Recognising the achievements of those currently working in the profession as well as supporting the next generation will be central themes at the ‘Future of Financial Planning and Risk Management – Celebrating Excellence’ event, taking place at Union Kirk, Aberdeen on Thursday, 3 October, 6-9pm.

Organised by the council of the Insurance Institute of Aberdeen, part of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), the event aims to increase engagement between member organisations, young professionals and local schools, colleges and universities.

Sponsors Acumen Financial Planning and AAB Wealth will be joined by several other local firms in hosting exhibition stands and taking part in networking sessions.

An awards ceremony will then showcase deserving north-east individuals who have attained professional qualifications during the period from January 2023 to July 2024. The top regional performer in each qualification will be crowned across six different categories, including Diploma in Insurance, Advanced Diploma in Financial Services, and Fellowship of the Personal Finance Society.

The evening will also mark the first public engagement in Scotland of the CII’s newly-appointed, CEO, Matthew Hill, who will deliver the keynote address before presenting the awards.

Mr Hill said: “I look forward to welcoming industry leaders and young professionals to celebrate the success of colleagues in Aberdeen and the surrounding area, while taking the opportunity to look to the future opportunities available for young talent to strengthen our professions.

“I would like to thank and pay tribute to our members across the north-east of Scotland for their continued hard work and dedication to making financial planning and risk management professions of choice.”

The evening’s focus on the next generation will continue with a fireside discussion featuring several rising stars sharing their experiences as young professionals and how to encourage more people into the industry.

Speakers include Andrew McRae, a paraplanner at Acumen Financial Planning and the youngest person to achieve APFS in Scotland; Cameron Stewart (APFS), a financial planner at Aberdein Considine Wealth, who recently achieved his Advanced Diploma in Financial and is months away from obtaining chartered status; and, Ruth Kydd (Dip CII), an insurance manager at the City of Edinburgh Council.

Completing the lineup will be James McIntosh (Cert CII), a graduate insurance broker with Blackford Insurance, who acts as education secretary for the Insurance Institute of Aberdeen; James Boyd, an apprentice commercial lines underwriter at Aviva, who won the top performer award in the Edinburgh region for the CII Certificate in Insurance this year; and, Kirsty Evans, business operations team leader at Johnston Carmichael Wealth, who entered the profession following a year-long placement as part of her university degree.

In addition, Mr McRae is a finalist in the Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning category, while Ruth is a finalist in the Diploma in Insurance category to be announced on the night.

President of the Insurance Institute of Aberdeen, Katherine Harvey, will host the fireside discussion. She is also head of progress at business improvement specialist, Melo.

Ms Harvey said: “One of our central aims is to raise the profile of financial planning and insurance as genuine career paths with multiple opportunities for continuous development and advancement.

“The awards recognise all professionals across the north-east who have passed an exam or qualification in the relevant period, between January 2023 and July 2024, and provides an opportunity to celebrate success at every stage of a professional’s career.

“The event has been opened to university students, graduates and school leavers, following our recent engagement with local secondary and tertiary education sectors, which we hope will create more visibility around our professions and the different routes into the sector.”