Following the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a shift in corporate thinking around diversity and inclusion, with an increasing realisation that these issues are business-critical. Regulatory changes were also expected following the joint FCA/BoE/PRA Discussion Paper and FCA consultation paper on D&I increasing pressure on firms to take action. More broadly, of course, the future of work is up for grabs, with the creation of the post-pandemic workplace presenting a real opportunity to Reset4Inclusion – and a risk to the sector if it falls behind.
Our annual event pulls these themes together and offers both thoughtful insights and practical guidance to speed up progress. Sessions included; Ethnicity, Social Mobility, Gender and Hybrid Working from the perspective of those with mental health issues, disability and neurodiversity. We also had informative breakouts focusing on D&I data, parental leave, male allyship and extended leave. The full agenda is shown below.
This Annual event was hybrid and interactive. Aviva Investors kindly hosted the in-person aspect of the event, whilst the rest of our attendees joined us virtually.
Those that attended found out how they and their organisations can make meaningful progress to improve their ability to attract and develop diverse talent, ensure lasting relevance and resilience of both their own firm and the investment and savings industry.
Agenda
Master of Ceremonies – Matt Cameron, Global Managing Director, LGBT Great
| Timings | Topic | Speaker |
| 2.00 – 2.15pm | Welcome | Helena Morrissey, Chairwoman, The Diversity Project |
| 2.15 – 2.35pm | Keynote – Story telling can change and save lives | Gian Power, Founder of TLC Lions |
| 2.35 – 3.00pm | The 90% Journey | Darren Johnson, Global Chief Operating Officer, Impax Asset Management and member of the DP #TalkAboutBlack workstream. Bhavini ‘Bev’ Shah, Founder and CEO of City Hive and co-lead of the DP Race & Ethnicity Workstream. Sachin Bhatia, Head of UK Core Institutional & Consultants at Invesco and co-lead of the DP Race & Ethnicity Workstream. |
| 3.00 – 3.20pm | Gender by Design | Helena Morrissey, Chairwoman, The Diversity Project Rachel Harris, Head of Credit and Equity Investment Specialists, Aviva Investors |
| 3.20 – 3.45pm | Moneyball, Monty Python and (Social) Mobility | David Aujla, Deputy Fund Manager – Multi Asset, Invesco EMEA and co-lead of the DP Social Mobility Workstream James Whiteman, Head of Client Communications & Content at Aviva Investors and co-lead of the DP Social Mobility Workstream |
| 3.45 – 4.25pm | Hybrid working – the story so far and returning to the office | Chair: Gareth Miller, Head of Change, Artemis Investment Management and co-lead of the DP SMART Working workstream Panellists: Rosanna Burcheri, Portfolio Manager, Fidelity International and co-lead of the DP SMART Working workstream Tim Roberts, Global Marketing and Diversity Lead at HSBC Asset Management and co-lead of the DP Disability workstream Jaya Arora-Shihn, Client Solutions Management, Aviva Investors and co-lead of the DP Mental Health workstream David Kendix, Actuary and Non-Executive Director, DP Neurodiversity Workstream |
| 4.25 – 4.35pm | Closing | Alistair Way, Head of Equities, Aviva Investors |
| 4.35 – 5.00pm | Choose one breakout session | |
| D&I data | Chair: Jane Welsh, DP Project Manager Panellists: Helen Price – Head of Stewardship, Brunel Pension Partnership Ltd Mitesh Sheth – CEO, Redington Tosin James-Odukoya – Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Talent, Quilter | |
| Breaking down barriers for women’s progression | Stuart White – UK and International CEO, Global Head of Strategy, HSBC Asset Management Carolyn Wilson – Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Gender Balance Team, HSBC Asset Management | |
| Male Allyship | Cosmo Elms – Head of ETF Business Development, Legal and General Investment Management, DP Male Allyship Lead Mark Freed – CEO and Founder of E2W & Member of the board for Men for Inclusion Janine Menasakanian– Investment Consulting Director Altus Ltd |
