The IA Culture, Talent & Inclusion Conference 2025

Peter Cheese, Chief Executive, CIPD

Peter is the CEO of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and People Development. He is also Chair of Engage for Success, was Chair of What Works Centre for Wellbeing, and sits on the Board of the College of Policing. He sits on many forums linked to wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, routes in to work and skills, flexible working, and corporate governance.

Peter writes and speaks widely on the development of HR, the future of work, and the key issues of leadership, culture and organisation, people and skills. In 2021, his second book ‘The New World of Work’ was published, exploring the many factors shaping work, workplaces, workforces and our working lives, and the principles around which we can build a future that is good for people, for business and for societies. 

Prior to joining the CIPD in 2012 Peter was Chair of the Institute of Leadership and Management, an Executive Fellow at London Business School, and held a number of Board level roles. He had a long career in consulting at Accenture working with organisations around the world, and in his last seven years there was Global Managing Director for the firm’s human capital and organisation consulting practice.

Kimberley Bush, Talent Acquisition Specialist & AI Early Careers Program Lead, Aviva Investors

Kimberley Bush is a CIPD-certified Talent Acquisition Partner at Aviva Investors, with over 18 years of experience supporting recruitment across the financial services sector, including both sell-side and buy-side environments. She leads global talent acquisition and early careers programmes, with a focus on building future-ready workforce strategies that align with evolving regulatory landscapes and technological change.

Kimberley specialises in sourcing top-tier, diverse talent across Risk & Compliance, Finance, Legal, Sustainable Investment, and Private Markets, spanning Europe, Canada, and APAC. Her approach is rooted in data-driven insights and market intelligence, enabling her to craft agile, inclusive, and compliant talent strategies. Passionate about the asset management industry, Kimberley is committed to helping organisations attract and retain talent that drives positive outcomes for stakeholders.

Mark Q. McLane, Head of Global Diversity, Inclusion and Well-being, M&G plc

Mark McLane a leading expert in social sustainability is the Head of Global Diversity, Inclusion and Well-being for M&G plc, an international savings and investments business responsible for architecting a firmwide strategy that leverages organizational strengths while remaining nimble in the every-changing global economic and geo-political climate.

Prior to M&G plc, Mr. McLane has held the positions of Chief Diversity Officer Barclays PLC, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Booz Allen Hamilton, and Chief Diversity Officer for Whirlpool Corporation. In addition, he has an extensive global business background.

Mr. McLane’s leadership roles include being a Trustee for the Diana Award, Chair of the DEI executive committee of the International Business and Diplomatic Exchange, Member of the Association of British Insurers DEI board subcommittee, former commissioner for the UK Equalities and Human Rights Commission, and past Master of the Guild of Human Resource Professionals.

Jenny Taylor MBE, UK Early Professional Programmes, IBM UK

Jenny Taylor MBE is Leader of IBM UK's Early Professional programmes (Foundation), operating across the full spectrum of IBM business lines; managing graduates, interns, apprentices and T Level students. These programmes have won multiple external awards over many years including Targetjobs, National Apprenticeship Service and Princess Royal Training accolades.

Jenny was at the forefront of developing Degree Apprenticeships in 2015 and is Chair of the Digital and Technology Solutions Level 6 Trailblazer. She is a member of the TechSkills Employer Board and the City and Guilds Council.

Jenny was named Apprenticeship Champion of the Year 2020, in the National Apprenticeship Service awards. Jenny was awarded an MBE for Services to Education in the New Year's Honours List 2022.

Jacquline Alcindor, Global Diversity and Inclusion Programme Partner, Legal & General Asset Management

Jacquline is an Equity, Inclusion and Diversity specialist and her current position is Global Diversity & Inclusion Programme Partner at Legal & General Investment Managers. Her role and remit include creating global strategic DEI plans, goals and programmes aligned to LGIM business priorities.

Jacquline currently works with a variety of internal and external stakeholders such as Talent, Acquisition, Distribution, Communications, Employee Networks, HR Business leadership teams and LGIM Executive leaders as well as external partners to ensure that all activities are aligned to delivering the LGIM D&I agenda.

Jacquline has been recognised as D&I role model winning the Investing in Ethnicity Exceptional Inclusion award in 2024 for her work driving D&I change and thought leadership at Legal & General. She has also won the Urban Synergy UShine Work Experience award for her work creating valuable work experience programmes and opportunities for young people.

David Berman, Partner, Covington & Burling

David Berman leads Covington’s financial services practice in EMEA. He advises a range of financial institutions on key regulatory compliance and investigations matters, and frequently counsels boards and senior management teams on significant regulatory issues. He specializes in tactical and strategic issue prevention, containment, and resolution, and has an outstanding track-record of achieving optimal outcomes for clients.

David has extensive experience across a wide spectrum of litigation, investigations, compliance, and transactional issues, including market conduct, whistle blows, culture and conduct, risk management, systems and controls, internal investigations, individual accountability, governance, conflicts of interest, inducements, regulatory aspects of transactions, remediation and redress exercises, and conduct of business regulation generally, as well as acting as a “skilled person” under Section 166 FSMA 2000.

His representative clients include: institutional investment managers, integrated investment banks, central banks, hedge funds, private equity houses, stockbroking firms, credit funds, consumer credit firms, clearing banks and corporates.

David is recommended by Chambers UK and Legal 500 UK as a leading practitioner for financial services regulatory matters. He is often consulted as a subject-matter expert by industry bodies and regulators and is a frequent speaker at financial sector conferences and events.

Clare McMullen, Partner, Linklaters

Clare is a barrister specialising in contentious financial regulation, having joined Linklaters as counsel from the Enforcement Division of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.

Her experience includes advising banks, insurance companies and asset managers on FCA and PRA enforcement investigations, the UK senior management and certification regime (SMCR) and anti-money laundering (AML) obligations. Investigations where she has played a leading role have covered a range of subjects including prudential issues, market conduct, treating customers fairly, and systems, controls and governance. Her matters often involve managing the risks associated with parallel proceedings against firms and individuals or in multiple jurisdictions.

She has particular expertise in the conduct of skilled persons reviews under s166 FSMA, leading delivery of such a review and assisting firms with their response to reviews conducted by others.

Prior to joining Linklaters, Clare spent ten 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 enforcement investigations, many with an international element.

Sara Cody, Counsel, Linklaters

Sara is an experienced contentious regulatory specialist who supports firms through FCA/PRA and internal investigations, regulatory implementation projects and helps firms understand and manage drivers of regulatory risk. Sara’s technical expertise means she is frequently called upon by clients to advise on issues around the FCA/PRA investigatory powers, the consumer duty, conduct risk and individual accountability.

She has experience of all aspects of regulatory enforcement work and has written extensively on both FCA/PRA enforcement decisions and UK, EU and global enforcement trends. Sara leads the development of Linklaters’ thought leadership and horizon-scanning work in this area, focusing on publications comparing the approach of national financial regulators across the globe to enforcement issues and relevant developments.

She is frequently called upon by clients to design and deliver bespoke training on the FCA and PRA enforcement process and to advise on the conduct of investigations skills more generally, providing innovative solutions to enable firms to respond effectively.

Sara has developed a particular expertise in the consumer duty. She led the team providing legal advice on consumer duty implementation to a major investment bank and global wealth firm and has provided scoping and implementation advice to firms across a range of sectors, including asset managers, fintechs and hedge funds. Sara supported the Investment Association, AFME, and UK Finance with their responses to the new consumer duty rules and continues to advise their related member forums and working groups. This gives her a keen insight into the challenges these sectors face in terms of their operation of the Duty and unique opportunities to engage with the FCA here. She also designed and delivered Linklaters’ client materials on the consumer duty, which include a monthly webinar series, podcasts and written publications designed to support firms in navigating this new regime.

Rachel Harris, Business Partner to the CEO, Schroders

Rachel Harris is Business Partner to the CEO at Schroders, where she supports the CEO in navigating complex challenges and executing key initiatives. Her role spans collaboration with stakeholders across People & Culture, Investments (both public and private), Wealth, and the Client Group.

Previously, Rachel worked in Schroders’ Solutions division, supporting the Buy & Maintain Fixed Income team and DC client solutions. Her background is in fixed income, having spent several years as a salesperson at investment banks (CSFB and RBS), and subsequently leading teams as an Investment Director at Janus Henderson and Aviva Investors.

Rachel is passionate about clients and people, with a particular focus on inclusion. She previously chaired the Diversity Project’s Returners workstream and now sits on the i2020 steering committee.

Fabiana Fedeli, CIO, Equities, Multi Asset and Sustainability, M&G Investments

Fabiana joined M&G plc in July 2021 as Chief Investment Officer: Equities and Multi-Asset. She has over 20 years of experience in the investment management industry. Prior to joining M&G, Fabiana was the global head of fundamental equities at Robeco Asset Management, leading an international investment team managing a range of active equity strategies. She had direct portfolio management responsibility for three of those strategies and has extensive experience in integrating sustainability and impact into investment processes. Prior to Robeco, Fabiana held a number of roles both in portfolio management and equity analysis in London, New York and Tokyo. She began her career in the industry at ING Barings Tokyo as a research analyst of Japanese equities.

Renarta Guy, Chief People Officer, Aviva Investors

Renarta joined Aviva in June 2021 and is the Chief People Officer for Aviva Investors. She is part of the Aviva People Leadership team and the Aviva Investors Executive Team responsible for the delivery of the AI business strategy.

Prior to Aviva, Renarta worked in various HR senior roles at Eversholt Rail, Credit Suisse, Citi and Ford. Renarta has an avid interest in Higher Education and has held various INED roles including at London Metropolitan University and is currently working with Manchester University’s Union of Students.

Karis Stander, IA Director, Culture, Talent & Inclusion, and Managing Director, Investment20/20

Karis leads the Culture, Talent & Inclusion team at the Investment Association (IA), where she oversees the people, talent and conduct advocacy agenda. She is responsible for influencing policy, convening members to share good practice, and the delivery of industry-wide programmes that drive scale and efficiency.

As Managing Director of Investment20/20, the IA’s multi-award winning talent solution, she leads a team that connects the investment industry with future talent communities through education outreach, brings together emerging talent from across the industry to equip them with insights, skills and a supportive professional community, and convenes talent professionals to work collectively to shape and influence skills policy. Under her leadership, the team has enabled over 3,000 young people from a breadth of backgrounds to start their careers in the investment industry.

In 2023, Financial News named Karis one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Finance.

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.

Andrew Ninian, Director of Stewardship, Risk and Tax, The Investment Association

Andrew is responsible for representing The Investment Association members interests as institutional investors on stewardship and corporate governance matters. Andrew also has executive team responsibility for the IA’s Risk and Tax Unit focussing on business risks affecting member firms.

Andrew is responsible for working with members to set the IA guidelines for investee companies and has oversight of The IA's voting research service IVIS, including company consultation and engagement. Andrew also oversees the IA’s work on helping to improve member practices on stewardship and policy development on stewardship and corporate governance matters.

Andrew joined The Investment Association in June 2014, through merger of the Investment Affairs division of the ABI with the IMA. Andrew read Economics at the University of Bath. Andrew is a member of the FTSE Russell Policy Advisory Board and the Advisory Panel to the FTSE Women Leaders Review.