INFINZ Young Women in Finance

INFINZ has more than 2,200 members nationally.

INFINZ provides unrivalled practitioner-focused education, actionable insights, and networking and mentoring opportunities for financial services professionals. This enables them to accelerate their careers and business development, and to stay informed of the latest industry trends.

INFINZ individual memberships are divided into age groups: general for members over 40 years, the Emerging Leaders Group (ELG), Young Finance Professionals (YFPs) and YWF. The INFINZ YWF group strives to strengthen the pipeline of women leaders in the finance sector. YWF believes the best way to break the glass ceiling – and ensure it stays broken – is through collaboration and support, rather than competition, between women.

YWF aims to play its part in the changing environment by promoting a collegiate mentality and platform for young women to learn from experienced women in the finance sector. In the long term, by encouraging more women to take their seat at the table, the finance sector will benefit from increased diversity in perspectives.

YWF was established in Auckland in 2015 as a networking mechanism for young women working in finance-related roles. In March 2018, YWF entered into a partnership with INFINZ, providing those joining INFINZ with access to all the benefits available to INFINZ’s YFP members – such as networking and events, including those tailored to their professional development needs. In 2019, a YWF group was established in Wellington and both groups have since seen steady growth in membership.

Further to the under-40 age groups, a growing number of more senior women have become involved as members and board members. Their feedback has been that they have been encouraged by what INFINZ is trying to achieve.

The two YWF groups are organised by separate committee groups and include women under 40, but primarily under 30, years of age.

Benefits include: 

• Four events in both cities throughout the year.
• Discounted or free access to the annual INFINZ conference and all other INFINZ events.
• CPD hours for attendees’ chosen profession.
• Free online access to resources via the member portal.
• Coffee groups.
• Networking with senior professionals and peers.
• Mentoring opportunities with mentors from ELG (INFINZ members in their 30s) who were mentored by senior members the previous year.
• The benefits of the INFINZ young professionals group offering.

The New Zealand Financial Markets Association (NZFMA) has been the foundation sponsor of the YWF national group since the group joined with INFINZ in 2018. NZFMA is the professional body for wholesale and institutional banking in New Zealand.

Across the membership age groups, INFINZ holds the largest range of events in the financial services sector: more than 50 events nationally. The YWF group traditionally holds four events in Auckland and Wellington annually, focused on topics tailored for young women in finance-related roles who wish to engage and connect. The YWF group also has access to the other INFINZ group events in both regions.

Included in the events so far this year, the YWFs held two sold-out International Women’s Day breakfasts featuring Alison Gerry in Auckland and Cecilia Tarrant in Wellington.

Event topics and content are developed with the assistance of a committee assigned to each group, made up of its own members. The YWF committees in Auckland and Wellington each have six members. In addition, the Auckland YWF chair has a place as an observer on the INFINZ senior board.

Jim McElwain
Executive Director, INFINZ
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+64 21 632 047

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ywf
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YWF chairs