Jemma Couchman | Evercore
Jemma has 9 years’ experience across M&A and Debt Advisory and is currently a Vice President in the Debt Advisory team at Evercore and Head of the Ratings Advisory practice in Europe.
Jemma Couchman was educated at Bedford High School and the University of Bath where she graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in BSc Business Administration. She achieved a position on the graduate programme at Rothschild and started her career as an M&A banker in the Utilities, Transport and Infrastructure team.
Passionate about others succeeding in her industry, Jemma also co-founded Evercore’s Women’s Forum in Europe in 2015 where she remains the co-Head.
Sarah Tolley | Northern Trust
At the age of 16 I knew University wasn’t for me. I’d worked from the day I turned 13 starting with a paper round and was also keen in making a start in building my own career as soon as I could. At 18 and a week following my last A-Level exam, I started my career in Banking in Bournemouth. I spent 16 years at the same Firm learning the ropes and embracing a variety of roles across different parts of the Banking world, which gave me a great opportunity to learn and grow.
Seeking a change in both my personal and professional life, a little over two years ago I made the decision to move to London and joined Northern Trust. Since being in London I have truly expanded my cultural horizons and the differences / variety have really enriched my personal and professional experiences.
Priya Kainth | Deutsche Bank
Priya Kainth works in Risk Management at Deutsche Bank (AVP) where she started her career in 2013.
Inspired by the work ethic, drive and passion of her parents, Priya Kainth has not allowed obstacles to hold her back. From a young age she was recognised as a gifted & talented student and at the age of 18 she joined Deutsche Bank as an intern on the “I have a Dream” programme.
Standing true to her values, Priya continuously challenges the status quo and pushes her own performance bar. She explored different banks and divisions and was selected to participate in various competitive internships and programmes.
She is now an Assistant Vice President at Deutsche Bank. At the time she earned delegated credit authority from the management board, she was one of the youngest in the division to make independent decisions on trade approvals and credit reports. Through her outstanding performance in Risk and the creation of her pivotal “Women in Risk” event she received a "Recognition Award". Only 10% of employees are awarded this honour.
The large scale event encouraged employees to foster better relationships, take risks and vastly improved the working culture. Employees of all levels, genders and backgrounds feel more open to discuss and challenge topics which has resulted in reduced silos.
Priya is a committee member of the Deutsche Bank women’s network. She also gives back to young talent by providing advice and guidance. She transformed the graduate mentoring programme to allow young talent to develop and grow their careers. To encourage new talent to join the bank she is selected to participate in panel events for interns, graduates and masters’ students.
Keen to make contributions beyond the banking sector, Priya has taught English to disadvantaged children in Thailand, mentors children with learning difficulties at schools and is looking to become a Girl Guides Leader to help develop young girls and make a difference to the community.
She is of Indian descent and an avid backpacker.
Abisola Barber | Barclays
With a keen interest in Politics & Current Affairs, Abisola began her career at age 11, working alongside Local and UK Government, Metropolitan Police and others to ensure young people were included at the decision-making table. For over six years, Abisola sat on Government boards driving social change and inspiring others to make a difference. Abisola maintained her six AS and A-Level subjects whilst representing the organisations she supported to the UK National Media.
Whilst reading Philosophy, Politics & Economics at University of York, Abisola worked for the University’s Student Union, served on college student committees and partook in a range of societies – from Academia and Music to Sports. Abisola was selected by Google out of 200 applicants to attend their BOLD (Building Opportunities for Leadership & Development) programme in 2011; later returning to Google as her University’s Ambassador. Abisola additionally attended Spring Week and Work Experience placements at a range of Financial Services firms, including Blackrock and Goldman Sachs.
Graduating with an Upper Second Class in 2013, Abisola spent her summer on the Barclays Internship programme before commencing her MSc in International Public Policy at UCL. Completing her Master’s two months early and Passing with Merit, Abisola joined Barclays’ 2014 Graduate cohort. Holding two placements on the scheme in both the Corporate and Investment Bank, Abisola then made an impressive mark as a Project Manager whilst in Barclays’ Non-Core division, which truly escalated her career. Abisola currently works as a Trading Business Manager, supporting the division responsible for driving returns and managing Barclays International’s financial resources. At only 25 years of age, Abisola is seen as a trailblazer, with a long and fruitful career ahead of her.
Away from her desk, Abisola gives herself to her pastimes. With a love of sports and fitness, she is often found in the gym, on the Netball courts or fundraising fitness events for charities. Having trained in Classical Music whilst at school, Abisola maintains her passion for choral music, singing annually at the Royal Albert Hall and performing with her Church choir – and finds relaxation in attending dance classes and performances. Known for her “contagious enthusiasm towards everything she puts her mind to”, Abisola is a firm believer in living life to the full, using the skills and talents she’s been blessed with, and making the most of every opportunity!
Jennifer Pickett | Lloyds Bank
Jenny has 6.5 years’ experience within the banking sector. She started her career on the Graduate Scheme at Lloyds Banking Group, following her studies of Maths and Spanish at both Exeter university and Alcala de Henares university in Madrid. She then moved to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) miss-selling derivative project, initially as an Analyst, and then as a Team Lead managing 10 Analysts. Following this she worked in derivative sales for medium sized corporates, where she oversaw the risk management for a portfolio of London based clients primarily within FX and interest rate risk. Jenny is currently working in the global corporate derivative sales team, supporting clients on their strategic risk management, mainly hedging interest rate risk. She is an active member of the Bank’s cultural working groups, and has supported and led many initiatives to improve the working life for colleagues, and improve the gender balance within the Bank.
Outside of work, she is passionate about the study and exploration of wine, where she achieved a WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) Level 3 qualification last year.
Tracey Abayeta | Sponsors for Education Opportunity (SEO) London
Tracey Abayeta is Head of the Investment Banking, Asset Management and HerCapital Programmes at SEO London. SEO London is an alumni driven charity that works with students from BAME and low socio-economic backgrounds to achieve career success in the most competitive industries.
In 2017, Tracey originated SEO London's HerCapital Programme that aims to build a strong pipeline of confident women entering into financial services. The programme has been hailed for its innovation and ability to get female students to live outside their comfort zones. As a product of opportunity, Tracey is a firm believer that we all need a platform to develop throughout our journey and that both leadership and confidence is built over time.
Tracey started her career within Investment Banking at Citi where she structured capital instruments for financial institutions. She is pleased to be using her skills to now structure effective training programmes for the students she works with.
Tracey also sits on the non-executive Board of a Community Interest Company called Bright Futures 4All that seeks to promote greater equality of educational opportunities for adults and children. Her involvement with this company is important to Tracey as she is a living example of how opportunity can change the destiny of one’s life. At the age of 10, she was awarded a full scholarship to attend a boarding school (Ardingly College) which she believes changed the course of her life forever as it gave her access to unprecedented opportunities that her parents would not have been able to afford. Tracey later studied Economics with French at the University of Nottingham.
Margaret Campbell | Reed Smith
Margaret is the Deputy Head of the London Insurance Recovery Group. She is the immediate past Chair of the Insurance Committee of the International Bar Association. Margaret specialises in marine and non-marine insurance and she has extensive experience of representing clients in both arbitration and court proceedings. She has particular expertise in coverage disputes, involving commercial and mortgage indemnity insurance, finance insurance, marine cargo insurance, energy risks, political risks, directors’ and officers’ insurance and reinsurance. She advises on Warranty and Indemnity insurance and due diligence in mergers and acquisitions. Clients include banks, energy companies, major ship owners, P&I Clubs, brokers, policy holders and their errors and omissions underwriters. On the professional negligence side, her main area of practice is in relation to brokers’ defence work and solicitors’ defence work. She has also acted for a banking client in a successful multi-million claim against a firm of valuers. She has represented professional negligence clients in the High Court and in mediations. Margaret is an accredited mediator with CEDR and ADR Chambers.
Chris Stylianou | Sky
Chris Stylianou is Chief Operating Officer, UK and Ireland at Sky. He has worked at Sky for over 20 years in both Finance and Operations. He is responsible for Sky’s sales and service operations as well as the property and data departments, Sky Business and Sky’s ROI Business.
Chris is the Executive sponsor of Sky’s Women in Leadership (WiL) programme, driving Sky’s ambition to reach a 50:50 gender balance. To do this, Chris works with the core WiL team to create a wide variety of initiatives to encourage gender parity and female advancement. Chris actively champions gender diversity at Sky by speaking internally and holds fellow executives accountable to their departmental targets with regular reviews. Through the WiL programme Chris sponsors a number of women, and has 12 women in high profile leadership roles within his department. Externally, Chris is a ‘Male Agent of Change’ and sits on the Women’s Business Council.
Kate Bright | UMBRA International
Kate has over 15 years experience in the Private and Family office sector, as a PA, EA, Chie f of Staff and Family Office Manager, managing thelives of high & low profile UHNWIs (Ultra High Net Worth Individuals).
UHWNI SECURITY & STAFFING
UMBRA Inte rnational was set up by Kate in 2012 initially to represent and place elite female security professionals. This stemmed from having worked alongside Close Protection (CP) teams after having been CP trained herself during her time spent in family & private offices (www.umbrainternational.com). Female Close Protection is seen as a key asset in the private security management of the modern UHNWIlifestyle.
UMBRA’s client base has grown over time, now working on a project and retained basis to help source, secure, protect and procure individuals and assets for clients - both corporate and UHNWI - in the UK and globally. UMBRA sources personnel across the PA/Chief of Staff and Security functions from both top tier civilian and military backgrounds. Recent projects have included building out teams of civilian and ex military personnel in Private & Family offices following relocation and divorce, advising FTSE100 companies on military transition, and creating Private Client departments for large multinationals.
NETWORKS
Kate is a founding member of a Chief of Staff & PA network (The Network) that meets monthly in London in collaboration with top suppliers from leading luxury brands to support those working for high profile and UHNWIs. The Network is widely regarded as one of London's most influential groups of gatekeepers due to the nature of its members’ work with their clients and bosses. She headed up the launch of The Network UAE which launched in Dubai in 2016 and has just overseen The Network NYC launch in the US. This has helped UMBRAs network expansion to be truly a global one.
CHARITY
Kate is part of the Committee for the Veteran charity ‘Supporting Wounded Veterans’, helping raise awareness, sponsorship & funding through its yearly Business Challenge event in Klosters, Switzerland. She is also a Veteran Aid ambassador helping to support and lobby for the real issues facing the veteran community. She is a passionate supporter of Veteran transition into meaningful civilian life and employment both in a professional and personal context, having undertaken recent physical challenges alongside veterans to raise money in this area.
Captain Ellie Ablett MBE | Royal Navy
Captain Ellie Ablett MBE - The daughter of an RAF Officer, I read Modern History at Somerville College, Oxford and joined the Royal Navy in 1993, in the first wave of women joining a fully integrated service on the closure of the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Over the last 24 years, I have enjoyed a career as a Logistics Officer at sea and ashore, rising to the rank of Captain where I have held two prestigious roles - Secretary to the First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Royal Navy and Commanding Officer of HMS RALEIGH, the Royal Navy’s Initial Training Establishment at Torpoint in Cornwall; I am the first woman to hold these roles. During my career I have served at sea on board the aircraft carrier HMS INVINCIBLE, the Amphibious Assault Ships, HMS FEARLESS and HMS BULWARK, the frigate, HMS BRAVE, and the Type 42 Destroyers, HMS EDINBURGH and HMS NEWCASTLE. In an increasingly joint working environment, I deployed on an operational tour in Iraq in support of a 3-star Army General and UK military personnel serving in Baghdad. Ashore, highlights have included provision of executive support to the Senior Officers, policy development for pay, allowances and pensions, managing the implications of Defence-wide change programmes on people and supporting international partnerships and planning for the UK contribution to operations in Afghanistan. A graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course, I achieved a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King’s College London and was awarded a Cormorant Fellowship for academic excellence. In 2014 I was one of 12 senior officers selected to represent the UK at the US/UK Rising Leaders’ Forum in Washington, DC. A keen interest in promoting effective talent management and an inclusive culture across the organisation led me to found a professional network for women in the Naval Service in 2013, which I still lead as it goes from strength to strength. I was honoured to receive the MBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List. I’m married to and supported by Simon, a former Royal Navy Weapon Engineer Officer, who now runs his own outdoor sports coaching and guiding business. I too have a passion for the outdoors and enjoy hiking, cycling, sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, and spend any remaining spare time in my garden.