International Women's Day 2021

Highlighting the senior female leaders at Gresham House

Highlighting the senior female leaders at Gresham House

This International Women’s Day we celebrate the brilliant women who have helped build Gresham House to the success story it is today

 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and making positive change represent business imperatives for us at Gresham House and we are proud to name some of the industry’s top professionals within our ranks.

We are happy to say that 32% of our senior management roles are held by women1 but, importantly, we understand that there is more to do and that action is far more important than rhetoric.

 

As part of our activities around the Group this week, today we highlight the stories of just a few of the senior women on our team.

 

 

Heather Fleming, Head of Institutional Business

Heather joined Gresham House in May 2018 and is responsible for institutional business development, global consultant relations and client service. Prior to Gresham House, Heather spent seven years at Fidelity International, latterly as Head of Institutional Distribution for UK & Ireland.

Outside of Gresham House life, Heather lives on a farm in the country with her husband and two daughters (Eliza and Libby) and – amongst the many animals – has two hens named Gilbert and Erin.

Lizzie Darbourne, Group Marketing Director

Lizzie became Marketing Director in April 2018, having previously held the role with the Gresham House New Energy division (formerly Hazel Capital) whom she joined in 2011. Between 2003 and 2008, Lizzie was a member of the British Sailing Team and was runner-up in the trials for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, competing in the Laser Radial class.

With four children of 5 and under – including 6-month-old identical twins – Lizzie doesn’t enjoy a huge amount of free time. When she can escape for the odd moment she takes any excuse to be by the sea, walking beside it, sailing on it or swimming in it… and the chance of a night out at the theatre makes her keen to hold on to her London roots and stay living in town (although those nights are becoming fewer and farther between!).

Photo of Louise
Louise Richards, HR Director

Before joining Gresham House in March 2019, Louise worked across a variety of financial institutions, including HSBC and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), as well as establishing an HR consultancy. She recently became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Louise enjoys travelling, walks by the sea and spending time with friends. She is currently celebrating not having to home school her 9 and 12-year-olds anymore!

Rebecca Craddock-Taylor, Director, Sustainable Investment

Rebecca joined Gresham House in July last year, in the newly-created role of Director, Sustainable Investment. Previously, she worked as an ESG Strategist at Univest where she was responsible for setting a leading sustainability framework across Univest’s investment approach, as well as setting their sustainability objectives for the next five years.

Rebecca has three siblings that live in 3 different countries – UK, Canada and New Zealand. She loves to visit new places and experience different cultures, most recently spending time in India and Nepal (pre-Covid, of course!). She and her partner have just got their first dog, who is mad and named after Puerto Rico where they volunteered fixing roofs a couple of years ago.

 

Samia Lone, Head of Legal

Samia joined in September 2019 from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). She has over 13 years’ experience in asset management and private equity fund formations and transactions.

During the various lockdowns, Samia has become “the world’s best beard/moustache barber” (husband, brother and dad can testify) and is now training as a baby beautician (her 7-month-old nephew insists on only letting her trim his nails and clean his bogies – the glamourous life of a lawyer!). She is also learning Korean and loves a good K-drama.

 

Tania Hayes, Divisional Finance Director

Tania joined Gresham House in November 2018 having been at Livingbridge for 13 years. She has worked on the Baronsmead VCTs since then, progressing from administration assistant to Finance Manager in 2011 and qualifying as a Chartered Management Accountant in 2012.

Tania moved to the UK from New Zealand in 2004 and has recently moved to Lymington, Hampshire to try and recreate some of the New Zealand coastal life. Lockdown has seen her take up online rebounding classes and long New Forest walks. She is a cricket fan, particularly enjoying T20 summer evenings at the Oval with a large glass of rosé.

 

Victoria Larkin, Executive Administration Manager

Victoria (Vic) joined Gresham House in 2018 as part of the FIM Services Ltd acquisition, where she had worked since 2004. As Executive Administration Manager, she is responsible for several FIM and Gresham House Funds and is the lead on the development of a variety of group-wide IT projects.

Vic has been married for 26 years and is a busy mum to an 18-year-old and 14-year-old twins, along with Loki, her two-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback dog. Vic enjoys watching all types of sport and running and walking with Loki.

 

International Women’s Day is a global  celebration, focused on the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world.

It marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity as we come together to highlight the successes of women. 

Read more: www.internationalwomensday.com

 

1. As at 8 March 2021

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