After working for three years in scientific research, Vanessa joined a national firm of financial advisers in 1986. Over the next 10 years she became a recognised pension specialist and received an Independent Financial Adviser Of The Year Award. Having established Hannay Investments in 1996, Vanessa is proud to be leading a three woman adviser firm directly regulated by the FCA.

Vanessa enjoys travelling with her family, particularly to their cottage in Normandy. Vanessa, Kelly & Anne were profiled in the History of Parliament Voice & Vote commemorative album celebrating 100 years of Votes for Women.

In September 2018, Vanessa was appointed as a Director to the board of the Personal Finance Society and is particularly supporting the PFS executive as they open up discussion on the importance of Diversity and Inclusion to members and their clients. 

Simon Booth has over 30 years’ experience in financial planning working in roles at Kleinwort Benson, Swinton Insurance, Barclays, Prudential and finally Foresight Wealth Strategists where he is Managing Director. The firm was established in 1998 to advise business owners, professionals and high net worth individuals. Simon holds a BSc (Hons) Degree in Business Operation and Control, and is a Chartered Financial Planner. He lives in Hale, Cheshire with his partner, Lissa and has four children.

Tom has been editor of Professional Adviser and Multi-Asset Review since August 2019. He started his career at PA in 2016 and held a number of positions at Incisive Media before this latest promotion.

Gillian has over 30 years’ experience in financial services and has recently joined Schroders as Intermediary Solutions Director.

Previously, Gillian had an extensive career at Standard Life followed by consultancy positions with a range of platform providers, asset managers, life companies and financial advisers. In 2016 she founded DISCUS, a business providing research, insight and educational content for financial advisers about the outsourced investment market and discretionary managers. Following an acquisition of the business by the Embark Group she continued to develop DISCUS, provided expert consultancy services for the launch of the Embark platform and was Head of Strategic Partnerships.

With 15 years’ experience as a paraplanner and consultant across protection and wealth, Adam has vast experience of helping advisers and technology suppliers to develop, implement and select software solutions. As the Head of Consulting for adviser services at FTRC, he has a detailed knowledge of the software suppliers in the market and led numerous projects to help them improve their offerings and better understand the needs of advisers. Specialising in technology selection in order to increase efficiency, improve compliance and meet regulatory requirements, Adam has worked with some of the largest advisory firms in the country and helped them to shape their requirements and source solutions to meet their business needs.

Kay has 36 years’ experience in financial services, including 26 years as a holistic financial planner.

As Director of Public Policy at LEBC Group, she is responsible for influencing government and regulatory policy on pensions and investments.

She writes regularly for the consumer and trade press, and speaks on pensions, investment and social policy issues, working with other stakeholders to achieve better consumer outcomes.

Jacqueline is the Head of Financial Planning at the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI).

She has worked in the financial services sector since 1988 in technical and training roles and also as a financial planner.

She is a Fellow of the CISI and holder of the internationally recognised Certified Financial Planner Licence, for which she was one of the first examiners in the UK.

Jacqueline was previously Head of Training at the Association of Investment Companies and Director of Training and Education for the Institute of Financial Planning, where she designed, wrote and delivered new courses for financial advisers wishing to enhance their investment and planning skills and paraplanners to learn the methodology of financial planning.

Philip co-owns and manages Unique Financial Planning, a general advice business with 25 advisers operating predominately in the south of England. Prior to this, he was Marketing Director at Openwork for six years, with responsibility for product propositions, marketing, PR and leading its investment company, Omnis Investments.

Prior to that, Philip spent two years with F&C Investments with responsibility for the asset manager’s UK retail proposition and was Business Development Director at wrap provider Nucleus Financial Group, which he co-founded in 2006. He had previously been a founder-director of consultancy Abacus Financial Marketing, working with more than 65 life companies, asset managers, IFAs and industry bodies on a variety of strategic and proposition projects.

A recognised leader within the financial services sector, Keith has over 30 years experience operating at executive level across both manufacturing and distribution. He has an established media profile and is a visible figurehead within the financial services sector, regularly called upon for comment both home and abroad by various organisations, including Trade and National press.

Keith established a strong media profile whilst representing one of the UK’s largest IFA Networks (Tenet Group) as Group Distribution and Development Director, prior to which he was Head of Retail for the largest mutual insurance company in the UK, Royal London Group. Actively engaged in the promotion of financial services within the UK and internationally, he has contributed to the boards of both AIFA (now APFA) and AMI. He sits on the board of the European Financial Planning Association (EFPA), a member of various government and regulatory working groups and is Chairman of TISA Exco for Adviser Protocol having also represented the intermediary advice sector over many years on a number of panels and strategic leadership forums.

Keith was appointed Chief Executive of the Personal Finance Society (PFS) in May 2013 and subsequently appointed as Managing Director of Engagement for the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) on 1st August 2016. In addition to guiding the operational and strategic evolution of the PFS he has developed greater government and regulatory engagement for the FS and Insurance profession’s, brought about enhancements to membership benefits and its national CPD programmes. Keith has also introduced a number of key consumer and Professional Standards initiatives which include a consumer website, the largest accredited adviser director in the UK, a pro-bono programme in partnership with Citizens Advice as well as a national anti-scam, consumer confidence and United Profession Campaigns.

Lee Robertson is the managing director of Octo Members Group, a new app based venture primarily aimed at supporting wealth managers and financial planners. He was the founding director of Investment Quorum but stepped back from the business in August although continues to provide strategic insight to the Board.

Lee is a regulator commentator on issues as well a regular columnist in several publications. He is well known for his client centric views. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments and amongst other awards was recognised in the definitive Spear’s Wealth Management Awards as one of the top ten wealth managers in the UK and was named wealth manager of the year by the in 2015. Lee was also named UK Wealth Management CEO of the year last year in the Le Fonti International Business Awards.

He is a founding director of the Association of Independent Non-Executive Directors and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Westminster DisLab on the Digital MA course.

30 years working in financial services with 15 years as CEO. A clear focus on strategy, operations and business development in regulated businesses, coupled with a track record of successful business restructuring, integration and transformation. To ensure the customer is at the heart of the business and to provide the platform for growth. A leadership, style designed to inspire and motivate employees, coupled with an emphasis on team building, to support, encourage and challenge people to excel. CEO of Sandringham Financial Partners since August 2015. Previous CEO roles include James Hay Partnership and IFG Financial Services.