Professional Pensions has launched the inaugural Women in Pensions Awards to celebrate the achievements of women working in pensions or acting as a trustee. Find out how to nominate here…
Do you work with a woman who is a trailblazer within pensions? Or perhaps you know a woman whose contribution to a project or task has been inspirational? Perhaps there is a rising female star in your midst or someone who has been a role model or mentor to women working in the pensions sector.
If so, we are ready to celebrate their achievements at the inaugural Women in Pensions Awards.
The Women in Pensions Awards are not about men versus women, or whether a particular gender is more suited to a career or role in pensions; they are simply about celebrating and recognising the achievements of women in a sector where they are currently under-represented.
Why? As the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association pointed out in its report, Breaking the Mirror Image, there is compelling evidence that more diversity leads to better company performance. And, if more diversity is right for the companies in which schemes invest, it must also be right for pension funds themselves as well as for the broader pensions industry.
Having access to a broader pool of talent can help to create a more sustainable pensions industry for all and encouraging gender diversity is a crucial step to accomplishing this. In highlighting the achievements of women already in the sector, as well as recognising individuals of either gender who help to maximise the potential of women or are striving to get a better gender balance, the Women in Pensions Awards will play its part by helping to inspire more women to work in what is an exciting and dynamic sector.
The Women in Pensions Awards firmly believes that initiatives that aim to inspire and campaign for greater representation of women both in pensions and on trustee boards have a key role to play in supporting gender diversity. We believe the Women in Pensions Awards can complement these initiatives by shining a spotlight on the work of inspirational and groundbreaking women in the pensions sector.
Supporters
A range of organisations have already agreed to back these awards - including the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA); The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA); The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA); The Pensions Management Institute (PMI);The Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) and Women in Pensions.
How you can play your part
By nominating someone for the awards or entering yourself you will not only help to acknowledge the current achievements of women, you will be helping to inspire and encourage the next generation of women in the pensions sector.
Nomination is quick and easy
You simply complete some basic details about the person, company or scheme you are nominating. You can also nominate yourself. Nominations can be supported with an optional 250-word statement.
Once nominations have been received, the nominee will be contacted and forwarded a list of questions that they will be required to complete in order to progress to the first round of judging. A shortlist will then be created from which an expert panel of judges will decide the winners in each category.
The deadline for nominations is 27 February 2018
Visit the Women in Pensions Awards website to begin the nomination process.
Categories & Criteria
The awards are open to those working for firms operating in the UK's pensions industry as well as those either working for or governing individual occupational pension schemes.
Nominees can be involved in roles including, but not limited to, pensions management, trusteeship, actuarial, pensions and investment consulting; legal advice; investment management; fiduciary management; scheme administration; member communications. Nominations can also be made for those involved other roles, such as sales and marketing, at organisations whose primary business or role is related to occupational pensions.
There is no limit on the number of nominations or categories. Women currently on maternity leave can also be nominated.
The categories and criteria are:
Pensions Woman of the Year
Open to women whose overall achievements and work within the broader pensions sector, have helped raise the profile of the sector as a career for women either through education, training, leadership, mentoring or acting as a role model. The award is not specific to any particular role - and is open to those involved in roles such as pensions management, trusteeship, consulting; legal advice and scheme administration - but the nominee must be able to demonstrate their influence in attracting and/or retaining women into pensions.
Pensions Manager of the Year
This category is open to women working in senior roles in in-house company pension schemes. The award is open to people at ‘head of pensions' or ‘pensions director' levels but also open to those on the senior management team of in-house schemes - such as those leading the investment or administration functions of a scheme.
Trustee of the Year
This accolade aims to recognise women in pension trusteeship and is open to both professional (independent) and lay trustees. This award will serve as inspiration for other women to consider a role as a pension scheme trustee.
Adviser of the Year
Open to women working as a pension scheme consultant, actuary, investment consultant or legal adviser, either in-house or at an external firm. This award will serve as inspiration for other women to consider a career in the field, so is particularly suitable for those with at least five years' experience in the field.
Administrator of the Year
Open to women administrating UK pension schemes, either as part of an in-house team or at a third-party administration business. This award will serve as inspiration for other women to consider a career in pensions administration, so is particularly suitable for those with at least five years' experience in administration.
Investment Manager of the Year
Open to women managing investments for UK pension schemes, either as part of an in-house team or at a third-party asset management business. Nominees can be the lead or part of a joint all female or mixed gender management team. This award will serve as inspiration for other women to consider a career in pensions investment management and will therefore be judged primarily on qualitative factors, rather than performance.
Rising Star Award
Open to women in the pensions sector who have made a strong impact in a short space of time; have impressed colleagues with their desire to succeed and strive to achieve excellence in the workplace; and are most likely to progress further. There is no age limit and candidates can be graduates, non-graduates, trainees, managers, or have perhaps transferred from a different industry into the pensions sector. Nominees must be working for less than five years in pensions on 31st March 2018.
Mentor of the Year
Open to men and women in the pensions sector who have supported and encouraged women to fulfil their potential within the workplace.
Role Model of the Year
Open to women in the pensions sector who have helped inspire others to fulfil their potential and achieve excellence in the workplace.
Team Leader of the Year
Open to women in the pensions sector who head up a team and can demonstrate excellence in leadership, communication and vision.
Most Inspiring Returner
For women who have returned to work in pensions following maternity leave and have provided inspiration and acted as a role model to women looking to achieve the balance between work and family life.
*** ORGANISATIONAL AWARD *** Award for Supporting Diversity
Open to companies in the pensions sector and pension schemes who have supported and facilitated initiatives to improve diversity within the organisation.
Social Media Influencer of the Year
Open to women in the pensions sector whose contribution via social media has helped influence and raise awareness of pension issues. This could be through the use of Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, blogs, Facebook etc.
Visit the Women in Pensions Awards website to begin the nomination process.
