Gwen Rhys, Author at GWEN RHYS

26 June 2018 by Gwen Rhys

Shrieval Election Speech – Gwen Rhys

On 25 June 2018, I made the following speech to approximatey 1500 Liverymen gathered in Common Hall at Guildhall in the heart of the City of London. Unfortunately I wasn’t successful in winning the Election but I certainly pledge to continue my work in championing diversity and inclusion within and beyond the City.

Election Speech

Fellow Liverymen

In 3 years’ time, the Chamberlain’s Court will grant the first Freedoms of the City to those born this century and it will be these young people, together with the Millennials, who are the future of the Livery and the City.

Their perception of the kind of world they want is different from ours. We’re so “last century”.

They are more ethnically and culturally diverse than previous generations.

They don’t just tolerate difference, they seek it out. They have different values – and will expect and demand greater transparency and equality.

They communicate differently and they’ll be working differently –more flexibly and for longer.
And they’re likely to be less economically successful than their parents.

Unlike us Baby Boomers, they have never had it so bad.

More than ever young people need opportunities to meet like-minded individuals, to develop mentoring relationships and to find ways to make their contribution to wider society.

Livery Companies with their roots in ensuring quality, setting standards, giving skills to the next generation and, through charitable giving, caring for those who had fallen on difficult times – whilst bringing people together in fellowship – can provide just these opportunities.

As Liverymen let us make sure that our Companies continue to be relevant – let our heritage inspire their future.

As for the business City, the uncertainties of Brexit continue to be a major concern, but one of the biggest, on-going challenges is attracting and retaining talent.

Diversity and Inclusion aren’t just buzz words. It’s not political correctness gone mad, it’s about future proofing.

Successful businesses reflect the society in which we live.

But if those from a range of social and cultural backgrounds and abilities are to reach their full potential, businesses need to eradicate unconscious bias and other barriers to both entry and progression

In these respects, I’m delighted that the Corporation recently agreed to set up a Diversity Working Group to progress action.

Like a Mars Bar – the City’s for work, rest and play – and this century we’ve seen the City become a 24-7 location.

The development of the Culture Mile is just one example of how the Corporation is ensuring the City flourishes as a vibrant cultural centre.

So why vote for me?

I’m Different – and I can help make a difference.
Like Henry Ford who gave us cars rather than faster horses, I’m a Disruptor – I question the status quo. But as the Royal Wedding showed, you can uphold tradition, mingle old with new and bring something fresh and relevant to all.
I believe in Diversity and Inclusion – I’ve spent the last 30 years actively championing equality of opportunity and since founding Women in the City in 2003 have put my energy into promoting, recognising and rewarding female talent.

Yes, I, too, might be “last century” but I’m also a Sheriff for the 21st Century.

If you want someone who understands the Livery as well as the demands of today’s business and society and can talk knowledgeably about them to a wide audience then give me your vote.

And, finally, as a Welsh woman, a Cymraes, I‘ll bring some hwyl to the City.

Hwyl is about bringing your heart, your soul and your spirit to your endeavours.

And I pledge to bring my whole self – my energy, my passion, my values and my connections to the service of the Lord Mayor, to you, your Livery Companies and to the people who live and work in this great City, a place that I’m proud to call home.

Fellow Liverymen, the future is bright, the future is orange please vote #GwenForSheriff.

END

24 June 2018 by Gwen Rhys

Election day is nearly here and the future’s orange

When I first announced that I was a candidate for non-Aldermanic Sheriff of the City of London in September 2017 the election day was a full nine months away and I drew a parallel to a baby’s gestation period saying that although I’d never been pregnant I guessed I was still at the “I can’t quite believe it” stage.

Now the election is one day away, I find myself once more at the “I can’t quite believe it” stage having experienced many emotions along the way.

There are around 23,000 Liverymen who belong to the 100-plus Livery Companies of the City of London. Those who have been a Liveryman since before May 2017 are all entitled to vote. There is no postal or proxy voting. They have to vote in person (although only 1500 of them can be accommodated in the Guildhall), and voting is by a show of hands.

This year’s election is contested and there are 4 candidates for 2 positions. One candidate is an Alderman and it is traditional that the Alderman “automatically” becomes the Aldermanic Sheriff, although the candidate is still part of the election process.

I am one of three candidates competing for the non-Aldermanic Sheriff role. The last time there was a contested election was 2011 so there has been much interest.

In order to make counting the votes (hands held in the air) easier, all candidates have been allocated an election “colour”. I was delighted to be given “orange” and immediately adopted the mobile phone slogan “the future’s bright, the future’s orange”.

Suddenly, orange was everywhere. As fashionistas might say, orange does indeed seem to be the “new black”. I had no difficulty in finding a variety of images to support my very active twitter campaign in which I linked #orange #future #bright with #diversity and #inclusion. I even created a Campaign Pin (small orange silk rose) which I encouraged my supporters to wear.

I’ve been lucky to get some good press coverage in City Matters as the issue of diversity and inclusion suddenly became a big topic in the City when the candidates for Alderman in one of the up-coming Ward Elections were branded “pale, stale, male”.

At 12noon tomorrow the proceedings will began with much pomp and circumstance with candidates each giving a 4 minute presentation before Liverymen are invited to vote.

Because voting is by show of hands, there’s always the possibility of inaccurate counting, so unless there are clear winners, a Poll (standard ballot paper) will be called for Monday 9 July and Liverymen will be invited to cast their vote, again in person, between 8am and 6pm.

I’ll be posting a copy of my presentation and giving the election result on Tuesday.

Wish me luck – and if any Liverymen are reading this, please vote #GwenForSheriff and do please pop in to my campaign HQ, The Bottlescrue, Foster Lane (nearest tube St Paul’s) which will be open from 9.30am to meet other supporters, have a cuppa coffee and collect your Campaign Pin.

You do not need a special pass to gain entry to Guildhall, but best to bring Photo ID with you. You will need to be seated by 11.45am.

Anyone can stand in Guildhall Yard and watch the Lord Mayor and other officials arrive – it will be busy from 10am onwards.

View the video of the 2011 Election (password protected: Election (cap E)).

8 May 2018 by Gwen Rhys

Diversity champion bids to be Sheriff of the City of London

Today (8 May), Gwen Rhys, Diversity Champion, Founder & CEO of Women in the City, has released her Election Address in a bid to become one of the City’s two Sheriffs for 2018-19 and, with four candidates standing for two roles, competition is fierce.

The Election will take place at noon on Monday 25 June in Guildhall, City of London, where, by a show of hands, fellow Liverymen select two Sheriffs. Rhys’s Election Campaign is chaired by leading Barrister, former MP and Privy Councillor Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry DL, a Liveryman of the Merchant Taylors, Bowyers, Stationers & Newspaper Makers and Arbitrators, and a member of the Parish Clerks’ Company who said:

I am delighted to chair Gwen’s campaign. She has enormous energy and experience. She would be a real asset to the Lord Mayor’s Civic Team in support of the City and supporting the Lord Mayor promoting British business at home and overseas.

Throughout her career, Gwen has given 100% commitment to everything that she does, and she would clearly give 100% commitment as a Sheriff of the City.

A Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers, Rhys is also a Liveryman of the Needlemakers’ and Spectacle Makers’ Companies, and the Welsh Livery Company . She is also a member of Queenhithe, Aldgate and Cheap Ward Clubs.

Rhys commented,

As a liveryman of 25 years standing, I hope I can broaden the understanding about these organisations whose roots go back to medieval times. Collectively they donate nearly £50m annually to a wide range of charitable activities and continue to play an important role in the City and wider society.

My commitment to greater diversity and inclusion, and in particular the need to see more women in senior roles across the financial and professional services is well known and will bring an added dimension to what is often an all-male team supporting the Lord Mayor in promoting the City at home and overseas.”

Read and download Gwen Rhys’s Election Address

Download Media Release

2 May 2018 by Gwen Rhys

Campaign countdown – the last 12 weeks

The final push

Having submitted election papers to the Electoral Services Department of the Corporation of London before Easter, I have now received confirmation that I am a “validly nominated candidate” for the Election of Sheriffs at Guildhall on 25 June 2018.

With around 12 weeks to go, I want to remind my supporters of the importance of attending Guildhall on the morning of the election and to raise your hand in support of me.

All Liverymen are entitled to attend but only those clothed before May 2017 may vote. Liverymen can obtain passes from their Company Clerks, but Liverymen can gain access without a pass.

Campaign Team

My Campaign Chairman is Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry DL, Liveryman of the Worshipful Companies of Merchant Taylors, Stationers, Bowyers, Arbitrators and Parish Clerks.

A barrister by profession and head of a set of Commercial Chambers in the Temple, Sir Tony was for 32 years MP for Banbury, Oxfordshire. He was a Government Minister for eight years, under both Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including a period of time at the Foreign Office, and he subsequently chaired the Commons Select Committee on International Development. Sir Tony has served terms as a Trustee of both Chatham House and the Overseas Development Institute.

He was knighted for political and public services in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2012, appointed a member of HM Privy Council in November 2013 and became a Lay Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford in January 2015.

In the City, Sir Tony is Chairman of the Trustees of St Ethelberga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in Bishopsgate.

My Electoral Agent is Michael Cooper FCA, Past Master (2014-15), Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks, Liveryman, the Worshipful Companies of Butchers and Plumbers and Past Chairman, Society of Young Freemen and Bridge Ward Club.

Michael is a Senior Civil Servant with Defra (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), where he has worked in a range of policy, finance and PPM roles. He was Finance Director of Defra’s largest Executive Agency and is now responsible for co-ordinating the administration of EU-funded agricultural schemes across the UK, reporting to Ministers in Defra and the devolved administrations.

Michael is a Past President of ICAEW Thames Valley Chartered Accountants and has served as Vice President (Finance) of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT since 2013. He is churchwarden and parish clerk of one of the City’s churches and serves as a trustee of a number of other charities. He is married to Felicity and has three children.

Team Members

Read more about the Team #GwenforSherrif

27 March 2018 by Gwen Rhys

Founder of Guild of Investment Managers supports Gwen Rhys’s Shrieval Candidacy

Founder, Women in the City — Gwen Rhys raises a ‘glass’ to the Guild of Investment Managers

Last week, at a meeting of the Court of Aldermen of the City of London, The Guild of Investment Managers (GIM), which was set up by former Touche Remnant investment managers John Garbutt, James de Sausmarez, and Mark Henderson in May 2016, officially received its ‘City of London’ status.

Mark Henderson, said:

We were especially keen to encourage women working in the profession to join the Guild. Having known Gwen Rhys since she was Master of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers, one of the ancient City of London Livery Companies, I approached her as Founder & CEO of Women in the City to help us do just that.

The support she has given to the Guild of Investment Managers (GIM) throughout its development has helped the Guild fulfil its objective of achieving diversity within its membership to date and to gain its ‘City of London’ status.

Now that Gwen has decided to put herself forward for election as non-Aldermanic Sheriff of the City for 2018-19, I am delighted to support her candidacy unequivocally because I know she gets things done.

The Election of Sheriffs of the City of London takes place on 25 June 2018 at Guildhall, City of London. Liverymen of the various City of London Livery Companies are entitled to vote.

Read more about why Gwen Rhys is standing for Sheriff.