Bravura welcomed representatives from across the Financial Services sector for its annual International Women’s Day (IWD) event at its London office yesterday (29 March).

More than 70 attendees from leading organisations came together to support this year’s IWD theme #EmbraceEquity and hear from Catherine Garrod, the founder of Compelling Culture and former Head of Inclusion at Sky.

Having led Sky to become the Most Inclusive Employer in the UK, Catherine shared several real-life ways that people can break negative habits to increase diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond.

The event, which was hosted and organised by Bravura Women’s Network Forum (BWNF), also saw members from other networking groups in attendance. This included Women in Platforms – which Bravura’s Emma Napier co-runs – as well as Women in Asset Servicing, representing a special coming together of all these industry groups in one room.

Libby Roy, Bravura’s CEO, and first female in the post, also gave a welcome address to the attendees, recognising the importance of events like this having the power to create change across the industry.

Louise Barnes, Head of BWNF and Principal Consultant, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people join us at our offices under one simple and strong message: embrace equity. As an industry, we are making great strides but we know more can be done.

“It’s so important to ensure International Women’s Day isn’t just a flash in the pan, and we need to champion diversity and inclusion throughout the year. Paying lip-service isn’t an option, we all need to work together – irrespective of gender, race, age, ability or status – to help move our industry forward. Thank you again for all our attendees for helping to make this a great event.”

Bravura launched BWNF in 2019 and since then the group has expanded to over 30 members and helped create positive change across the company. An example of this is where BWNF worked with HR and senior management to enhance the level of company maternity leave on offer to UK employees.

The event follows Bravura being shortlisted for Employer of the Year at FT Adviser’s Diversity in Finance Awards in recognition for the progress it has made since launching its Diversity & Inclusion programme in 2020, which is led by Nigel Liddell, General Counsel at Bravura.

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Justine Pattullo

Marketing Manager, EMEA

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