The IA Culture & Inclusion Conference: Putting words into action

Group discount: use the promotional code GROUP and receive a 20% discount on bookings of five people or more.

This year, the Investment Association, in partnership with the Thinking Ahead Institute, conducted our in-depth Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Data Survey to help gain a better understanding of the make-up and culture of our industry. Successful organisations work intentionally to ensure a healthy and inclusive culture.  It does not happen by accident, and leaving culture to chance leaves an organisation open to potential risks. Conduct is also key to shaping culture, and it should be driven by the principles of integrity, care and good governance.  Underpinning all of this is the need for richer data to help guide your organisation’s direction of travel.  

 Join us for The IA Culture & Inclusion Conference, where we will share the results of the survey and take a deep-dive into some of the topics currently challenging our industry. Key areas to be discussed include:

• View from the FCA on culture related priorities
• Findings from the IA’s EDI survey in partnership with the Thinking Ahead Institute
• Gathering the right data to create a better employee experience
• Deep dive into the PRA and FCA consultation papers on Diversity & Inclusion
• Embedding inclusion within the candidate experience
• Tone from the top: Linking up high level commitment with execution
• Building and leading inclusive teams

09:45 Registration

10:30 Welcome

Patrick Thomson, CEO Europe, Middle East & Africa, J.P. Morgan Asset Management & IA Chair

10:45 Findings from the IA’s EDI survey in partnership with the Thinking Ahead Institute.

Marking the launch of the most comprehensive data set in UK investment management to date, Karis Stander, IA Director for Culture, Talent & Inclusion and Investment20/20 MD, will talk through the key findings.

11:05 In conversation with Marisa Hall, Head of the Thinking Ahead Institute.

This session takes a deeper dive into some of the big themes that the EDI data survey has brought to light.

• Marisa Hall, Head of the Thinking Ahead Institute
• Karis Stander, IA Director for Culture, Talent & Inclusion and Investment20/20 MD

11:30  Gathering the right data to create a better employee experience.

Before designing any policy, strategy or programme, the critical first step is collecting data. Our panel, hosted by Shrena Fraser Johnson, Culture, Talent & Inclusion Specialist, The Investment Association, will discuss good practice on collecting and interpreting the data.

• Tosin James-Odukoya, Group Head of Inclusion and Diversity, Quilter 
• Sarah Kaiser, Head of Employee Experience, Fidelity International
• Katty Bennett, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director, PwC

12:00 Networking Lunch

13:00 Keynote: View from the FCA on culture related priorities.

Alicia Kedzierski, Head of Department, Environmental, Social and Governance, Financial Conduct Authority will discuss recent proposals to implement a new regulatory framework on diversity and inclusion in the financial sector.

13:30 What does inclusive recruitment look like?

Embedding inclusion within the candidate experience from the outset, widens our talent pool to the benefit of firms and candidates. Jenny Barber, Director, Investment20/20 will talk to industry professionals who started their careers through Investment20/20 and explore what inclusion meant for them.

• Saphire Henry, Associate Business Analyst, Schroders
• Yasser Elaasar, Analyst Product Owner, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
• Dayna Ambris, Employee Experience Manager, T. Rowe Price
• Clare MacInnes, Performance Analyst, Artemis

14:15 PRA and FCA consultation papers on Diversity & Inclusion

This session will take a closer look at the PRA and FCA consultation papers that set out significant new rules to help drive improved diversity and inclusion across financial services. If enacted as proposed, this will represent some of the most significant action taken by an industry regulator to move the dial on D&I.

15:00 Networking break

15:30 Building and Leading Inclusive Teams

Drawing on her extensive experience, Marie-Laure Humbert, Vice President, Executive Coach and Business Strategy Consultant, Goldman Sachs will set out techniques in creating and managing inclusive teams.

16:00 Tone from the top: Linking up high level commitment with execution.

In this session, moderated by Karis Stander, panelists will give their perspective on driving lasting change.

• Jane Ivinson, Deputy General Council & Chief Legal Officer, BNY Mellon Investment Management
• Darren Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, Impax Asset Management
• Euan Munro, CEO, Newton Investment Management
• Marisa Hall, Head of the Thinking Ahead Institute

16:45 Closing Remarks

• Karis Stander, Director – Culture, Talent & Inclusion, The Investment Association 

17:00 Drinks Reception

Patrick Thomson, CEO Europe, Middle East & Africa, J.P. Morgan Asset Management & IA Chair
Patrick Thomson is Chief Executive Officer for EMEA, J.P. Morgan Asset Management based in London. He is Chair of the Board of the Investment Association, representing UK’s investment management industry, and a Member of the UK Government’s Treasury Task Force. Patrick joined J.P. Morgan Asset Management in 1995 and worked in Singapore 2000-2005 as global head of sovereigns, with extensive experience in reserves management in Asia and the Middle East, and has worked with many of the largest asset owners in the world.

After graduating from Edinburgh University with an MA (Hons), Patrick served as an officer in the British Army for five years, and is co-chair of the EMEA VETS group at JP Morgan. He qualified as a member of the UK Society of Investment Professionals in 2000.

Karis Stander, IA Director, Culture, Talent & Inclusion, and Managing Director, Investment20/20
Karis leads the Culture, Talent and Inclusion team at the Investment Association (IA), the trade body for UK investment. Her team supports members to drive a forward looking, responsible and inclusive investment industry that attracts, develops and retains talented people from all backgrounds. Karis has responsibility for shaping policy, the implementation of industry-wide programmes, and advising members on good practice. As the MD of Investment20/20, the IA’s multi-award winning talent solution, she and her team have enabled over 2,500 young people from a diversity of backgrounds to start their careers in investment management by taking an industry-wide approach to reaching young people from a range of backgrounds and giving them access to a large network of investment management companies. Karis has been recognised by Financial News as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Finance for 2023.

Marisa Hall, FIA, Head of the Thinking Ahead Institute, WTW
Marisa is head of the Thinking Ahead Institute, a global not for profit investment research network focused on mobilising capital for a sustainable future. The Institute’s membership includes more than 50 of the world’s largest asset owners and asset managers with combined responsibility for over USD$16 trillion.

Marisa spends much of her time working on sustainability; value creation; culture and leadership; the future of work; and diversity, equity & inclusion. She has been widely recognised as a thought leader and advocate for change, writing several articles featured in the media, thought pieces, research papers and as a speaker at a number of global events. Prior to joining the Institute, Marisa was a Senior Investment Consultant in WTW’s investment advisory business.

Marisa is on the standing committee of Investment 20/20 a UK based not for profit which focuses on attracting diverse talent into the industry. She also serves on the steering committee of #talkaboutblack, a powerful movement that aims to improve the conversation on ethnic diversity. This falls under the UK wide industry initiative, The Diversity Project.

Marisa is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (FIA) and holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC). She has a MSc (Distinction) from CASS Business School, London and a first class degree in Mathematics from the University of the West Indies. She was named on the 2020 list of Financial News' Rising Stars of Asset Management in Europe and was winner of ‘Woman of the Year’ in the 2020 Women in Finance Summit & Awards Series. She also featured on the 2021 Institute and Faculty of Actuaries ( IFoA ) roll call of thought leaders in the category of ‘actuaries changing mindsets’ and is also a recipient of the CEO Circle Awards for outstanding contribution to the values of WTW.

Tosin James-Odukoya, Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Wellbeing, Quilter
Tosin James-Odukoya joined Quilter as the Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Talent Acquisition in June 2021 reporting into Penny Cole, HRD.
Prior to joining Quilter, Tosin was the diversity, inclusion and recruitment business partnering lead at GSMA, the global trade body for mobile network operators, where she led the drive for greater equality and inclusion by designing recruitment practices to improve diversity across gender, race and other demographics. She was the first person to hold the position and implemented a range of initiatives, both practical and experiential to support the progression of people from underrepresented backgrounds. Tosin’s career in HR started via a summer internship in 2006 at Société Générale via the Brokerage, the social mobility charity, her experience also includes HR roles at Alexander Mann Solutions, the New York Stock Exchange and HSBC. Tosin holds a degree in Technology and Enterprise Management from Aston university. In recognition of her efforts, Tosin was shortlisted for Advocate of the year at the Women in IT awards in 2020.

Sarah Kaiser, Head of Employee Experience, Fidelity International
Sarah Kaiser is Head of Employee Experience at Fidelity International with responsibility for driving Fidelity’s strategic agendas around Diversity & Inclusion, Wellbeing, Employee Engagement, Flexible Working and the Employee Value Proposition. She is passionate about creating cultures where everyone can thrive.

Previously to joining Fidelity in 2019, Sarah was the Employee Experience, Diversity & Inclusion Lead EMEIA for Fujitsu. She has also led diversity and inclusion efforts for a local government organisation and for the Tate galleries. Prior to that, Sarah was the Director of RenéCassin, an international human rights NGO.

In her personal capacity, Sarah has worked on a wide range of diversity, inclusion and education projects. She is a Trustee of Voice 21, the UK’s oracy education charity. She has a degree in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge.

Alicia Kedzierski. Head of Department, Environmental, Social and Governance, Financial Conduct Authority
Alicia Kedzierski currently leads ESG and D&I at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), a role central to embedding these areas across the regulator’s policy, supervision and enforcement activity. She previously led critical projects for the FCA, such as the regulator’s response to the Cost of Living Crisis. When she led the FCA’s Innovation team, she delivered the FCA’s Innovation Technical Assistance work for several African countries. Her experience spans the UK and working across the Middle East and Africa, including development projects. Previously, Alicia worked at Deloitte, the Financial Services Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Bank of England. Her background is in Law.

Shrena Fraser Johnson, Culture, Talent and Inclusion Specialist, the Investment Association
Shrena Fraser Johnson is the Culture, Talent and Inclusion Specialist at the Investment Association, the trade body that represents UK investment managers. She has a BA in political science from the University at Albany, NY and a law degree from Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC. She practiced law for four years before transitioning into content development for finance conferences. Shrena is passionate and focused on culture and inclusion and chairs the IA’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Group.

Jenny Barber, Director of Careers and Talent, Investment20/20
An experienced talent and careers professional, Jenny’s passion for diversity, with specific focus on social mobility, has been a central theme of her career. Having led on programmes for employers, education providers and charities, Jenny has developed a strong knowledge base on social mobility, in addition to professional practice gained through delivery roles direct with young people.

As Director of Careers and Talent at Investment20/20, the Investment Association’s talent solution, Jenny advises investment managers on their entry level talent agenda, with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Responsible for Investment20/20’s careers and talent strategy, her work drives young people from diverse backgrounds to consider a career in investment management, and the programmes she leads provides the infrastructure for them to take the step to join the sector.

Experienced in working with a range of stakeholders, Jenny knows how to bring people together for a common purpose – to develop our next generation of diverse talent.

Prior to joining Investment20/20, she was Director of Programmes at Career Ready, a national education charity, where she led national change on programme design and delivery across the charity. Other previous roles included leading education and skills at the Financial Services Partnership, and leading careers and employability in schools, colleges and universities.

Jenny is a recipient of The Worshipful Company of Educators Master Award for her work on apprenticeships and youth talent, and the Investment Week Women in Investments Awards for Mentor of the Year for her work supporting young people from diverse background into jobs in investment management.

Saphire Henry, Associate Business Analyst, Schroders
Saphire has recently completed her two-year apprenticeship program at Schroders, achieving a Level 4 Data Analysis Qualification, and has now joined Schroders on a permanent contract as an Associate Business Analyst, where she can excel in her career path. She joined Schroders straight out of college after studying a BTEC Level 3 and a higher National Diploma in Information Technology.

Saphire joined the Investment 20/20 Work experience program back in college, when she was unsure of the apprenticeships she was looking to apply for. During the one-week experience exploring several Asset Management firms, she discovered her passion to work within the Asset Management industry, and using her new connections at I20/20, she was able to make that happen.

Saphire has gone on to sharing her apprenticeship experience with School youths, on the benefits and acceleration into the working industry via apprenticeships.

Yasser Elaasar, Analyst Product Owner, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Yasser joined through the I2020 scheme in 2021 as part of the Portfolio Analysis group at JPMorgan Asset management, becoming an analyst within the same team.
Yasser studied and has a Masters in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Surrey. He enjoys travelling, and sports and has a passion for DE&I, where he is involved in JPMAM’s YouTube series: Inside Asset Management, a YouTube video series explaining the ins and outs of our Asset Management industry. He is also a scouts leader and partakes in mentoring and careers programmes.

Dayna Ambris, Employee Experience Manager, T. Rowe Price
Dayna has worked for T. Rowe Price for seven years. She started as the first Corporate Responsibility Consultant based outside of the US and now works for the Employee Experience team. This is a team dedicated to enhancing and engaging current and future employees, throughout their life cycle with the firm.
Prior to T. Rowe Price, Dayna worked in very different fields to financial services, including working as a project manager in the voluntary sector. She started her career in CR working for BBC Outreach after career break where she travelled the world.
At T. Rowe Price Dayna programme manages an apprenticeship scheme which is aimed at applicants who may not have access to the traditional routes into the financial service industry. Her passion for this work comes from a drive to try and help ensure people from ethnic minorities or lower socio-economic backgrounds do not face the same barriers that she tackeled when trying to pursue professional opportunities.

Clare MacInnes, Performance Analyst, Artemis
Clare began her career in Investment Management via Investment20/20 at Artemis, following completing her degree at Edinburgh Napier University. While at university Clare completed the Investment20/20 Think Investments programme which introduced her to the career possibilities in the sector. Clare joined Artemis as a trainee performance analyst and has since finished the year programme, being kept on permanently as a performance analyst. Now as an Investment20/20 alumni Clare continues to support the scheme, through both industry and student events.

Clare McMullen, Financial Regulation Group Partner, London
Clare specialises in advising financial institutions on regulatory engagement in the context of regulatory enforcement investigations, skilled person reviews, and where regulators are considering use of formal powers. Since joining Linklaters her work has included suspected misconduct in the retail, wholesale and insurance markets, often with a focus on the role of senior management and the effectiveness of corporate governance structures. Her experience includes advising clients in relation to ongoing FCA Enforcement investigations relating to non-financial misconduct, financial crime and money laundering, and the fair treatment of retail customers, and she has recently advised trading firms and issuers with their responses to pre-enforcement enquiries into anti money laundering systems and controls, disclosure obligations and suspected market misconduct in the equity, commodities and energy markets. She regularly advises and delivers training to clients on the operation of the SMCR regime and governance structures, working closely with Linklaters’ employment team and diversity faculty.
Prior to joining Linklaters Clare spent 10 years within the Enforcement and Market Oversight Division of the Financial Conduct Authority. During that time she led some of the regulator’s most high profile litigation and enforcement investigations, many with an international element

Marie-Laure Humbert, Vice President- Executive Coach and Business Strategy Consultant, Goldman Sachs
Marie-Laure is an executive director and senior strategist with the Business Strategy team of Strategic Advisory Solutions based in London. As an accredited coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF), she offers innovative guidance on leadership and personal development to existing and emerging senior leaders.
Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Marie-Laure ran her own marketing and business development consultancy firm in London. Marie-Laure is an accomplished financial professional with over 20 years’ experience in financial markets gained in front line business development roles including cross-border sales. During her career, she gained an international and multi-cultural experience having worked in Europe, Asia and the US with firms such as UBS, Citibank and Morgan Stanley. She subsequently joined Iveagh, the Guinness family office as head of sales and investor relations where she developed a distribution and marketing strategy for the Iveagh Wealth Fund. During that time Marie-Laure also qualified as an Executive Coach.
Marie-Laure holds a Masters in Business and Languages from the University of Strasbourg in France, a BA in Business Studies from Hallamshire University in the UK and a Diploma in Executive coaching from the Academy of Executive Coaching in London.
Marie-Laure speaks French, English, Spanish and Italian fluently and is a trustee at My Big Career, a UK based charity dedicated to young people from a disadvantaged background.

Jane Ivinson, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Bank of New York Mellon Investment Management
As Deputy General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for BNY Mellon Investment Management, Jane leads and directs legal strategies, policies and practices that support the business. Over the course of her career, she has held a number of leadership roles including General Counsel of Insight Investment Limited and Managing Director at BlackRock (and its predecessor companies) as Head of the Legal Team for all issues in EMEA. Jane is a top contributor and thought leader in her field. She is a passionate advocate for all matters relating to social mobility and inclusion both in the workplace and across our industry. Jane has a first class LLB degree in Law (University of Warwick) and a BCL degree in law (University of Oxford) and holds the IMC from the CFA.

Darren Johnson, Executive Director and Global Chief Operating Officer, Impax Asset Management
Darren Johnson is Executive Director and Global Chief Operating Officer at Impax Asset Management and sits on the Executive Committee. Darren is a Director of Impax's Management Company in Japan and Ireland also sits on the UCITS Fund Board.
Darren joined Impax in 2007 and during his tenure, he has driven technology and operational transformations, built teams and pioneered the company's transition into cloud services to support rapid growth.
In addition to his Impax responsibilities, Darren sits on the board of a number of charities and organisations, including St Mungo’s and the investment advisory board of Comic Relief.

Euan Munro, CEO of Newton Investment Management
Euan Munro is Newton’s CEO and Chair of the Executive Management Committee
Euan is a seasoned investment management executive and has earned a reputation as a leading macro investor as well as being an innovative asset management executive.

Prior to joining Newton Euan was Chief Executive Officer of Aviva Investors and a member of the Aviva Group Executive. Before that he spent 20 years at Standard Life where he was a member of The Board and Head of Multi Asset and Fixed Interest. He started his career at Scottish Provident.

Euan has a first class honours degree in Physics from the University of Edinburgh and is a Fellow of the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Wharton Business School, Philadelphia.

Joined Newton: 2021
Joined industry: 1992

Hosted by 

For sponsorship and hosting enquiries, please contact Events@theia.org