Yolanda Beattie

The industry initiative dedicated to building gender-balance within Australia’s largest investment managers continues to grow, as Future IM/Pact announces an exclusive recruitment partner, and signs three more influential local investors.

Future IM/Pact has announced an exclusive partnership with Platinum Pacific Partners, leading financial services recruitment specialists.

Set to increase the impact of both organisations’ efforts to boost the representation of women in investment management, the partnership builds on Future IM/Pact and Platinum Pacific Partners’ shared passion for helping women launch fulfilling front-office careers.

Future IM/Pact Founder Yolanda Beattie said this partnership will accelerate Future IM/Pact’s ability to build a pipeline of future female investors who are well-placed for entry level investment roles.

“Because few investment teams recruit graduates, these roles usually require 2 to 5 years’ work experience. This strategic partnership allows us to connect with more exceptional women in key feeder roles like investment banking and corporate finance, while sharing the career insights Platinum Pacific Partners have gained over decades to help early career women land sought-after analyst roles,” she said.

Victoria Biggs and Meredith Jordan, Platinum Pacific Partners’ Founders, welcomed the partnership to deepen their impact on gender diversity in funds management.

“We see first-hand the industry’s desire to recruit more women and we know we must deepen the talent pool over time to meet the challenge. This partnership allows us to amplify our current efforts to champion female representation in finance,” Ms Biggs said.

New partners, new pathways

Separately, Future IM/Pact has welcomed three new partners to the program, in the form of the $70 billion profit-to-member super fund Rest, $19 billion international equity manager Platinum Asset Management, and leading private wealth manager LGT Crestone.

LGT Crestone Chief Operating Officer Michelle Inns said the firm was delighted to join Future IM/Pact as the first wholesale investor investment advice business.

Ms Innes added, “Investing on behalf of family offices, high net worth investors and for- purpose organisations presents incredible career pathways for women. Future IM/Pact helps us grow our female talent pool so we can continue to build high performing and diverse teams.”

Platinum Head of Investments Douglas Isles added the partnership with Future IM/Pact will help Platinum support more high potential women to launch an investing career.

“Thinking differently is the cornerstone of our investment philosophy and gender diversity is one way we can bring new perspectives to find the best investment ideas. We’re excited to join Future IM/Pact and are eager to play a leading in role in helping young women to build an investment management career,” Mr Isles said.

Rest Chief Investment Officer Andrew Lill said the profit-to-member super fund would use its partnership with Future IM/Pact to provide further opportunities for young women aspiring to investment management careers.

“Rest represents more than one million women in our membership, and are dedicated to promoting greater gender equality. Our partnership with Future IM/Pact builds on our existing program of offering internships to women in actuarial studies, while also helping us source great female talent for our investment team. It’s also consistent with Rest’s commitment to contribute to five of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including ‘Gender Equality’,” said Mr Lill.

“Widespread industry collaboration is essential for tackling the entrenched structural and cultural barriers that stop women from becoming professional investments. With 23 partners now working with us to address these issues, we’re better placed than ever to shift the dial on this issue,” Ms Beattie said.

Since launching in 2018, Future IM/Pact has provided over 350 women with experience working in investments through its virtual intern program, mentoring circles, investment competition and intern and grad placements with partners.

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Caitlin Bassett and Jo Harten

Netball World Cup superstars headline FPA Women in Wealth 2019 Sydney, 15 July 2019 The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) is delighted to announce its 2019 Women in Wealth event series will be headlined by sporting superstars, 2019 World Cup competitors and GIANTS Netball team mates, Caitlin Bassett and Jo Harten.

To attract the next generation of women to a career in financial planning, the FPA is encouraging delegates to bring along a female mentee, young planner or student (free of charge) – but places are limited so book early.

Platinum Asset Management is generously sponsoring the event series in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth^[1] from 29 July through to the end of August.

Caitlin shared her views on the challenges of leadership, teamwork and securing her own financial future in a recent Money & Life article, ‘Big dreams, big goals’, where she says, “You might not think that financial planning and female sport has much in common, but you’d be surprised. There’s plenty of similarities, like working as part of a team and dealing with setbacks and challenges. They’re the types of things that happen to people every day in business and that’s what I want to share with other women.”

Douglas Isles, Investment Specialist at Platinum Asset Management, will lead a conversation with Caitlin and Jo exploring what they’ve learnt about leadership, team work, resilience and more over their elite athletic careers.

The program is designed to support the career progression of women in financial planning and provide a powerful platform for networking, personal and professional development, and exploring mentorship opportunities.

Dante De Gori CFP®, CEO of the FPA, said: “Currently 27 per cent of FPA members are female, which compares favourably with the industry average of 20 per cent, but we want to help more women discover satisfying careers in financial planning. We want to support the growth of women in financial planning and this year’s inspirational headliners, Caitlin and Jo, remind us what tenacity, resilience and pursuing your passion can help you achieve.”

Douglas Isles said: “Research has shown the most important attributes for a good planner are being trustworthy, knowledgeable, and having strong emotional intelligence (EQ). Female advisers are associated strongly with these qualities – women in financial planning have a bright future.”

The FPA also partners with Financial Executive Women (FEW). Women attending in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are invited to join FEW Founder, Judith Beck, when she hosts FEW Circle’s discussion group following the event from 2pm–3pm^[2]. FEW’s Circle events are an opportunity to discuss topical issues with peers. Places are limited.

Caitlin and Jo will be competing on opposing teams at the 2019 Netball World Cup from 12-21 July in Liverpool, England: Caitlin as Captain of the Australia Diamonds, and Jo shooting for the England Roses.

Mentees, young planners or students invited by a paying delegate can access the event free of charge (limited tickets available). Please provide the name of your guest, their email, and organisation or university to events@fpa.com.au

Learn more about FPA Women in Wealth 2019 Sydney.

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[1] In Perth, only Caitlin will be speaking.
[2] The FEW Circle will not be available at the Adelaide event. The FPA Women in Wealth Program is presented by the FPA with generous support from Platinum Asset Management and FEW.

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