Diversity in Pensions

Diversity in Pensions autumn event A massive thank you to our speakers, panelists and everyone who attended our autumn event today both in person and online. And special thanks to Amy Davies, Charlotte Osmond Shannon Wright-Davies and the amazing team at Burges Salmon LLP for hosting the event- they even arranged for the ☀️ to come out for us! We were lucky to have a sneak preview of the latest mallowstreet and Cardano report on diversity in the industry from Ally (Albena) Georgieva and Gillie Tomlinson. There’s much hope to be taken from the green shoots 🌱 of progress in improving gender and age diversity in the industry, but still more work to be done. Our chair Jenny Davie MBA (Lead Prac) CMgr MCMI hosted a Q&A session with our brilliant panelists Melis Baysal Femi A. and Polly Thorne (née Bagley) who shared their experiences, insights and passion for creating change in our industry and how we might address some of the challenges we face. We finished up with breakout sessions, where attendees spoke about a range of subjects from recruitment and retention to leadership, metrics, monitoring and accountability. It was brilliant to hear such a range of different perspectives and this is hopefully the start of conversations and connections that will continue long after our event today. Some key takeaways are: 🔸 we need to work more proactively with schools, universities and local communities to increase awareness of our industry as a career option for a wide range of skills 🔸 we need to create more opportunities for those early in their careers to join and learn from the existing experience 🔸 there is a strong business case for supporting and encouraging diversity within any organisation. Happy staff that can bring their whole selves to work will be more productive and more likely to stay with the organisation 🔸there is a need to think about how EDI is defined and measured within each organisation. It’s important to encourage and measure the behaviours you want to see 🔸 language is so important and making small changes, like having “essential” rather than “mandatory” training on EDI can have a significant impact 🔸allyship and role models are important - seeing people take up the opportunity for shared parental leave for example, is key to others seeing it as a potential path for them This is very much a step on the journey to making our industry more inclusive, but with advocates like those who attended today, there’s much hope that we can travel far to shape the industry to be the diverse and inclusive industry we know it can be. Join us next time to take the next step!

Come join us for our free hybrid event to connect with others in the pensions industry to discuss how we can make our industry more inclusive

Looking forward to this event - do join in online or at our London office first thing on 12 November

📣Diversity in Pensions Autumn Event 📣 Welcome to our in-person and online Diversity in Pensions Autumn Event! Join us for a morning of insightful discussions promoting inclusivity in the pension industry. Our diverse lineup of speakers will share their expertise and experiences, offering valuable perspectives on the topic. Don't miss this opportunity to network with professionals who are passionate about driving positive change. Let's come together to celebrate diversity and inclusion in the world of pensions! Secure your spot now. We start with an overview of the current industry diversity from the Mallow Street and Cardano EDI reports. We'll then have a panel discussion with Femi A. Polly Bagley Melis Baysal and Ally (Albena) Georgieva talking about how to increase diversity within the pensions industry. We'll finish up with break out discussions for you to talk with others from across the industry about the challenges and actionable things we can do to over come them. Book now on Eventbrite: https://lnkd.in/eHMwN9wE

Bookings now live! Do you work in the pensions industry and you want to help make it more diverse and inclusive? Sign up to our free autumn event hosted with thanks to Burges Salmon LLP on Tuesday 12 November for a chance to hear from exciting speakers from across the industry and the chance to network and share ideas. More details coming in the next few weeks… 🎟️ Sign up now for limited in person tickets 🎟️ Online tickets also available. https://lnkd.in/eHMwN9wE

Purpose refresh and save the date 📆 Happy Friday! Two exciting announcements today 📢 First we’ve had a refresh of our purpose to reflect where we are in 2024 and where we want to help the industry get to: 📢The Diversity in Pensions Group is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment within the pensions industry. Our mission is to advocate for, support, and implement strategies that promote diversity across all levels of pension management, advisors, and administration. We promote allyship and support conversations and learning about different experiences for different groups. We aim to address and eliminate barriers faced by underrepresented groups within the industry, ensuring fair access and opportunities for all. 📢 Secondly, in support of our refreshed purpose, we’re busy planning our next event. For now, save the date: The morning of 12 November 2024 - in person in London and online… more details to come!

Standing together against racism in our communities and industry Recent events have highlighted the urgent need to address racism and inequality in all areas of our society, including the pensions industry. As professionals committed to diversity and inclusion, it’s vital that we take this moment to reflect on how we can actively combat racism within our own sphere of influence. The protests we’ve seen are a powerful reminder that systemic racism affects every sector, and pensions are no exception. Our industry has a responsibility to ensure that our practices, policies, and culture are inclusive and equitable for all. This is not just about representation; it’s about ensuring that every voice is heard, respected, and valued. Let’s use this time to recommit to our diversity goals, engage in meaningful conversations about race, and implement strategies that promote fairness and justice. Together, we can make a lasting impact and help build a more inclusive future for everyone. We encourage all of us to listen, learn, and take action in our own roles. Let’s continue to support each other as we work towards a better, more inclusive industry. Please do reach out if you’d like to talk.

Please complete/share the annual EDI survey to help build an accurate picture of the pensions industry

📣 NEWS ALERT: New Chair for Diversity in Pensions 📣 Pensions is full of people with talent, creativity and influence. We are delighted one of them – the fantastic Jenny Davie MBA (Lead Prac) CMgr MCMI - has been appointed as our new Chair. We’ve achieved so much since our first event in 2019. Former Chair, Nargis McCarthy, has been a tremendous force in driving diversity in the pensions sector. ❤️ Jenny, who has worked in a variety of roles at The Pensions Regulator (TPR), says she’s also ready to play a key role in delivering a pensions market that reflects the savers in it. She says, "I am passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion. At TPR I’ve been an active part of our LGBT+ staff network, Proud, and have most recently been working on making our recruitment processes more inclusive. We’re still on that journey but I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved so far. I love seeing my children growing up in a diverse city like Brighton. Diversity is a daily part of their lives. This is the next generation of savers, and they will rightly expect and demand the pension system reflects them and their values. We need to act now to ensure that’s the case, not just for them but for all savers." Please tell us with a comment what you think we’ve got right so far and what you’d like to see Diversity in Pensions focus on more. #diveristyinpensions #DiP #diversity #diversityandinclusion #DEI #pensions

The Pensions Regulator is currently looking to recruit three new Executive Directors in its regulatory and policy functions. More information may be found here: https://lnkd.in/eA9-ZajK Please feel welcome to contact Andrew Timlin about the roles.