The rebranding marks an opportunity to align the three organizations more closely across the UK, Europe and North America, strengthening their mission to embed inclusion and cognitive diversity at the heart of financial performance, the firm said in a statement.

Founded in the UK in 2016 to improve diversity within the investment and savings industry, the Diversity Project was followed by the launch of Nicsa’s Diversity Project North America in 2018 and Diversity Project Europe in 2023. Together, the three organizations represent over 130 member firms globally.

While each organization will operate independently within its region, the new Inclusion in Finance identity provides a more coordinated global approach; sharing research, programs and best practices, while tailoring delivery to local markets.

The rebrand comes at a time of increasing polarization in the global diversity debate. Inclusion in Finance is reaffirming its commitment to evidence-based action that improves client-based outcomes while expanding opportunities for member firms and individuals across the industry.

Central to this next chapter is a deeper emphasis on cognitive diversity. In 2025, the Diversity Project commissioned research by Professor Alex Edmans of London Business School to examine the business case for diversity of thought. The findings indicate that with the right leadership, cognitive diversity can enhance decision-making and improve outcomes.

This evidence-led approach will underpin the organization’s future strategy.

Five global ambitions for the next five years
To deliver its mission, Inclusion in Finance has set out five priorities to guide collaboration across the UK, Europe and North America:

1. Increase global financial sector impact: Strengthening coordination across the UK, Europe and North America, applying a global approach with local adaptation and broadening membership to reflect the shared challenges faced by the industry.

2. Inclusion of all: Ensuring opportunity, access and good working environments for everyone across an expanding array of global financial sectors including investment and savings, asset and wealth management, and financial services.

3. Greater focus on cognitive diversity: Building awareness, tools and leadership capability to harness diverse thinking as a driver of innovation and performance.

4. Address under-representation: Expanding proven programs to improve representation of individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, women, ethnic minority professionals and people with disabilities, in turn helping the industry to benefit from a wide range of talent at all levels.

5. Accelerate measurement and accountability: Combining data with cultural indicators to launch a new accreditation framework for firms to benchmark their progress and track long-term outcomes across the industry.

Regional impact to date
The new ambitions build on progress achieved across the three organizations’ programs and partnerships.

In the UK, where the organization is celebrating its tenth anniversary, Inclusion in Finance has supported more than 30,000 individuals through industry-led programs and initiatives spanning early education to senior leadership. These include the Pathway program, which has helped 240 aspiring female portfolio managers and traders over its first three years.

In North America, the Rising Stars program, which is now in its fifth year, recognizes high-performing professionals nominated by their firms and supports them through a six-month Inclusive leadership coaching program, with 156 graduates having participated in the program to date.

In Europe, since launching in 2023, Inclusion in Finance has laid an evidence-based foundation for industry progress. In partnership with PwC, it published two research reports covering more than 30 asset managers representing over €12 trillion in AuM, highlighting gaps in senior female representation and the limited focus on social mobility across the sector. These insights have led to targeted action, including the launch of a cross-border mentorship program for women in investment, sales and other roles.

“The world is a very different place compared with when the Diversity Project launched 10 years ago and our ambitions and name are changing to reflect the best way to make progress going forward,” Baroness Helena Morrissey, UK chair, Inclusion in Finance, said. “The study we commissioned on cognitive diversity has already helped to reset the discussion around diversity and inclusion within the UK investment industry to be more about evidence and less about politics.

“Inclusion in Finance marks a bold new chapter. By uniting leaders across the UK, Europe, and North America under one global banner, we are coordinating action into measurable results. For more than six decades, Nicsa has brought the asset and wealth management industry together to solve complex challenges and elevate leading practices. This initiative builds on that legacy of collaboration and progress,” Jim Fitzpatrick, president and CEO of Nicsa’s Inclusion in Finance North America, said.

“By working in close collaboration with our colleagues in the UK and North America, we can accelerate progress – sharing research, scaling effective programs and strengthening the global case for inclusion as a driver of better decision-making and investment outcomes,” Ric van Weelden, chair, Inclusion in Finance Europe, said. “Together, we are building a globally-aligned, locally-embedded movement for change that is reshaping standards across the financial industry.”