London – 7 March 2024 –100 Women in Finance (100WF), the global membership organization dedicated to advancing gender equity in the finance industry, today announced the successful fundraising achievement at its 17th Gala at the V&A South Kensington, held on 6 March 2024. The organization also presented two annual awards, one individual and the other corporate.
More than 240 members of the financial services sector, as well as supporters, attended the annual fundraiser.
The 100 Women in Finance Foundation, the gala beneficiary, supports the organization’s programs and initiatives; its overall mission, known as Vision 30/40, is for 30% of senior investment roles and executive committee positions to be filled by women by the year 2040.
Funds raised will benefit programs and local program partners, empowering women from all backgrounds to pursue careers in finance.
At the Gala, Rajmeet Bhatti, Head of Business Management at M&G plc and London Gala Committee Chair, took the stage to introduce the 100 Women in Finance EMEA Industry Leadership Award and present it to Deborah Zurkow, Global Head of Investments at Allianz Global Investors. Zurkow received this honor in acknowledgment of her remarkable achievements and leadership in the financial services industry. This Award is presented annually in recognition of exemplary professional talent, business ethics, and passion for investing that further define and advance the industry’s standards of excellence.
Amongst strong industry competition, Coronation Fund Managers was announced as the winner of the 100WF EMEA Industry DEI Award for demonstrating that, through deliberate implementation of DEI policies and initiatives, they have significantly expanded opportunities for women and Black investment professionals to gain in-depth portfolio management skills and experience. Coronation was a finalist in 2023. The other finalists were Man Group and Pictet Asset Management.
The goal of the Industry DEI Award, sponsored by J.P. Morgan, is to recognize those organizations that are driving forward and shaping the future of women in the finance industry. The hope is to make these organizations’ efforts and positive results more visible to other companies and individuals, inspiring others to be catalysts of change.
“The Board of 100 Women in Finance congratulates Deborah Zurkow for her leadership and mentorship in the financial services industry. We also applaud Coronation Fund Managers, Pictet Asset Management and Man Group for their commitment to developing the investment management skills of their talented women. In the face of intense industry competition, these firms have emerged triumphant. This achievement can be attributed to their purposeful integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and initiatives leading to a notable enhancement in female representation within senior investment and executive committee roles within their firms,” said Carole K. Crawford, Senior Advisor, CFA Institute and Board Chair, 100 Women in Finance.
Kirshni Totaram, senior executive at Coronation, said, “We are truly honoured to receive the prestigious 100WF Industry DEI Award, which acknowledges our commitment to nurturing a diverse workforce over our 30-year history. We firmly believe that diverse collaborators provide us with an inherent advantage in a competitive and unpredictable world and that fostering an inclusive work environment is critical to unlocking the diversity dividend. Our ability to leverage diverse views has been a catalyst for our continued success. We thank 100WF for this meaningful recognition and their dedicated efforts toward advancing diversity and inclusion in the investment industry.”
100WF hosts frequent meetings of financial services professionals and others serving the financial sector, with industry leaders speaking on topics of education and professional development for women at early career, mid-career, and senior levels.
For more information about 100 Women in Finance in London, please visit here.
If you were not able to attend the gala but would like to show your support for 100WF’s mission and Vision 30/40 please click here.
View the 2024 London Gala Program (PDF)
View photos from the 2024 London Gala
