Manpreet Sohal new Chair of APPT’s Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee

Ross Trustees, the professional trustee and pensions services firm, is delighted to announce the appointment of Trustee Director, Manpreet Sohal, as the new Chair of the Association of Professional Pension Trustees (APPT) Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee.

The goal of the Committee is to raise awareness of the importance of diverse representation among the APPT membership and to equip them with the knowledge to ensure optimal decisions are taken in the interests of scheme members. It aims to achieve this by ensuring a diversity of inputs into decision-making and encouraging trustee boards to follow inclusive processes.

Manpreet will lead the committee in its objectives to promote best practice in relation to diversity and inclusion on trustee boards across the full spectrum of work undertaken by APPT members. This will include introducing principles-based guidance and organising training and education for members.

Manpreet will be taking her seat as Chair as a longstanding member of Ross Trustees, having been a part of the team since its inception in 2010. She leads the firms’ own diversity and inclusion working group, which is focused on driving better results by promoting diversity on the boards on which they sit.

Manpreet’s appointment as Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee is a testament to the success she has spearheaded at Ross Trustees to promote these initiatives already. Ross Trustees champions diversity and inclusion amongst its workforce and encourages similar measures for the schemes where it is appointed. The firm has already introduced a policy for ensuring D&I for schemes where the firm acts as Professional Corporate Sole Trustee, codified as part of a wider framework applied to such appointments.

Commenting on her appointment, Manpreet Sohal, Chair of the APPT Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee, said:

“I am delighted the Committee has entrusted me with heading up the APPT’s ongoing mission to influence positive change in the pensions industry. Driving diversity is already a priority for the organisations I work with, and I am excited to work alongside leading figures in the pensions sector to amplify this initiative industry-wide.

“As a key component for sustainable growth for schemes, diversity and inclusion is a matter that remains at the forefront for investors, regulators, and other stakeholders. I am excited about the opportunities this role will provide to help professional trustees create inclusive and diverse cultures, which in turn will boost innovation, collaboration and member engagement.”

This article was first published in Professional Pensions  , June 2022

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