Women in Pensions Awards 2026

Administrator of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Administrator of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

The recipient must administrate a UK pension scheme(s), either as part of an in-house team or at a third-party administration business. Recipients should be experienced within their field, and demonstrate high level of commitment to achieving above and beyond in their work.

Adviser of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Adviser of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This accolade aims to recognise a woman who works as a pension scheme actuary, investment consultant, or in another advisory role. This recipient will be a successful pension scheme adviser and able to demonstrate a strong track record of achievements.

Lawyer of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Lawyer of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

The recipient may be either a lawyer or legal adviser to a UK pension scheme, either in-house or at an external firm. It is particularly suitable for those with a minimum of five years' experience in the field who can demonstrate a clear commitment to the role of legal professionals within occupational pensions.

Innovator of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Innovator of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This award is aimed at a woman designing, developing, researching, implementing or being exceptionally creative in pensions in an unconventional and innovative way. This could include running a personal business or be related to work within a pensions company or organisation.

Investment Manager of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Investment Manager of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This award is open to nominees managing investments for UK pension schemes, either as part of an in-house team or at a third-party asset management business. Nominees can be the lead or part of a joint all female or mixed gender management team. The award will be judged primarily on qualitative factors such as commitment and excellence, rather than performance.

LGBTQI+ Trailblazer Award

Congratulations on being nominated in the brand new LGBTQI+ Trailblazer Award category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This award is open to women in the pensions sector who have gone above in beyond in work specific to the advancement or benefit of the LGBTQI+ community. This could be either in relation to the development of a product, initiative, offering, programme, or tool specifically targeting the community, or work bolstering the representation of LGBTQI+ staffers within the nominee’s own workplace.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Congratulations on being nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This award is in recognition of a woman who has risen to the top of the UK pensions career ladder and is an inspiration to future female leaders. This nominee must be able to demonstrate considerable experience across the industry, and be an illustrious figure within pensions.

Mentor of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Mentor of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This award is open to both men and women in the pensions sector who have supported and encouraged women to fulfil their potential within the workplace. Nominees must demonstrate a high level of mentorship work both within their role and in self-motivated projects.

Newcomer of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Newcomer of the Year category of the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

Nominees for this award must have joined the pensions industry/ transferred from a different industry into the pensions sector in the last 2 years and impressed colleagues and clients with their excellence and success in the workplace. There is no age limit for this category, but nominees must have entered the pensions industry in the last 2 years and not be in undergraduate roles/placements or school leavers.

Organisational Award for Supporting Diversity

Congratulations to your firm for being nominated in the Organisational Award for Supporting Diversity category at the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all firms to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your firm’s unique story – tell us about challenges, motivations, and the achievements the firm is most proud of.

We want you to tell us how the firm has gone above and beyond and established itself as a true standout in the industry.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

Open to companies in the pensions sector and pension schemes who have supported and facilitated initiatives to improve diversity within the organisation. Nominees will be asked to demonstrate their achievements over the 2025/26 year.

Pensions Manager of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Pensions Manager of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This nominee must work in a senior role at a UK in-house occupational pension schemes in either the public or private sector. It is most suitable to those at ‘head of pensions' or ‘pensions director' levels, but also open to those on the senior management team of in-house schemes, such as those leading the investment or administration functions of a scheme.

Pensions Woman of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Pensions Woman of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

The nominee must have helped raise the profile of occupational pensions as a career for women either through education, training, leadership, mentoring or acting as a role model. The award is not specific to any particular role or job title. The nominee must also be able to demonstrate their influence in attracting and/or retaining women into pensions during 2025 and 2026.

Sales/Marketing/Communications Professional of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Sales/Marketing/Communications Professional of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This category is open to women working in a senior sales, marketing or communications role in a firm that provides products and services to UK occupational pension schemes. It is particularly suitable for those with at least ten years' experience in the field that can demonstrate an extensive commitment to the occupational pensions sector.

Sustainability & ESG Woman of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Sustainability & ESG Woman of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

Open to women working in the UK pensions industry who can demonstrate how they have championed sustainable & ESG investing at their own firm or scheme, across the wider industry and/or helped promote this area. They should be able to give examples of the impact they have made in sustainability & ESG, especially during the 2025/26 year. Entrants can come from any job role in the UK pensions industry.

Team Leader of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Team Leader of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This award is open to women in the pensions sector who head up a team and can demonstrate specific excellence in leadership, communication, and vision. The recipient must manage a team of three or more other workers and excel both in their own position as well as specifically as a team leader.

Trustee of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Trustee of the Year category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This accolade aims to recognise a leading woman in UK pension trusteeship who can clearly demonstrate excellence within their role alongside additional achievements and successes as a trustee. It is open to both professional (independent) and lay trustees.

Unsung Hero Award

Congratulations on being nominated in the Unsung Hero Award category for the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

Aimed at women in support roles in the UK pensions industry who have gone above and beyond to contribute to their scheme or business, drive change, support a team or encourage diversity & inclusion in the workplace. In particular, the judges will consider their impact at a scheme, company, team or industry level over the 2025/26 year.

Young Achiever of the Year

Congratulations on being nominated in the Young Achiever of the Year category of the 2026 Women in Pensions Awards.

We are now asking all nominees to complete the below questionnaire, which the judges will use to draw up shortlists and decide on the final winners in each category.

Professional Pensions is looking for your unique story – tell us about your challenges, your motivations, and the achievements you are most proud of.

We want you to tell us how you have gone above and beyond and established yourself as a true standout among your peers.

Deadline for entry is Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm, please note there will be no extensions.

This award is open to women in the UK occupational pensions sector at the beginning of their career. The recipient must have made a strong impact in a short space of time and impressed colleagues with their desire to succeed and strive to achieve excellence in the workplace, and are most likely to progress further. Nominees must be aged 30 or under on 30 April 2026.