In this discussion, a panel of highly experienced women from across the financial community talk about the additional value that a female perspective brings to investment decision making and the missed opportunities for addressing a wider audience in terms of how we market financial products. The conversation also covers how to get a broader range of voices heard and how to attract a new generation of female investors and market participants, with added insight from a recent recruit to the industry. This is a discussion that needs to be continued year-round, not just around International Women’s Day. We are very grateful for the time and contributions from all of our panel.
Host:
Fiona Orford-Williams – Director at Edison Group
Fiona joined Edison as an analyst in 2004, initially covering a broad consumer remit, before narrowing her focus to the media sector. Her core professional interest lies in articulating the narrative around a company’s strategy and how it fits into a broader industry context, informed by financial analysis.
Prior to joining Edison, Fiona had an extensive career on the buyside, first as an analyst at Sun Alliance, and later as a Director and fund manager at Moorgate Investment Management / Martin Currie and Gerrard / Old Mutual. She specialised in UK smaller companies and ethical fund management.
Outside of work, Fiona is a violinist, performing regularly for audiences in London and elsewhere. She is also an actor and dancer.
Panellists:
Annabel Brodie-Smith – Communication Director at the AIC
Annabel Brodie-Smith is Communications Director at the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). Her role focuses on communicating the uses and benefits of investment companies to the media, advisers and private investors. She also encourages investment companies to communicate their positive messages to a wider audience in a clear and engaging way.
Annabel is passionate about financial education and diversity in financial services and is currently an ambassador for Women on Boards and The Diversity Project. She is a member of the ACT Global Leadership Council which supports the ACT standard of corporate culture for investment management firms. In 2022 Annabel was awarded the Jackie Beard Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry at the Investment Week Investment Company of the Year awards.
After obtaining a B.A in Geography from LSE/King’s College, and an M.A from Syracuse University in New York, Annabel went on to obtain a postgraduate diploma in public and media relations from the University of Wales. Prior to joining the AIC in 1997 Annabel worked at Hill & Knowlton, the PR Agency.
Rosemary Banyard – Fund Manager at Downing
Rosemary Banyard began her career with James Capel & Co where she was a senior investment analyst for 12 years before becoming a fund manager at AIB Govett. She rose to prominence and developed a reputation as one of the leading female fund managers in the UK after she joined Schroders in 1997. For almost 20 years she was known for running the acclaimed Schroder UK Smaller Companies Fund with Andy Brough and was for many years lead manager of the award-winning Schroder Mid Cap Fund PLC as well as heading up several other segregated UK equity mandates, managing total assets of circa £1 billion.
In 2016, she joined Sanford DeLand to launch and manage the Free Spirit Fund. The Schroder UK Mid Cap trust returned 17%* p.a while she was manager, and in her two and a half years managing money at Sanford DeLand, the Free Spirit Fund returned 31%** placing it in the top decile of the IA UK All Companies sector. She joined Downing in March 2020 to launch and manage the VT Downing Unique Opportunities Fund.
*Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund PLC, Annual Report & Accounts 2015
**Financial Express as at 28 June 2019
Louise Bryant – Head of IR at Trustpilot
Louise Bryant is currently Head of Investor Relations at Trustpilot PLC. She previously sat on the Executive Committees at Agilyx ASA and Costain Plc. and spent eight years at Aggreko Plc. growing to become Director of Corporate Affairs. Louise qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC and also held positions at Thomas Cook Group Plc. and Citi Investment Research.
Emma Moriarty – Portfolio Manager at CG Asset Management
Emma is a Portfolio Manager at CG Asset Management, where she has worked since 2022. Before joining, she worked as a macroeconomist at the Bank of England for eight years, focusing on risks in financial markets. She began her career in the capital markets practice at Bell Gully, a New Zealand-based corporate law firm. Emma holds an MSc in Economic History from the London School of Economics, and studied Economics, Finance and Law at the University of Auckland.
Chloe Wong Yun Shing – Graduate Trainee at Edison Group
Chloe Wong Yun Shing joined Edison Group in December 2024 as a Graduate Equity Research Analyst. She holds a BSc in Management from the London School of Economics (LSE), where she developed a keen interest in financial markets and corporate strategy.
Prior to joining Edison, Chloe interned in the Financial Advisory department at MCB Capital Markets, and as a strategy consultant at EY Parthenon.
