A concise, chronological review of some highlights from the history of WIFS. WIFS is also known as Women In Financial Services Netherlands. The association was founded in 2009.
2024
Accelerate 50/50
Leading up to International Women's Day, the secondAccelerate 50/50 report was launched on March 1. During an event hosted by Athora in Amsterdam. This research shows that over the past year, the number of women on executive boards within the financial sector has increased by 7%. While the report shows progress, it also reveals the challenges, pitfalls and action points for the future. Read more here.
Accelerate 50/50 - 1 march 2024 - photo left: Mirelle van Gemert (left, board member WIFS) & Diana Zandbergen (right, president WIFS) - photo right: fltr. Mirelle van Gemert (WIFS), Willeke van de Weerd (Ecclesia), Paul de Kroon (Deutsche Bank), Femke Bakker (Turien & Co.), Indra Frishert (Dazure) & Diana Zandbergen (WIFS)
New president and vice-president of the board
After years of close involvement and active commitment to WIFS, Diana Zandbergen and Mirelle van Gemert are stepping down from the WIFS board. As board member and then president of WIFS, Diana has been involved for over 6 years. Mirelle has been involved with the board for 4 years and served as Executive Director of WIFS for a long time.
As of May 2024, Chantal Kortweg (president) and Indra Frishert (vice president) took over their positions.
Dive In festival - 25 september 2024 - fltr. Indra Frishert (new WIFS vice-president), Chantal Kortweg (new WIFS president), Nelsy Salden (moderator, board member of WIFS)
Top 50 Women in Sustainable Finance & Dive In festival
On September 25, the 4th edition of the Top 50 Women in Sustainable Finance was launched. The launch once again took place during the Dive In festival, this time hosted by PGGM in Zeist. The theme of the Dive In festival was “A Sustainable Future: the next 10 years”. Read more about the event here.
Appointment of first male board member
In November 2024 Henk Jansen was appointed as treasurer, taking over from Coby-Wilma van Essen. This makes Henk the first male board member of WIFS.
2023
Accelerate 50/50
In 2023, WIFS and Deloitte launched the first Accelerate 50/50 report during International Women's Day. The event was hosted by Goldman Sachs in The Hague, watch the aftermovie here.
Accelerate 50/50 is an initiative of WIFS and Deloitte that aims to bring gender balance within the top of the financial sector. This does not only aim for the legal quota; only an ambition of 50/50 is considered logical. WIFS and Deloitte are joining forces for 3 years for this project.
Top 50 Women in Sustainable Finance & Dive In Festival
On 27 september the third launch of the Top 50 Women in Sustainable Finance took place, this year in partnership with Tosca. The launch of the Top 50 was part of the program of the 3-day Dive In festival. As countrylead Netherlands of the international Dive In festival, WIFS organized virtual events on Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, the Dive In live event took place at De Volksbank in Utrecht, where the Top 50 was also launched. Watch the aftermovie here.
2022
Top 50 Women in Sustainable Finance
2nd launch Top 50 Women in Sustainable Finance in collaboration with Lof and Tosca. The event was held at the sustainable building of Triodos in Zeist.
Launch new look & feel
A sharpened proposition also needs visual support. With new, powerfull colours and a logo that reinforces and underlines the mission, WIFS is heading for change.
2021
50/50: towards an equal gender balance
WIFS is sharpening its proposition after 10 years of its start to build visioned community. Everyone can agree and all studies show that a better gender balance creates better long-term results. It has been decided by politicians that the binding women's quota will be introduced at 1 January 2022. However, WIFS will not settle for one-third but aims for 50/50. Time to adjust the norm, and no longer approach from a point of disadvantages.
Leadership programme launch
The WIFS leadership programme is for changemakers who are committed to a future where feminine qualities in leadership are as important as the masculine ones. The leadership programme is a deep dive journey that a group of changemakers goes through as a community.
Launch of the mentoring programme
WIFS stands for growth: growing as a person, as a professional and as a leader. At certain moments in your career, it is helpful to be guided in your development and growth in an accessible way. With the mentoring programme, WIFS works together with the community of many experienced women in the network to help others advance in their careers. Empowered women empower women!
Launching the WIFS podcast
The launch of the WIFS podcast opened a new channel for inspiration. Interviews with board members and prominent figures in the financial sector, among others, inspire and inform listeners.
2020
Dive In festival powered by WIFS: the first edition
In collaboration with the Dive In festival, an international initiative in more than 30 countries to raise awareness of diversity and inclusiveness, WIFS hosted the Dutch edition for the first time.
Digitisation events
Influenced by the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, the events this year at WIFS also looked completely different. Thanks to contemporary technology, we were able to organise virtually inspiring lunch sessions, events and end-of-year drinks in 2020.
2019
10-Year Anniversary Congress
10 years ago, WIFS was founded by Nicolette Loonen. This was celebrated with an anniversary conference held at DNB in Amsterdam. With almost 200 participants, it reflected on the theme 'Something Old, Something New' with readers, inspiration sessions and a panel discussion by Eric de Blok, Martine de Visscher, Iris Dorreboom and Klaas Knot, among others.
2018
With a strategic drinks reception at DNB and a session on the future of WIFS, 2018 was a year of looking ahead. Furthermore, several inspiring executive lunches took place in 2018.
2017
WIFS Diversity Research Accelerator
At ING Amsterdam the DRA event took place, where among other things there was room to nominate eye-opening publications on gender diversity.
With your head, your heart and your hands!
The seventh WIFS annual conference took place at DNB Amsterdam. Based on the theme 'Lean In & Be Visible', it discussed working on visibility and impact and taking charge of your own personal leadership. With your head, your heart and your hands!
2016
Women make a difference
One of the 2016 WIFS events filled all 150 seats in the auditorium at De Hermitage in Amsterdam. A diverse programme of research findings, various tips and tools and other elements contributed to the common belief that female leadership can indeed make a difference.
Executives
In addition to 5 fantastic events in 2016, several executive breakfasts and lunches were organised at our business members' locations where current topics were discussed.
2015
Balanced leadership
Het jaarthema dat centraal stond in 2015. Rondom ‘balanced leadership’ zijn gedurende het jaar diverse inspirerende activiteiten georganiseerd. Geïnspireerd door de “He for She” speech van Emma Watson in haar ambassadeursrol voor genderdiversiteit voor de Verenigde Naties. Een thema dat meer aandacht verdient, omdat het alleen succesvol kan zijn als zowel mannen als vrouwen zich dit onderwerp aantrekken.
2014
Young WIFS launched
At the start of our careers, we all start with the same clean slate, at least so it seems. Because soon the development paths diverge. All kinds of reasons are given why women do not follow the same career path as male colleagues and even end up choosing to leave the financial sector. Enough reasons to establish Young WIFS alongside WIFS. With Young WIFS, we want to keep young women (up to 35) within the financial sector and give them the opportunity to be part of a successful network.
2012
WIFS goes international
The very first WIFS meeting in Belgium was organised at the Belgian Banking Federation in Brussels. With 80 enthusiastic participants, the event was a great success.
2009
In 2009 Nicolette Loonen started WIFS from home, with the support of Nathalie Weersma en Janine Breij. She felt that, so soon after the crisis, too few women were visible in the debate. Soon, 300 women had signed up to the LinkedIn group. WIFS received a lot of attention, also because of prominent speakers at the events such as then Princess Máxima, Herman Wijffels and many others. According to Loonen, WIFS' ambition remains to contribute to solutions for the many challenges in society, one of which is gender equality.
