Our Team


Barbara Schönhofer MBE
Founder & Chair
Executive Chair Global of ISC Group, Co-Chair GAIN (Group for Autism Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity), Board level Career Coach. Barbara’s career in the financial services covers 4 decades equally operating in the industry as a business leader and as a consultant to the insurance sector as an executive search consultant. Passionate about better gender equity and a more inclusive work life environment for everybody in the sector she serves, Barbara has always championed sustainable culture change. A free thinker, enabler and change agent Barbara set out 45 years ago to better understand the complexities of what culture change takes in a sector that is complacent. She experienced it during 18 years in retail financial services as a business thought leader and innovator. In her extensive years operating in executive search for the international insurance markets, Barbara challenged normal practices and spotted the need, over a decade ago, to bring together women leaders in the London Market to network and in so doing over time created an international community of women in insurance. More recently and in direct response to the pandemic, opening the network to aspiring female leaders, and all women operating in the industry. Today, Barbara’s focus is on expanding the influence of ISC-Group as the female business networking platform for women in insurance globally. Barbara’s mantra is to gather community to give each other the fortitude, courage, and insight to influence and realise opportunities as they are presented rather than wait to be invited. Alongside ISC-Group, Barbara offers board level career advancement and transition advice to senior executives. Barbara is a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers where she co-founder iWIN (Independent Women Insurance Network). Barbara is also a board member of Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) as part of the Alzheimer Society.


Barbara Schönhofer MBE
Founder & Chair
Executive Chair Global of ISC Group, Co-Chair GAIN (Group for Autism Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity), Board level Career Coach. Barbara’s career in the financial services covers 4 decades equally operating in the industry as a business leader and as a consultant to the insurance sector as an executive search consultant. Passionate about better gender equity and a more inclusive work life environment for everybody in the sector she serves, Barbara has always championed sustainable culture change. A free thinker, enabler and change agent Barbara set out 45 years ago to better understand the complexities of what culture change takes in a sector that is complacent. She experienced it during 18 years in retail financial services as a business thought leader and innovator. In her extensive years operating in executive search for the international insurance markets, Barbara challenged normal practices and spotted the need, over a decade ago, to bring together women leaders in the London Market to network and in so doing over time created an international community of women in insurance. More recently and in direct response to the pandemic, opening the network to aspiring female leaders, and all women operating in the industry. Today, Barbara’s focus is on expanding the influence of ISC-Group as the female business networking platform for women in insurance globally. Barbara’s mantra is to gather community to give each other the fortitude, courage, and insight to influence and realise opportunities as they are presented rather than wait to be invited. Alongside ISC-Group, Barbara offers board level career advancement and transition advice to senior executives. Barbara is a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers where she co-founder iWIN (Independent Women Insurance Network). Barbara is also a board member of Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) as part of the Alzheimer Society.
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LARA PEDLEY
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Lara joined the insurance sector in 2016 and now works as the Global Managing Director for ISC Group. Lara manages ISC Group and advises on development and strategy globally. Prior to joining the insurance industry, Lara worked in the business development and marketing team for a start up in the Property sector. Lara is passionate about culture change and the impact it can bring to organisations. Lara holds a BSc (Hons) Geographical Sciences from The University of Bristol.

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LARA PEDLEY
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Lara joined the insurance sector in 2016 and now works as the Global Managing Director for ISC Group. Lara manages ISC Group and advises on development and strategy globally. Prior to joining the insurance industry, Lara worked in the business development and marketing team for a start up in the Property sector. Lara is passionate about culture change and the impact it can bring to organisations. Lara holds a BSc (Hons) Geographical Sciences from The University of Bristol.

Genevieve Stow
Director of Outreach and Sponsorship
Genevieve joined ISC Group in 2019 and has a background in marketing and event production. Genevieve puts together the online programming schedule for the General Membership as well as managing sponsorship and client relations. As she originated from outside the Insurance industry, Genevieve is keen to encourage cross-industry collaboration to effect culture change. Genevieve has a BA (Hons) in French and Spanish from the University of Bristol.


Genevieve Stow
Director of Outreach and Sponsorship
Genevieve joined ISC Group in 2019 and has a background in marketing and event production. Genevieve puts together the online programming schedule for the General Membership as well as managing sponsorship and client relations. As she originated from outside the Insurance industry, Genevieve is keen to encourage cross-industry collaboration to effect culture change. Genevieve has a BA (Hons) in French and Spanish from the University of Bristol.

Taslima Malik
Global Account Manager
Taslima has joined ISC Group as our Global Accounts Manager. Taslima previously worked in education and is very well versed in programming, reporting, and managing stakeholder relationships. She strongly believe that diversity and equality in the workplace is essential and therefore the role at ISC Group was a perfect fit for her new career venture.


Taslima Malik
Global Account Manager
Taslima has joined ISC Group as our Global Accounts Manager. Taslima previously worked in education and is very well versed in programming, reporting, and managing stakeholder relationships. She strongly believe that diversity and equality in the workplace is essential and therefore the role at ISC Group was a perfect fit for her new career venture.
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Laura Cardenal
Global Events Administrator
Laura joined ISC as the Global Events Administrator. She was working previously in the educational field but also has background in event planning and account management. Laura really enjoy creating and maintaining client relationships and is passionate about all the process, from beginning to end, that comprehends the delivery of events. "I believe equality and diversity are really important, being both of them fundamental in the workplace. Joining ISC Group gives me the chance to be part of the real change for businesswomen, and it's the perfect next step in my professional career."

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Laura Cardenal
Global Events Administrator
Laura joined ISC as the Global Events Administrator. She was working previously in the educational field but also has background in event planning and account management. Laura really enjoy creating and maintaining client relationships and is passionate about all the process, from beginning to end, that comprehends the delivery of events. "I believe equality and diversity are really important, being both of them fundamental in the workplace. Joining ISC Group gives me the chance to be part of the real change for businesswomen, and it's the perfect next step in my professional career."

Anthony John
Social media assistant
Anthony schedules and creates all social media content for ISC Group globally.

EVIE KENNEDY
PR & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Evie has joined the ISC Group as our PR and Communications Manager and is the go to for all public relations and targeted media campaigns. Through strategic comms and ongoing media relations, Evie is also helping to promote ISC Group’s memberships, offerings and news in key industry publications. Evie holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism from the University of Chester and is a PR Consultant focusing on brand strategy, creating content and organic brand partnerships.


EVIE KENNEDY
PR & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Evie has joined the ISC Group as our PR and Communications Manager and is the go to for all public relations and targeted media campaigns. Through strategic comms and ongoing media relations, Evie is also helping to promote ISC Group’s memberships, offerings and news in key industry publications. Evie holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism from the University of Chester and is a PR Consultant focusing on brand strategy, creating content and organic brand partnerships.
Global Board

Barbara Schönhofer MBE
Founder & Chair
Executive Chair Global of ISC Group, Co-Chair GAIN (Group for Autism Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity), Board level Career Coach. Barbara’s career in the financial services covers 4 decades equally operating in the industry as a business leader and as a consultant to the insurance sector as an executive search consultant. Passionate about better gender equity and a more inclusive work life environment for everybody in the sector she serves, Barbara has always championed sustainable culture change. A free thinker, enabler and change agent Barbara set out 45 years ago to better understand the complexities of what culture change takes in a sector that is complacent. She experienced it during 18 years in retail financial services as a business thought leader and innovator. In her extensive years operating in executive search for the international insurance markets, Barbara challenged normal practices and spotted the need, over a decade ago, to bring together women leaders in the London Market to network and in so doing over time created an international community of women in insurance. More recently and in direct response to the pandemic, opening the network to aspiring female leaders, and all women operating in the industry. Today, Barbara’s focus is on expanding the influence of ISC-Group as the female business networking platform for women in insurance globally. Barbara’s mantra is to gather community to give each other the fortitude, courage, and insight to influence and realise opportunities as they are presented rather than wait to be invited. Alongside ISC-Group, Barbara offers board level career advancement and transition advice to senior executives. Barbara is a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers where she co-founder iWIN (Independent Women Insurance Network). Barbara is also a board member of Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) as part of the Alzheimer Society.


Barbara Schönhofer MBE
Founder & Chair
ISC Group
Executive Chair Global of ISC Group, Co-Chair GAIN (Group for Autism Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity), Board level Career Coach. Barbara’s career in the financial services covers 4 decades equally operating in the industry as a business leader and as a consultant to the insurance sector as an executive search consultant. Passionate about better gender equity and a more inclusive work life environment for everybody in the sector she serves, Barbara has always championed sustainable culture change. A free thinker, enabler and change agent Barbara set out 45 years ago to better understand the complexities of what culture change takes in a sector that is complacent. She experienced it during 18 years in retail financial services as a business thought leader and innovator. In her extensive years operating in executive search for the international insurance markets, Barbara challenged normal practices and spotted the need, over a decade ago, to bring together women leaders in the London Market to network and in so doing over time created an international community of women in insurance. More recently and in direct response to the pandemic, opening the network to aspiring female leaders, and all women operating in the industry. Today, Barbara’s focus is on expanding the influence of ISC-Group as the female business networking platform for women in insurance globally. Barbara’s mantra is to gather community to give each other the fortitude, courage, and insight to influence and realise opportunities as they are presented rather than wait to be invited. Alongside ISC-Group, Barbara offers board level career advancement and transition advice to senior executives. Barbara is a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers where she co-founder iWIN (Independent Women Insurance Network). Barbara is also a board member of Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) as part of the Alzheimer Society.
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LARA PEDLEY
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Lara joined the insurance sector in 2016 and now works as the Global Managing Director for ISC Group. Lara manages ISC Group and advises on development and strategy globally. Prior to joining the insurance industry, Lara worked in the business development and marketing team for a start up in the Property sector. Lara is passionate about culture change and the impact it can bring to organisations. Lara holds a BSc (Hons) Geographical Sciences from The University of Bristol.

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LARA PEDLEY
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Lara joined the insurance sector in 2016 and now works as the Global Managing Director for ISC Group. Lara manages ISC Group and advises on development and strategy globally. Prior to joining the insurance industry, Lara worked in the business development and marketing team for a start up in the Property sector. Lara is passionate about culture change and the impact it can bring to organisations. Lara holds a BSc (Hons) Geographical Sciences from The University of Bristol.

CATHY LEWIS
NED
Cathy Lewis is a Non- Executive Director and Remco Chair for The Ardonagh Group, Atlanta Segment. Cathy has worked in the life and savings sector for many years, holding the position of Executive Director HR and Corporate Services for Prudential UK & Europe. Until recently she was Group HR Director for RSA plc. Cathy was the Group Reward Director for Abbey plc at the time of the Santander take over. She also spent a year seconded into the civil service, joining the Board of HMRC as part of an initiative of change and skills transformation in the civil service. Cathy graduated in 1985 and later secured a Masters Degree in Human Resources.


CATHY LEWIS
NED
Cathy Lewis is a Non- Executive Director and Remco Chair for The Ardonagh Group, Atlanta Segment. Cathy has worked in the life and savings sector for many years, holding the position of Executive Director HR and Corporate Services for Prudential UK & Europe. Until recently she was Group HR Director for RSA plc. Cathy was the Group Reward Director for Abbey plc at the time of the Santander take over. She also spent a year seconded into the civil service, joining the Board of HMRC as part of an initiative of change and skills transformation in the civil service. Cathy graduated in 1985 and later secured a Masters Degree in Human Resources.
JODIE KAUFMAN DAVIS
Senior Vice President
HW Kaufman
HW Kaufman Financial Group Senior Vice President and Burns & Wilcox Canada, Managing Director

Maxine GODDARD
Senior Vice President, Strategic Distribution & Development
Sompo International
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LARA PEDLEY
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Lara joined the insurance sector in 2016 and now works as the Global Managing Director for ISC Group. Lara manages ISC Group and advises on development and strategy globally. Prior to joining the insurance industry, Lara worked in the business development and marketing team for a start up in the Property sector. Lara is passionate about culture change and the impact it can bring to organisations. Lara holds a BSc (Hons) Geographical Sciences from The University of Bristol.

.png)

LARA PEDLEY
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Lara joined the insurance sector in 2016 and now works as the Global Managing Director for ISC Group. Lara manages ISC Group and advises on development and strategy globally. Prior to joining the insurance industry, Lara worked in the business development and marketing team for a start up in the Property sector. Lara is passionate about culture change and the impact it can bring to organisations. Lara holds a BSc (Hons) Geographical Sciences from The University of Bristol.

Taslima Malik
Global Account Manager
Taslima has joined ISC Group as our Global Accounts Manager. Taslima previously worked in education and is very well versed in programming, reporting, and managing stakeholder relationships. She strongly believe that diversity and equality in the workplace is essential and therefore the role at ISC Group was a perfect fit for her new career venture.



Taslima Malik
Global Account Manager
Taslima has joined ISC Group as our Global Accounts Manager. Taslima previously worked in education and is very well versed in programming, reporting, and managing stakeholder relationships. She strongly believe that diversity and equality in the workplace is essential and therefore the role at ISC Group was a perfect fit for her new career venture.
.png)
Laura Cardenal
Global Events Administrator
Laura joined ISC as the Global Events Administrator. She was working previously in the educational field but also has background in event planning and account management. Laura really enjoy creating and maintaining client relationships and is passionate about all the process, from beginning to end, that comprehends the delivery of events. "I believe equality and diversity are really important, being both of them fundamental in the workplace. Joining ISC Group gives me the chance to be part of the real change for businesswomen, and it's the perfect next step in my professional career."

.png)

Laura Cardenal
Global Events Administrator
Laura joined ISC as the Global Events Administrator. She was working previously in the educational field but also has background in event planning and account management. Laura really enjoy creating and maintaining client relationships and is passionate about all the process, from beginning to end, that comprehends the delivery of events. "I believe equality and diversity are really important, being both of them fundamental in the workplace. Joining ISC Group gives me the chance to be part of the real change for businesswomen, and it's the perfect next step in my professional career."
Our US Board comprises women of experience and expertise in the world of insurance, who share a passion and dedication to the ISC remit.
Our Ambassadors provide support to our members and representation of ISC within the wider community.