PP Rising Star Awards 2019: Nominees revealed!

Professional Pensions launched its inaugural Rising Star Awards to celebrate the emerging talent in pensions - recognising and identifying the sector's future leaders as well as shining the spotlight on the organisations and individuals that are helping to develop and foster new talent in the industry.

Over the past months, we have invited nominations from across the industry - a process that closed earlier this month.

Congratulations to all the individuals and organisations that have been nominated.

The nominees are as follows...

Organisational Categories:

Aon, Barnett Waddingham, CMS, FPP Benefits Group, Hartley Pensions, Hymans Robertson, LCP, Mercer, Pension Protection Fund, PwC, Quietroom, RSM, XPS Pensions Group

Mentor of the Year:

Alec Buck (XPS Pensions Group), Andrew Marks (Artisan Partners), Andy Young (The Pensions Regulator), Barry Gostling (Ensors Accountants), Carlos Bertoa-Mendez (XPS Administration), Charlotte Nauleau (BlackRock), Chris Dunford (Aon), Chris Hoffman (RiskFirst), Daniel Shaw (CMS), David Weeks (Association of Member Nominated Trustees), Dhawal Chandan (Just Financial Group), Gary Watt (Just Financial Group), Gordon Watchorn (LCP), Guinevere Taylor (RBC GAM UK), Hollie Haslam (Mercer), James Chandler (XPS Pensions Group), James Walters (XPS Administration), John Doherty (XPS Pensions Group), Karina Klimaszewski (Aon), Laura Brook (Eversheds Sutherland), Leanne McLeish (Just Financial Group), Leo Ring (PwC), Mary McGrath (XPS Pensions Group), Matthew Paton (Barnett Waddingham), Michael Baber (Hartley Pensions), Nicola Paul (Just Financial Group), Paul Houghton (Barnett Waddingham), Rachel Linton (Pension Protection Fund), Robyn Cowan (XPS Administration), Ross McBride (Barnett Waddingham), Shabana Masavi (Hymans Robertson), Sharon Edey (J.P. Morgan), Steve Delo (PAN Governance), Tiffany Tsang (Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association), Tom Hibbard (Simplitium), Tony Ark (Coca-Cola European Partners), Vic Snowden (LCP), Zoe McLaughlin (Ensors Accountants)

All other categories:

Abbie Elliot (LCP), Abhishek Srivistav (Columbia Threadneedle Investments), Adam Chate (3i), Adam Hayes (Aon), Adolfo Aponte (Lincoln Pensions), Aleasha Watson (XPS Administration), Alex Bates (XPS Pensions Group), Alexandra McClelland (Aon), Alison Hatcher (HSBC Global Asset Management UK), Alistair Godley (PwC), Andre Garber (Redington), Andrew Hornell (Willis Towers Watson), Andrew Lewis (Travers Smith), Andrew Stewart (Cardano), Andrien Meyers (City of London Corporation), Andy Hemming (West Midlands Pension Fund), Ankush Appadoo (PwC), Anna Copestake (ARC Pensions Law), Anna Darnley (Accenture), Ashley Hamilton Claxton (Royal London Asset Management), Ashley Walker (Hymans Robertson), Ava Lau (London Stock Exchange Group), Becky Jaques (Barnett Waddingham), Ben Fisher (XPS Pensions Group), Ben Lyons (Just Group), Benjamin Roe (Aon), Bill Jangra (Nuffield Health), Bradley Clark (Hargreaves Lansdown), Bryna Brady (Barnett Waddingham), Carly McIver (Mourant Ozannes), Caroline Escott (Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association), Caroline Hopper (Quietroom), Caroline Kurup (CMS), Catherine Miller (Hymans Robertson), Celine Mather-Franks (Pure Pensions Legal), Charlotte Naylor (PwC), Chelsie Doyle (Bfinance), Chintan Gandhi (Aon), Chloe Priestley (PwC), Chloe Taylor (Quietroom), Chris Collins (XPS Pensions Group), Chris Eyett (Pensions Management Institute), Chris Hodgson (XPS Pensions Group), Chris Hoffman (RiskFirst), Chris Morton (Buck), Claire Barnes (Barnett Waddingham), Curtis Mitchell (PSIT), Damon Lacey (Muse Advisory), Dan Auton (XPS Pensions Group), Dan Gilmour (PwC), Daniel Riddaway (Charles Stanley Asset Management), Daniel Shaw (CMS), Darryl James (XPS Pensions Group), David Alexander (Herbert Smith Freehills), David Coulthard (Barnett Waddingham), David Moreton (Barnett Waddingham), David Rix (Pension Protection Fund), Deborah Wardle (Mercer), Denise Hawkins (Pensions Management Institute), Dhawal Chandan (Just Financial Group), Diandra Soobiah (NEST), Elena Puiu (Buck), Elizabeth Ramsaran (PwC), Emily Bate (Quietroom), Emily Tann (Hymans Robertson), Emma Hudson (Mercer), Emma Jones (Universities Superannuation Scheme), Emma Moore (Aon), Felix Mantz (Lincoln Pensions), Finley Boon-Brown (Pure Pensions Legal), Gary Watt (Just Financial Group), Gavin Quinn (Pension Protection Fund), Gemma Cowan (Aon), George Walles (XPS Pensions Group), Georgina Friend (XPS Pensions Group), Grace Le (Kames Capital), Graeme Hall (XPS Pensions Group), Guinevere Taylor (RBC GAM UK), Hadassah Shulman (Pinsent Masons), Hannah Chapman (Mercer), Harriet Smith (Goldman Sachs Asset Management), Heidi Webster (XPS Pensions Group), Helen Ross (XPS Pensions Group), Helen Stokes (LCP), Helena Jones (KBPR), Herschel Pant (AXA Investment Managers), Holly Copley (British Airways Pensions), Holly Harmes (XPS Pensions Group), Iain Church (Hymans Robertson), Ian Andrews (SITA), Ian Korner (Cabinet Office), Isobel Dyson (Pension Protection Fund), Jack Silk (Mattioli Woods), Jacob Bowman (KPMG), Jacob Shah (LCP), Jacob Smith (Mercer), James Farrell (XPS Pensions Group), James Ruck (XPS Pensions Group), James Tomlin (Cardano), James Walters (XPS Administration), Jamie Woodall (River and Mercantile), Jane McKeown (Lothian Pension Fund), Jay Ions (Goldman Sachs Asset Management), Jean-Marc Zoghbi (JLT), Jemma Cross (JLT), Jen Norris (KPMG), Jennifer Gibson (XPS Pensions Group), Jennifer O'Neill (Aon), Jenny Chambers (Lloyds Banking Group), Jessica Marshall (XPS Pensions Group), Jo Philpott (Mercer), Joan Lee (Unigestion), Joe Craig (Quietroom), Joe Hall (Mercer), Johanna Clarke (CMS), John Baines (Aon), John Chung (Aon), John Harney (LCP), Jonathan Bland (Pension Geeks), Jonathan Mortimore (Aviva), Julia Fox (Quietroom), Karina Klimaszewski (Aon), Kate Boulden (Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association), Kate Daniels (HSBC), Kate-Emma Bailey (Squire Patton Boggs UK), Kath Patel (Aon), Kathryn Todd (EY), Katie Birch (XPS Administration), Katie Lambert (XPS Administration), Katie Lightstone (PwC), Kelly Moohan (Pension Protection Fund), Khristina Wright (KPMG), Kirsten Wilkie (Just Financial Group), Kirstin Lyons (DP World/P&O), Krisha Mohanarajah (Pension Protection Fund), Laura Briggs (Pension Protection Fund), Laura Brook (Eversheds Sutherland), Laura Clarke (CMS), Laura Davies (LCP), Laura de Ornelas (National Grid UK Pension Scheme Trustee Executive), Laura McLaughlin (CMS), Laura Smieja (XPS Administration), Laura Turner (XPS Pensions Group), Leanne Carpenter (Buck), Lee Spithray (DHL), Liridona Jahdaut (Just Financial Group), Lloyd Thomas (XPS Administration), Louis Dixon (Pension Protection Fund), Louisa Taylor (XPS Pensions Group), Louise Dickinson (Buck), Louise Lau (Barnett Waddingham), Lucas Calleja (British Airways Pension Scheme), Lucy Smith (Mercer), Lukshmi Selvarajah (Capital Cranfield), Madeleine Claridge-Ware (XPS Pensions Group), Madeleine Humphrey (Pension Protection Fund), Mandy Virdi (Broadstone Corporate Benefits), Maneli Safari (Norton Rose Fulbright), Mark Jenkins (CMS), Mark Slater (Slater Investments), Mary Spencer (LCP), Matt Blakstad (NEST Insight), Matt Dodds (ITM), Matt Simms (River and Merchentile Solutions), Matthew King (Pension Protection Fund), Matthew Mather-Franks (Chamberlain Trustees), Matthew Paton (Barnett Waddingham), Matthew Pridding (PTL Governance), Matthew Rees (Columbia Threadneedle Investments), Maya Beyhan (Kempen Capital Management), Melanie Durrant (Barnett Waddingham), Michael Callari (KAS Bank), Michael Curtis (Pacific Life Re), Michael Flanagan (XPS Pensions Group), Michael Jones (Linklaters), Michael Watkins (Smart Pension), Michelle Wright (LCP), Mike Curtis (Pacific Life Re), Natalie Mee (CMS), Neil Kennedy (XPS Administration), Nicholas Chadha (Buck), Nick Harvey (XPS Pensions Group), Nicola Copeland (Secondsight, part of the Foster Denovo Group), Nicola Paul (Just Financial Group), Nicola Young (XPS Pensions Group), Nikesh Patel (Kempen Capital Management), Nikhil Radia (RPMI), Olenka Kaczmarczyk (Lubrizol), Oli Hook (JLT), Oliver Coe (Buck), Oliver Walker (Aon), Olivia Buah (LCP), Olivier Blin (Unigestion), Paras Shah (Cardano), Paul Houghton (Barnett Waddingham), Paul Yates (Deloitte), Peter Daniels (Barnett Waddingham), Phil Ryan (FPP Benefits Group), Rachel O'Rourke (B&CE), Rachel Titichen (XPS Pension Group), Rachika Cooray (LCP), Radhika Ravi (LCP), Raj Shah (Hymans Robertson), Rebecca Craddock-Taylor (Hymans Robertson), Rebecca Page (Hymans Robertson), Rema Behnam (PwC Pension Schemes), Richard Bacon (Eversheds Sutherland), Richard Cropley (Hartley Pensions), Richard Gibson (Barnett Waddingham), Richard Law-Deeks (Royal Mail Pension Trustees), Rikhav Shah (EY), Robert Young (XPS Administration), Robin Harries (Quietroom), Robyn Abbott (Accenture), Rochelle Baker (Kimberly Clark), Rosalind Scott-Douglas (Schroders), Rosamund Wood (Eversheds Sutherland), Rosemarie Miller (Mercer HR Consulting), Rosie Glynn (XPS Pensions Group), Rosie Read (PwC), Ross Breckon (PwC), Ross McBride (Barnett Waddingham), Ruairi Campbell (Mercer), Russell Wright (Hargreaves Lansdown), Sam Procter (Willis Towers Watson), Sara Protheroe (Pension Protection Fund), Sarah Keighley (XPS Pensions Group), Sarah Kemp (RPMI Railpen), Sarah Opie (Linklaters), Sarah Pengilley (Post Office Limited), Shafiq Pereira (Pension Protection Fund), Shan Abdullah (BT), Shanti Philips (XPS Pensions Group), Sharon Edey (J.P. Morgan), Shaun Tucker (Hartley Pensions), Shehzad Ahmad (Ross Trustees), Shelley Forrester (XPS Administration), Shelley Jeffery (XPS Pensions Group), Sian Pringle (XPS Pensions Group), Sophie Dapin (Schroders), Srikant Vedutla (IPS Group), Stephen Richards (Stephenson Harwood), Steve Hodder (LCP), Steve Morris (XPS Pensions Group), Sukhjit Dhillon (London United Busways), Tamara Rimmer (Barnett Waddingham), Thibault Jeakings (CMS), Tim Cooke (PS Aspire), Tim Miller (XPS Pensions Group), Tim Phillips (Smart Pension), Tom Jackman (Sackers), Tom McNaughton (Baker McKenzie), Tom Selby (AJ Bell), Tom Yorath (Aon), Tony Ark (Coca-Cola European Partners), Troy Finch (XPS Pensions Group), Venetia Trayhurn (Law Debenture), Vicki Barratt (Aon), Victoria McGregor (Legal & General Workplace DC Pensions), Victoria Panormo (Aon Hewitt), Victoria Sutcliffe (Willis Towers Watson), Will Lovegrove (Pensionsync), William Vango (Buck), Zoe Brown (PwC).

What happens next?

Now that 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. Judges will take into account:

- achievements in the workplace/role

- challenges faced

- evidence of contributions to support and inspire those beginning their career in pensions

- and overall quality of submissions

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; and 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.

Now 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.

Should you have any queries with regards to the awards process, please contact: Ellie Harris at [email protected].

The categories are:

Rising Star of the Year

No nominations are needed in this category and the winner of this accolade will be selected from among the winners of the individual categories below.

It will recognise the individual, aged 40 or under on 30 September 2018 who has made the biggest difference to pensions over the past year.

The winner will not only be able to demonstrate excellence in their own field of pensions expertise - but also show commitment to the industry as a whole.

Trainee of the Year

This category reflects the continued importance of training in the pensions industry.

The category is open to all individuals who are currently undertaking, or have just completed, a training scheme or programme of training within the pensions industry. It is not specific to any particular role - and is open to those involved in roles such as pensions management; trusteeship; consulting; legal advice; investment management; and scheme administration.

Nominees in this category must have started their training at least six months ago (on or before 31 March 2018). If they have finished training, they must have completed it no more than 12 months ago (30 September 2017).

The individual should provide evidence of how they have contributed to the success of their business or scheme, highlighting any specific projects they have undertaken or successes they have achieved.

They should also describe how they have developed their skills since starting their role.

Those nominating individuals in this category are encouraged to attest to why the nominee would make an inspiring leader in pension advice.

Pensions Manager of the Year

This accolade aims to recognise the rising stars of in-house pension management and is open to those working in senior pension management roles (pension manager, assistant/deputy pensions manager etc) aged 40 or under on 30 September 2018.

This award will serve as inspiration for other young people to consider a pensions management role.

Nominees for this category should explain why they are a rising star of pensions management and provide evidence of their successes - detailing how they have ‘gone the extra mile' in their role, citing specific successes and achievements they have had over the 12 months to 30 September 2018; and demonstrating their qualities as a future leader.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the broader pensions industry.

Trustee of the Year

This accolade aims to recognise the rising stars of pension trusteeship and is open to both professional (independent) and lay trustees aged 40 or under on 30 September 2018.

This award will serve as inspiration for other young people to consider a role as a pension scheme trustee.

Nominees for this category should share their successes as a scheme trustee - detailing how they got involved in their role and what they have achieved during their time in post.

Adviser of the Year

This category is open to those aged 40 or under as at 30 September 2018 and is for those who have completed their initial actuarial, consulting or legal training and have taken the next step in their career.

Nominees for this category should provide evidence of their successes - detailing how they have ‘gone the extra mile' in their role, cite specific successes and achievements they have had over the 12 months to 30 September 2018; and demonstrate their qualities as a future leader in pensions advice.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the broader pensions industry.

Actuarial / Advisory Trainee of the Year

This category reflects the continued importance of training schemes in the pensions industry.

The category is open to all individuals who are currently undertaking, or have just completed, a training scheme to become a fully qualified actuary, lawyer or investment consultant.

The individual should provide evidence of how they have contributed to the success of their business, highlighting any specific projects they have undertaken or successes they have achieved.

They should also describe how they have developed their skills since embarking on their firm's training scheme.

Those nominating individuals in this category are encouraged to attest to why the nominee would make an inspiring leader in pension advice.

Administrator of the Year

This category is open to those aged 40 or under as at 30 September 2018 and is for those who have completed their initial qualifications in pension scheme administration and have taken the next step in their career, either as part of an in-house team or at a third-party pensions administration firm.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the pensions industry more broadly.

Administration Trainee of the Year

This category reflects the continued importance of training schemes in the pensions industry.

The category is open to all individuals who are currently undertaking, or have just completed, a training scheme, either in-house or at a third-party administration fund.

The individual should provide evidence of how they have contributed to the success of their pension scheme or administration team, highlighting any specific projects they have undertaken or successes they have achieved.

They should also describe how they have developed their skills since embarking on the training scheme.

Those nominating individuals in this category are encouraged to attest to why the nominee would make an inspiring leader in pension administration.

Investment Manager of the Year

This category is open to those aged 40 or under as at 30 September 2018 and is for those who have completed their initial qualifications in investment management and have taken the next step in their career as an analysts, allocators or portfolio managers, either at third-party asset management firms or within a pension scheme's in-house asset management operations.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the pensions industry more broadly.

Excellence in Customer Service and Communication Award

This category is open to individuals who have helped revolutionise the communications and member experience within pension schemes - either as a trustee, scheme administrator, pension manager or adviser.

The individual should be able to demonstrate how they have put the member at the heart of what they have done and help introduce new solutions to member challenges.

Judges will be especially looking for candidates who can prove they really understand what top-quality member service and communications looks like - and can provide evidence of how what they have done has made a tangible difference to members.

This category is open to those aged 40 or under as at 30 September 2018.

Mentor of the Year

Open to individuals in the pensions sector who have supported and encouraged the rising stars of tomorrow through mentoring, training or other initiatives.

* ORGANISATIONAL AWARD * Award for Supporting Development

This category reflects the continued importance of ongoing training and development in the pensions industry and aims to recognise the firm or scheme that best supports and develops its staff, especially those ‘rising stars' aged 40 or under.

The category is open to pension schemes as well as those firms providing advice and services to pension schemes.

Judges will look for evidence of how schemes and firms have supported and facilitated initiatives to help develop and foster new talent in the industry, how their training and development goes ‘above and beyond' what is offered by their peers and look at the broader support and assistance provided to individuals to help them reach the next stage of their career.

* ORGANISATIONAL AWARD * Training Scheme of the Year

This category reflects the continued importance of training schemes in the pensions industry and aims to recognise the firm or scheme that offers the best training scheme in pensions.

The category is open to pension schemes as well as those firms providing advice and services to pension schemes.

Judges will be looking for evidence of the quality of a firm's training scheme, how it helps to develop trainees, how it goes ‘above and beyond' the standards laid down by any professional body, and the support the businesses provide to its trainees more broadly.

It should particularly focus on how this training scheme has been improved over the 12 months to 30 September 2018.

Visit the Professional Pensions Rising Star Awards website to find out more