Cultivating the growth of Black and diverse talent in the finance profession

Cherryl Cooper, Director, Specialist Talent Advocate EDI, Culture and Brand, Grant Thornton UK LLP
Cherryl is a Director and Specialist Talent Advocate EDI at Grant Thornton UK Advisory & Tax LLP. She is also a Solicitor and, before pivoting into her current role in 2024, she was a Legal Director in the Office of the General Counsel at Grant Thornton UK for many years and dealt with contentious matters, insurance related issues and firmwide risk management. Cherryl was also the firm’s first Convener of Ethnicity and is a member of the firm’s Ethnicity Working Group. She now coaches, mentors and sponsors diverse talent in the firm with a view to moving the dial on the development, retention and progression of such talent into senior roles. She works closely with the firm’s Senior Leaders to ensure that inclusion becomes part of the firm’s DNA. Cherryl was a panellist on the firm’s recent EmpowerHer International Women’s Day event and on the British Nigeria Law Forum’s IWD event. Cherryl is a qualified coach, accredited by EMCC Global and is a member of EMCC UK. She is also a professional mentor and committee member with the Amos Bursary.

Ololade Adesanya, Managing Director, Global Head of Asset Management and Insurance Audit, HSBC (Facilitator)
Ololade has over 16 years of experience working with firms in the financial services industry, providing assurance and advisory services around governance, risks, and controls. She is also is a fellow chartered accountant at ICAEW and was the President of the ICAEW West of England from 2022 to 2023. She sits on the Board of the University of Bristol and chairs the Audit and Risk Committee for the university. She is passionate about driving diversity and inclusion in professional services and the accountancy profession, and she has spearheaded several initiatives in this area.