The AQWF calls on its members and partners – both men and women – to promote the advancement of Québec women in finance.
MONTRÉAL, April 21, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, the Association of Québec Women in Finance (AQWF) held its 11th Annual Awards Ceremony, which recognizes the achievements of professional women working in Québec's finance sector. This major annual event was hosted by France Beaudoin, well-known media personality and popular host of En direct de l'univers on ICI Radio-Canada, and by Andréanne Simard, Associate at Desjardins Capital Markets and recipient of the AQWF's 2012 Prix Relève Award.
Under the theme Les Talentueuses s'entourent!, the 11th edition of the Talentueuses Awards Ceremony honoured women whose intelligence, dynamism and professionalism have earned them success in a traditionally male-dominated sector. This year, the AQWF wanted to convey a more inclusive message by emphasizing the importance of collaborating with male colleagues, as more and more male professionals working to promote gender equality at the highest decision-making levels of their organizations attend the event.
"We are slowly beginning to see a change in mentality. Not only did Prime Minister Justin Trudeau express this change loud and clear when he recently inaugurated a gender-equal cabinet in Ottawa, but he also entrusted the women he appointed with important responsibilities in positions that play a vital role in directing the affairs of the Canadian state," said Dana Ades-Landy, President of the Association of Québec Women in Finance, as she kicked off the celebration.
"Persevering for Change"
Change is on the discussion table but slow to implement. Therefore, women in finance must persevere to call for change in all sectors. With this goal in mind, the Association pledges to continue its efforts to promote and support women in executive positions at the corporate level and within governmental and non-governmental organizations, and encourages its members and partners to do the same.
To better support Québec women in finance, the AQWF announced the appointment of ambassadors – both women and men – who will publicly promote the crucial role of Québec women in finance and the importance of their reaching their full potential within organizations. Among these ambassadors are: Martin Thibodeau, President, Quebec Headquarters, RBC Royal Bank; Roland Lescure, Executive Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec; and Anne-Marie Hubert, Associate Director at EY.
Furthermore, in order to better assist head-hunters, CEOs and board chairpersons in the search for qualified women available to join boards of directors, the AQWF has created a shared database which, in the near future, will give them access to data they can use to select the most competent individuals to fill available positions.
"We are proud of what we've accomplished, but there's still a lot of work to do. We all have a role to play – both men and women – to achieve equality in any sector, not only in finance," concluded Ades-Landy.
An active and fulfilling year
In the last year, the AQWF has met the growing needs of its members by offering them more opportunities for professional development and greater access to decision-makers and influencers networks. The Association also pursued its agenda on raising awareness about financial succession by organizing activities for young women in high school, CEGEP and university, to inform them of career possibilities in the financial sector.
The AQWF's mentorship program has also continued to grow, as has the number of mentors and mentees, which increases every year.
Finally, as part of the "Ensemble vers la parité" movement, and thanks to the remarkable work of the "Women on Boards", the AQWF continued to raise awareness with the federal and provincial governments, as well as with Crown corporations, so that they recognize the contribution of women in executive positions and on boards of directors.
Winners of the 11th edition of the Talentueuses Awards Ceremony
"Inspiration – Andrée Corriveau" Award (presented by the AQWF Board of the Directors)Marie-Claude Boisvert
Chief Operating Officer, Desjardins Business Capital régional et coopératif
"Leadership" Award
Madeleine Féquière
Chief Corporate Credit, Domtar
"Initiative" Award: for the advancement of women in finance
Project: Réseau femmes en tête
National Bank of Canada
"Étoile Montante" Award
Caroline Vermette
Vice President, Financial Performance Management, Financial Markets, National Bank of Canada
"Relève" Award (presented by Desjardins Group)
Zhu Yan Fang, HEC Montréal
Sarah Thomassin, Université Laval
"Relève" Award (presented by the Royal Bank of Canada)
Nolwenn Camps-Leysour de Rochello, HEC Montréal
Sponsors
The Association of Québec Women in Finance would like to thank the following sponsors:
Senior Partners: Desjardins, RBC Royal Bank
President's Circle: BMO Financial Group, National Bank of Canada, Scotia Bank, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Desjardins, RBC Royal Bank
Elite: Aon, Ordre des CPA du Québec, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Premium: CIBC Bank
Alliance: Air Canada, André R. Dorais Lawyers, TD Bank Group, Miller Thomson Lawyers, M0851
VIP Cocktail: Lavery Lawyers
Regular Cocktail: Langlois Lawyers
Dessert Partner: Pembroke Private Wealth Management
The AQWF would also like to thank its media partners
La Presse, La Presse+
Massy Forget Langlois Public Relations
About the Association of Québec Women in Finance
Founded in May 2002, the Association of Quebec Women in Finance (AFFQ) is comprised of over 500 Quebec women in finance. Besides creating a mentorship program to support women in finance, the AQWF offers its members professional development and networking activities, as well as interventions with young people at the academic level. Each year, the AQWF organizes several international business activities, thereby providing women in finance with preferred access to a major network of financial organizations spanning several countries.
In 2014, the AQWF joined forces with a group of about ten other organizations to create "Ensemble vers la parité", a movement to spread awareness among corporate leaders and businesspeople, both male and female, on the new reality of fostering diversity within organizational leadership. Through education and information, said movement seeks to support companies, along with their boards of directors and human resources and governance committees, in promoting diversity. It also aims to support their efforts toward achieving a greater presence, based on their objectives, of women in boards of directors and executive management teams within companies across Québec and the rest of Canada.
SOURCE Association des femmes en finance du Québec (AFFQ)
Image with caption: "Dana Ades-Landy (left), Chief Executive Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation – Quebec, and President of the Association of Québec Women in Finance, and Marie-Claude Boisvert, Chief Operating Officer, Desjardins Business Capital régional et coopératif and winner of the “Inspiration – Andrée Corriveau” Award (CNW Group/Association des femmes en finance du Québec (AFFQ))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160421_C2695_PHOTO_EN_672649.jpg
Photos available upon request. For more information, to set up an interview, or to obtain a complete list of AQWF ambassadors, please contact: Mathilde Condrain-Morel, Massy Forget Langlois relations publiques, T: 514-842-2455, ext. 21, M: 438-883-1077, [email protected]
Share this article