Press Releases

Simon Fraser Stewardship Award – Winners 2025

Simon Fraser Stewardship Award – Winners 2025

(London, 22nd January 2026)

The Investor Forum is pleased to announce the joint winners of the Simon Fraser Stewardship Award for 2025 are:

  • Ruth Armstrong, ESG Analyst in the UK Equity Team at Baillie Gifford; and
  • Richard Whitaker, ESG Senior Stewardship Manager at Capital Group.

The Award, presented at the Investor Forum’s 10th Annual Review event on 22nd January, is named in honour of the founding Chair of the Investor Forum in recognition of his commitment to stewardship, his generosity of spirit and his ability to both recognise and bring out the best in the people around him.

Chris Kinder, Chief Executive Officer of the Investor Forum, said:

“We would like to congratulate Ruth and Richard, both deserved winners of this year’s Award.  I am delighted to acknowledge their contribution to the stewardship profession, both through their work at their own institutions and through their engagement with the Investor Forum. 

Both Ruth and Richard have presented their firms at an Investor Showcase this year, as part of the Investor & Issuer Forum’s programme to enhance company understanding of the buyside, and both have been active participants in various IF S-360 projects to promote well-functioning markets, such as our work on Share Buybacks.  We very much appreciate their thoughtful participation and willingness to share views in a candid way.”

The winners

Ruth Armstrong is an ESG analyst in Baillie Gifford’s UK Equities team, and Head of Proxy Voting for the firm. In roles that demands sound judgement, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to navigate complex and sensitive issues, Ruth has distinguished herself as a proactive, thoughtful and highly engaged partner to investment teams. Her deep technical understanding of the UK corporate governance landscape, combined with her collaborative approach, has made her an invaluable member of the I&IF Working Group.

Richard Whitaker brings a unique combination of legal expertise and hands‑on stewardship experience across index‑tracking firms, active managers, and a UK‑listed company. His team highlights not only his strong technical capability and keen interest in company‑level issues, but also his genuine commitment to developing colleagues and contributing to the wider governance ecosystem. Richard serves on the FRC’s Stakeholder Insight Group and is a regular contributor to the Investor Forum’s project work, sharing his insights generously and consistently advancing best practice within the industry.

The Award

Nominations from Member firms were judged against the following criteria:

  • Putting stewardship at the heart of investment decision making.
  • Demonstrating sound judgement and the ability to deal with challenging situations effectively and with integrity.
  • Taking an initiative, individually or collectively, which demonstrates either personal development or helps others to develop stewardship skills.
  • Focusing on practical outcomes which have had an observable impact.

Contact:

Investor Forum

Chris Kinder, Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

Notes to editors:

  • Simon Fraser, 1959 – 2021, was instrumental in the establishment of the Investor Forum, taking on the role of founding Chair on a pro bono basis in 2014.
  • The Investor Forum is an independent, not for profit organisation founded in October 2014. At the end of 2025, 50 investment firms are Members, including asset managers, insurance companies, pension funds, and endowments.
  • The purpose of the Investor Forum is to position stewardship at the heart of investment decision making by facilitating dialogue, creating long-term solutions and enhancing value.