Steering Committee
InterInvest’s steering committee is made up of volunteers from various investment firms. The committee provides strategic direction for the organisation, and drives specific projects focused on achieving our key objectives.
Cathy Denyer O'Leary - Co Founder
Cathy is a founding member and Chair of InterInvest, and a Senior Operations Manager with Vanguard Asset Management. She has 15 years’ experience in the industry and has held previous roles with Fidelity and Invesco. Cathy chairs Vanguard’s European LGBT+ network, OPEN, and launched their Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Vanguard takes an active role in inclusion initiatives in the industry and is a member of the Diversity Project, where Cathy is part of the LGBT+ workstream. Cathy is originally from Cork, Ireland, holds a degree and Masters in Economics from University College Cork and is studying for a PhD focusing on culture in the workplace. She lives in Hove with her wife Lucy and her second great love is red wine.
Deon Pillay (He/Him) (CMgr MCMI) - Co Founder
Deon is a founding member and Co-Chair of InterInvest, he is the Head of Marketing Operations, Legal and General Investment Management in London and the Chair of the firm’s L&GBT+Allies network. Outside of the office, he is the Co-chair of InterInvest, a network of investment professionals, which drives LGBT+ equality across the investment management industry and the Diversity Projects LGBT strand. Since arriving in London from his hometown in South Africa, Deon started his career in financial services at a private wealth management company in client services before joining LGIM in 2010.
Deon is a culture carrier and diversity champion for Legal and General, he works tirelessly to drive LGBT inclusion both internally and in the wider industry, resulting in the organisation winning three awards in 2022. He champions ethnicity, and as the new Co-Chair of their overall Inclusion Network, helping drive an inclusive culture. Deon uses his many platforms to drive change for all marginalised communities. He has several notable achievements for his contributions to diversity and inclusion. He is a keynote speaker, sharing his personal experiences to surface LGBT+ issues, a panellist championing diversity and inclusion. A multiple award winner, who has recently featured in the Pride Power list Top 100 most influential individuals advancing LGBT+ inclusion in the UK. As a business leader, the role models and creates a culture of inclusion where diversity, collaboration, and empowerment of and for others is embodied.
Deon has been recognised for his work in driving both LGBT+ and wider DEI initiatives:
PIMFA overall Diversity Champion 2022
Rainbow Honours Corporate Champion 2022
Pride Power list 2022/2023
Top 100 Game Changers 2022
British LGBT Awards Diversity Hero 2021
Yahoo Finance Empower and Outstanding Future Leader List 19/20/21/22
Winner Burberry British Diversity Awards –Diversity Champion of the year
Rainbow Honours top 10 Inspirational Role model 2023
Alison Proud
Alison Proud is Associate Director DEI at global investment firm Cambridge Associates, where she leads on DEI work for their EMEA and APAC offices. A Londoner born and raised, she is passionate about diversity and the role of authenticity in unlocking potential. She has a background in supporting Executive Offices, as well as extensive volunteering and coaching experience. Alison is bisexual and celebrates the capacity of the bi+ community to experience love and attraction beyond gender.
Julie Dickson
Julie Dickson is an investment director at Capital Group. She has 29 years of investment industry experience and has been with Capital Group for seven years. Prior to joining Capital, Julie worked as the head of client portfolio management at Ashmore Group. Before that, she was the head of client portfolio management at Aviva Investors. She also held various positions at Axa Rosenberg, Mellon Global Investments, Barclays Global Investors and Merrill Lynch. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with concentration in finance from Cornell University. She also holds both the Investment Management Certificate and the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. Julie is based in London.
Mark McLane
Mark McLane is the Head Diversity, Inclusion and Well-being for M&G plc, an international savings and investments business with over 7 million customers across the UK, Europe, Asia and the Americas. Mr. McLane is responsible for architecting a firmwide diversity and inclusion strategy leveraging organizational strengths, in the every-changing global business climate and enabling M&G plc to maintain their competitive advantage by driving innovation to its customers.
Prior to M&Gplc he held the position of Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion at Barclays PLC, a UK based consumer and investment bank. Mr. McLane has also held the positions Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Booz Allen Hamilton, in Washington D.C. and Chief Diversity Officer for Whirlpool Corporation, a Fortune 500 company in Benton Harbor Michigan.
Mr. McLane is a former commissioner for the UK Equalities and Human Rights Commission, along with additionally leadership roles as the past Master of the Guild of Human Resource Professionals and Department of Work and Pensions Disability Confident Leaders group. In 2014/15/16/19 Mr. McLane was recognized on the UK LGBT power list, the LGBT Great top 100 global allies, the Financial Times 100 LGBT business leaders in London and named to the top 50 global Diversity Executives by the Economist.
Salman Ali
Sal is the Chair of the D&I Belonging Sub Committee and an active member of the organization’s D&I Steering Committee. Sal has successfully designed events, including Pride in London 2022 and awareness surrounding International Women’s Day. Sal informally reverse mentors a board member on LGBTQ+ issues and has created an open dialogue to discuss and promote LGBT diversity and inclusion with Executive Committee Members under the overall D&I Steering strategy”.
Suzanne Whitlock
Suzanne is Marketing lead on the InterInvest Steerco, and Head of Digital at Royal London Asset Management. Suzanne has over 25 years experience in the investment management industry. She was head of marketing projects at Legal & General Investment Management for six years where she was an ally and marketing lead for the L&GBT+ Allies network, and initiated L&G’s first Pride logo. Prior to that, she led the digital marketing function at GAM. Suzanne is a long-time ally to the LGBTQ+ community and believes allies as well as role models are vital in driving diversity and inclusion. Suzanne holds a degree in Philosophy and Sociology, and a post-grad in Journalism. She lives in London.
Tristan Davies
Tristan is a Senior Business Analyst within Business Management at Capital Group, the world’s largest active investor. He is a global co-lead for ‘CG Pride’, Capital Group’s community for LGBTQ+ associates and allies, and sits on the Capital Group Europe & Asia Client Group Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee.
Tristan is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the asset management industry and works to create an informed, supportive and diverse environment where people feel valued and psychologically safe. He oversees the work of the CG Pride community across Capital Group’s global offices, with a particular focus on Europe & Asia, using locally-sensitive approaches to make a meaningful impact in each office.
Outside asset management, Tristan works with the Royal Academy of Dance, in collaboration with the London Women’s Forum, in promoting dialogue on Diversity & Inclusion between the worlds of dance and business. He also provides coaching and support to newly qualified teachers through the charity TeachFirst.
Tristan has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics & Music from University of Birmingham and a Master’s degree in Finance & Accounting from Kingston Business School. He is based in London.