As of 2022, the gender pay gap in the UK was 12.1%. But the gap was over twice the national average in financial services, standing at 26.6%: in fact, the top five gender pay gaps by sector are all within financial services.

Our industry focuses on environment, social, governance (ESG), equality, and fairness, but there’s still some progress to go in terms of gender representation. Women entering the workforce need to see powerful women in leading positions, driving innovation and progress in their respective industries.

Trade Finance Global’s (TFG) Mahika Ravi Shankar (MRS) spoke with Eleanor Hill (EH), TFG’s treasury expert and a member of our gender-equal editorial board, about the upcoming Women in Trade, Treasury and Payments event. 

The importance of women-focused events 

MRS: Why is an event like Women in Trade, Treasury, and Payments important, and what’s special about it?

EH: It’s about celebrating and amplifying the voices of women. There are so many great professionals in this space. We don’t necessarily always get the opportunity to have a platform to have that voice. And this is an event where industry leaders can share insights, and inspire others. 

I like the fact that it’s bringing together trade, treasury, and payments because there’s so much intersection between these two areas, especially as trade has become more global and corporates operate more internationally.

MRS: What does gender inclusion mean in the remit of trade, treasury, and payments?

EH: For me, it means ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender, has equal access to opportunities and that they’re represented in meaningful ways. In Trade and Treasury, this inclusion is particularly important because these fields are shaping global commerce today and are important for economic stability. We need those diverse perspectives to make informed, balanced decisions… It’s also about fostering a culture where mentorship and sponsorship are accessible to women.

Personally, I just fell into the industry. I would say 99% of treasurers are accidental treasurers. I love that there’s always innovation going on, and the treasury crimes are amazing. 

But treasury is also so interconnected with trade, as we’ve spoken about already. It’s the complexities of managing liquidity, effects risk, working capital, and everything else that make the world go around and make sufficient trade. I think what we’re doing with the event will only bring those closer together.

This year’s WITTP

MRS: Could you tell us a bit about the plan for this year?

EH: It’s going to be even bigger and better.

The event will take place at the Lansdown Club, which has a really interesting history as one of the only members’ clubs to allow women to join since its inception in 1935. It’s based in Mayfair. 

It’s a women-only event, bringing together an impressive mix of treasurers, trade finance professionals, fintech, government representatives, and perspectives. The aim is to facilitate those connections and conversations, highlight the intersection between trade and treasury, and hopefully have some good discussions.

WITTP is all about showcasing the industry’s brightest minds and their insights into current trends. The event isn’t about gender in isolation. It’s about expertise and leadership. We want to ensure that women’s contributions are recognised in these fields.

MRS: How’s the day going to be structured?

EH: We’re going to start with breakfast networking, followed by a keynote speaker: last year, we had Johanna Hill from the WTO. We’ll then have some thought-provoking panel sessions, breakout sessions, round tables, and lots of different topics. There will also be some video interviews and key takeaways. 

Roundtable discussions will align with the WITTP 2025 theme of sustainability, as we think the women bring some fresh, out-of-the-box perspectives to the discussion of ESG strategy, shaped by their unique experiences.

Undoubtedly, there’ll be something for everyone in different formats that everyone can engage in.

Participation and allyship 

MRS: How can everyone get involved in this event?

EH: If you’re a woman, you can attend the event, but it’s women only. If you’re a man, there are ways that you can sponsor the event, support the event, or of course, you can engage with TFG’s content online around the event, share it, put it out on LinkedIn, help us make a noise about it.

MRS: That’s touched on the elephant in the room: men think of this as an exclusionary event because it’s women only. How would you say that people who are allies of gender inclusion can further support the event?

EH: It’s a really good question because it does seem like it’s the opposite of inclusion, so I totally understand that concern and it is valid! But the purpose of having it for women only is just to create a safe space to empower women to share their insights and build strong networks. 

I’ve found these spaces to be extremely important. I recently worked with a Women in Working Capital Group, where we’ve had very different discussions because there have only been women in the room. 

But as I said, men have a really crucial role to play as allies, supporting gender inclusion, advocating for women, challenging biases when they see them in the workplace. 

It’s not just through this event, and International Women’s Day is not just one day. The message is about day-to-day action, promoting diverse voices in their organisations. As we said, sponsor the event, maybe even step forward to be a mentor if there’s a woman that you feel could do with mentorship but doesn’t have access to anyone. There are many different ways that allies can step forward and support!

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The Women in Trade, Treasury and Payments event will take place on February 27th, 2025, at the Lansdowne Club in Mayfair, London.

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