Fostering Ethical Leadership and Integrity in Financial Services

Dame Susan Rice 

Chair of the GEFI Global Steering Group

With a career that spans medical research, leadership roles in higher education and then banking, Dame Susan chairs the Global Steering Group of GEFI (Global Ethical Finance Initiative). She also chairs the Forth Green Freeport and is one of two non-executive Members of the Office for Budget Responsibility. 

The first woman to head a UK or European clearing bank as Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland plc, she was also a director of the Bank of England. She was founding chair of Scotland’s Fiscal Commission, the country’s official, independent economic and fiscal forecaster, Senior Independent Director of both J Sainsbury’s plc and SSE plc, Chair of Scottish Water and lay member of Court at Edinburgh University.

A leading voice on ethics in finance, she chaired the Financial Services Culture Board and led her industry to support the Chartered Banker Institute’s creation of professional standards for bankers. Susan also helped develop numerous social finance and impact investing entities in the US and UK.

Focused on the creation of long-term value in business and enterprise, she has worked with the UK’s Place-based Climate Action Network and previously led a business-focused collaboration on carbon reduction and a sustainable Scottish economy. She currently chairs the Forth Green Freeport with its twin goals of green reindustrialisation in parallel with community regeneration and reskilling.  

Alongside several honorary degrees and professional fellowships, Dame Susan is a Freeman of the City of London.

Chris Usher 

Director at Cavenwell Group & Non-Executive Director at the School of International Financial Services

Chris is a director at Cavenwell Group, where he works with a diverse range of wealth management professionals, supporting clients ranging from multi-generational High Net Worth (HNW) and Ultra High Net worth (UHNW) families to digital entrepreneurs around the world.

Chris also works with private banks, lawyers, accountants, and other financial services professionals to support them and their clients in protecting their wealth through the efficient use of wealth structuring vehicles.

With over 25 years experience in offshore financial services, Chris previously held senior wealth management roles with Barclays Wealth and Santander. During this time, he advised private clients and corporates on a wide range of global investment solutions to meet their often-complex needs. With a deep understanding of geopolitical and economic dynamics, Chris helped clients to navigate the ever-changing international wealth structuring environment, whilst maximising tax efficiency of their position. Additionally, Chris was the Chief Executive of Jersey International Business School and then Managing Director of BPP, specialising in the education of offshore financial services. Chris is a non-executive director at the School of International Financial Services (SIFS), a leading provider of training and education in 15 jurisdictions around the world.

Chris has trained over 6,000 people in qualifications for the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (CISI) in wealth management and is a well-regarded member of the Institute. He also serves on the committee of the Channel Islands Wealth Managers Association and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Cavenwell Group is an owner-managed, independent and digitally enabled fiduciary business specialised in providing global wealth structuring and administration solutions to entrepreneurs, high-net worth individuals and their families.