Asset managers support push for more women
Schroders, Cooper Investments and Vinva IM have joined the diversity initiative, Future IM/Pact, to help build a more diverse Australian investment management sector.
They joined a collective of 14 super funds, fund managers and industry participants who worked together to build a passion for investing among young women.
Future IM/Pact was launched two years ago and aimed to attract more diverse talent into the investment teams of super funds and fund managers.
The project was launched in response to the 2016 research, according to which, women comprised only 24 per cent of Australia’s investment professionals.
“While it’s still early days, the feedback we’re getting from the aspiring women we meet tells me we can solve this problem – at last at the entry level – in the next five to 10 years if we maintain momentum,” said Future IM/Pact’s founder, Yolanda Beattie.
“Our active social media presence, on-campus events and industry roundtables are starting to have traction. Our engagement rates on LinkedIn are four times the company average, our subscription base has grown 200 per cent and our Facebook content has reached more than 180,000 women at universities across Australia.”
Additionally, the project aimed to connect Future IM/Pact partners with a pipeline of much needed female talent and in 2010, it would be expected to reach even further with a virtual intern program and group mentoring sessions.
“None of this is possible without the incredible contribution of our partners. These are exceptional organisations who are not only providing much needed funds but also employment opportunities, role models and insights,” Beattie said.
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