and financial planning by shining a light on their stories.
Winners were selected by an independent panel of industry peers and diversity experts, including Peter Moores and Bev Shah.
In the Best DE&I Initiative Award category for 51 – 350 Employees, Dynamic Planner won.
For 351+ Employees, Quilter plc took the award, with Rathbones Group plc receiving a highly commended mention.
The Best Approach to Wellbeing Award went to 7IM, and St. James’s Place won the Best Outreach Initiative Award.
LGBT Great was awarded the Best Industry Partner Award, while the Rising Talent Award was given to Katja Oakley-Bell from Quilter, with Kimberley Scott from AJ Bell highly commended.
The DE&I Senior Sponsor Award was granted to Baroness Helena Morrissey from AJ Bell Money Matters, with Kate Hughes from 7IM also being highly commended.
The Overall DE&I Champion Award was awarded to Greg Kojo Bonsu from Investec Wealth & Investment UK, with Emma Palethorpe from St. James’s Place receiving a highly commended mention.
Liz Field, chief executive of PIMFA, said: “I am delighted to congratulate both the winners and those highly commended from this year’s Diversity & Inclusion Awards.
But I would also like to celebrate and thank all those who entered the awards this year too.
“The business, moral and social case for diversity and inclusion is irrefutable and the firms and individuals that entered this year’s awards are all excellent examples of how our members recognise talented individuals from all backgrounds and ensure that all people feel involved, valued, respected, treated fairly, and embedded within the cultures of the organisations they work for.
“As an industry we know we still have much work to do but it is heartening to see just how much energy is going into making our industry diverse, inclusive and equitable and the resulting positive change this brings.
“As the voice of our industry, PIMFA will continue to make diversity, equity and inclusion a priority and look to collaborate across the sector to provide resources, support and co-ordination of efforts in the years to come.”
