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8 March 2023
Today on International Women’s Day, GSA is pleased to announce that it has appointed Evelyn Partners to manage its investment portfolio following a transformative strategy that places the interests of girls at its centre, and secures GSA’s financial future as gender equitable.
GSA has announced that it will adopt a gender equitable approach to its investment management that now underpins the entirety of GSA’s own investments.
Initiated and led by GSA’s CEO, Donna Stevens (a maths graduate herself), the Evelyn Partners team will be led by Investment Manager Lydia Garratt.
Donna Stevens, GSA’s CEO, says: “GSA has always been a pioneer for girls and women, and today marks yet another important milestone in its history. I’m proud to lead a change in the education sector’s approach to investment management that places the importance of an equitable society at its heart. GSA leads the charge and urges other companies and organisations to join with us in re-imagining a better future for our young people through the way they fund themselves.
Donna goes on to add: “With recent research showing there were more fund managers called Dave than there were female fund managers across the industry, GSA is as determined as ever to continue pushing for change in the world through its life changing schools and inspiring Heads. We won’t stop our campaigning until the full brilliance and potential of women and future female stars is rightly recognised, and rewarded!”
The Girls’ Schools Association appointed Evelyn Partners to create an investment portfolio that considers the promotion of gender diversity. Evelyn Partners is now responsible for actively managing a portfolio for the GSA that will look to include investments in companies that are supporting gender diversity both internally and externally, avoid those that are not and engage with those that have good scope for improvement.
Lydia Garratt, Investment Manager at Evelyn Partners adds: “I’m delighted that the Girls’ Schools Association has appointed Evelyn Partners as the manager for its investment portfolio. We have been impressed with the organisation’s work in the sector in recent years and are looking forward to working closely with the team to help fulfil their investment mandate with a particular emphasis on creating a gender focussed investment portfolio.
As the wider movement of ethical and ESG focussed investing accelerates throughout our industry, the importance of gender equality has come to the forefront of many investors’ considerations. Evidence has shown that having greater gender equality in workspaces increases diversity of thought and thus can lead to better outcomes. Therefore, it is not only an important addition for companies to improve their gender statistics but a necessity for optimising returns.”
