The third PIMFA Women’s Symposium – the largest to date – brought together over 600 delegates and 95 expert speakers across two days of discussion on the issues shaping the wealth management, financial advice and planning sector.
Sessions spanned personal development, company culture, investment, client management, and technology & disruption, with headline contributions from Jessica Rusu, Chief Data, Information and Intelligence Officer, FCA, former Cabinet Minister Baroness Nicky Morgan of Cotes, Dame Julia Hoggett DBE CEO, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), and Sneha Shah, Head of SEI Next. PIMFA CEO Liz Field hosted and opened both days.
AI, fraud, and the future of regulation
Among the highlights, the FCA’s Jessica Rusu warned that regulated firms risk falling behind criminals if they do not adopt AI at the same pace, describing firms as “the first line of defence” in protecting consumers from fraud.
When asked whether the FCA would move towards “robo-regulation”, Rusu described automation as a “wonderful opportunity”, but stressed that human judgement remains essential, and that a fully automated system remains “some way off”. Rusu also argued that the UK is well positioned for responsible AI adoption.
The need for authenticity and adaptability in financial services leadership was also explored in a panel discussion featuring Liz Field, Hannah Gurga from the ABI, Lisa Kidd Hunt from Charles Schwab, and Claire Limon from 2Plan Wealth Management.
Women’s financial resilience
In her keynote on women’s financial resilience, Baroness Nicky Morgan reflected on her background of growing up with a passion for politics and explored the importance of male allies including David Cameron and Boris Johnson. Baroness Morgan addressed the structural financial disadvantages that women face across their lifetimes, from the salary gap, to the investment gap, to the pensions gap, and the compounding effect on long term financial security.
Baroness Morgan spoke about the multiple roles women are expected to juggle as professionals, mothers, and caregivers, drawing on her own experience of balancing a high profile public career with family life.
UK capital markets and getting Britain investing
In conversation with Liz Field, Dame Julia Hoggett DBE, reflected on her career journey from emerging markets banking through the financial crisis to her current role, describing each move as “an exam question” worth answering.
On the UK’s investment culture, Dame Julia highlighted the Invest for the Future campaign and the work of the Capital Markets Industry Taskforce, arguing that the UK must back its own capital markets as a source of national economic security.
Looking ahead
Across all sessions, the message was clear: the industry must continue to evolve to secure its own future in a rapidly changing world.
Liz Field, CEO at PIMFA said, “A huge thank you to all our speakers, partners and attendees for making this year’s Women’s Symposium such a success. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with delegates sharing how they plan to embed what they’ve learned into their careers and personal lives.
“The event provided a forum to share best practice, to motivate and inspire individuals at all levels, provide a space for honest conversation, highlighting the importance of male allyships. Keynotes and panels provided practical, professionally focused content on a range of themes. I look forward to welcoming everyone to the next Women’s Symposium in October 2027.”
Bookings are now open for the Women’s Symposium 2027 with Super Early-Bird discounts available until June 20th. For more details and to book visit: PIMFA Women’s Symposium 2027 – PIMFA
PIMFA believes that in order to ensure our sector grows and thrives it needs to address its talent challenge, support existing female talent, respond to the generational wealth shift and must provide clearer pathways into investment for and of women, harnessing the skills, experiences and attributes that everyone can bring to the workplace.
