The objectives of the equality council include championing fair representation for marginalised groups, promoting allyship, and ensuring equitable opportunities for all staff and advisers.
The council will review company policies, advocate for inclusive practices, and hold Access Financial Services accountable to its D&I commitments.
The nine members of the council are:
- Amrit Bahee, head of operations
- Adrian Brewer, head of later life and the Access All Areas referral scheme
- Kamelia Azaad, business quality assurance manager
- Megan Hind, operations coordinator
- Adam Niedzielski, protection admin supervisor
- Rakhi Wojkowska, mortgage broker
- Areeb Jalali, mortgage broker
- Farhan Ali, member of the protection team
- Anita Wokomah, member of the protection team
Nick Jones, mortgage sales and marketing director at Access Financial Services, said: “By engaging with employees and advisers, the equality council seeks to identify challenges, propose solutions, and drive cultural change, ensuring we reflect the diverse communities we serve.
“Through regular feedback and transparent reporting, the council is going to help embed D&I into our core operations, setting a benchmark for the industry.
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“Given nine in every 10 (92%) of Access FS’ advisers are from minority backgrounds[s] and are drawn from 23 different national communities, it was really important that we launched the council with a strong team. With… such a strong Access FS team on board, it’s off to a great start.”
At the latest Diversity and Inclusivity Finance Forum (DIFF), the group discussed the importance of intergenerational teams and how the contribution of older team members should not be overlooked.
