Dame Helena Morrissey

Helena Morrissey, a TED talk speaker who was voted Person of the Year in 2017, is the former CEO of Newton Investment. The influential campaigner is the mastermind behind several successful financial strategies, and an advocate for diversity in the workplace. Helena has dedicated her speaking career to inspiring other professional women, after losing out on her own promotion because she was a mother and “undependable”.

Helena uses her platform as a speaker to rewrite the stereotypes surrounding mothers in the workplace, and to make a single, simple statement – women should not have to choose between family, and their careers. As a mentor, Helena has helped countless women to discover their potential, a testament to her commitment. She is also responsible for several influential campaigns, including the 30% club in 2010.

Helena is a pioneer of gender diversity in senior roles, the core focus of her campaign. Working closely to eradicate the hardships women face in all areas of their lives, both personal and professional, Helena is also a trustee at the Eve Appeal. The charity raises money for gynaecological cancers, and increases awareness for the symptoms of such diseases. Through her book and public speeches, Helena reflects upon the strides she made as a female advocate, inspiring audiences to follow in her footsteps.

Starting her career at Schroders, Helena later moved to Newton Investment Management. As a Fixed Income Manager, she spent the 1990s working closely with clients on their financial portfolios, helping them to achieve their monetary goals. Helena was later appointed their Chief Executive, and is credited for the company’s reported £47 billion assets as of 2015. With such a wealth of business experiences, Helena is the perfect business and finance speaker.

Helena has dedicated her career to several worthy causes, including as a former Chairperson of the Royal Academy of Arts’ corporate board, and on the advisory board of The Five Foundation. She has also published A Good Time to be a Girl, which sets a blueprint for a more inclusive society. The diversity manifesto has been celebrated for its powerful argument, and combines the digital revolution with strategies for inclusion. Helena expands on this ideology at events, displaying the importance of different perspectives and experiences for corporate audiences.