Diversity in Finance Awards: Who's on the shortlist?

As the Financial Conduct Authority is set to reveal the findings from its 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Discussion Paper within the next few days, the importance of taking DE&I seriously has never been more apparent.

With a record number of submissions for this year's Awards since the first DIFAs back in 2019, the judges had a hard time picking the shortlists from among 130 entries.

The Awards showcase the work financial services companies and professionals are doing to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in their company, their community and for their clients.

Candidates were ranked according to a range of criteria, including statistical evidence of the success of their 2022 campaigns to shift the dial.

As the FCA reported last year, data on Black and other minority financial services professionals is woefully lacking.

Judges also marked candidates on whether they were; doing something different; the reach and impact of their work on their communities and clients as well as their workforce, and the tangible improvements they have seen to their own business as a result of the work they are doing. 

No company is perfect or has 'got it right' - everyone is on their own journey - but these examples of best practice exemplify how even individuals at a junior level can make a big difference. 

As one judge said of a small firm: "This clearly is a small company with a big heart, punching above its weight to make a difference."

Winners will be announced on June 22, 2023 at The Biltmore Mayfair in London. Find out more here.

The panel of judges 

Our judges span a wealth of experience in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across UK businesses.

They are: 

• Netanya Clixby, managing associate for law firm Sidley Austin and member of the Law Society's LGBT+ lawyers division committee;
• Samuel Clague, founder of the Stephen James Partnership;
• Tanya Srikandan, director of finance and operations for Stonewall;
• Sharif Omar, director of finance and accounting for Randstad;
• Vivine Cameron, equality, diversity and inclusion manager for the Chartered Insurance Institute; and
• Simoney Kyriakou, senior editor of FTAdviser.

Who's on the FTAdviser Diversity in Finance Awards shortlist?

Below, in alphabetical order (we don't want to give anything away now!) are the names in the frame: 

And for awards that we split out into Large Firm (250+ staff) and Small Firm (250 employees and under), which also include the individual awards and a new award for Rising Star, these are the shortlists, also in alphabetical order: