Gillian graduated from York University with a degree in Sociology and Social Policy. After several years working in the homelessness sector in London, she relocated in 2007 to begin a career in public sector finance with the Audit Commission, gaining a CIPFA qualification while auditing public sector bodies across South Yorkshire.

In 2013, Gillian was appointed Deputy Section 151 Officer at Wealden District Council in East Sussex, a role she held for nearly six years. She then returned to South Yorkshire to join SYPA as Assistant Director – Resources, bringing a wealth of experience in public sector leadership and financial management.

Councillor Donna Sutton, Chair of the Authority at SYPA, said:

"We are delighted with Gillian’s appointment as the next Director of SYPA. She brings a wealth of experience and a great understanding of both the organisation and the wider LGPS landscape. She has already played a key role in shaping positive change within SYPA, including leading last year’s pay and benefits review, which delivered meaningful improvements for our employees. Her strategic insight and commitment to public service make her ideally placed to lead the organisation through its next chapter. The Authority looks forward to working with her as we continue to deliver strong results for our members and employers."

On her appointment, as the first female Director at SYPA, Gillian said:

"I’m honoured and extremely pleased to be appointed Director at SYPA, particularly at such a pivotal time for the LGPS and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead collaborating with our partners to develop our new, expanded Border to Coast pooling partnership.

Working with our progressive and ambitious Authority Chair and members, as well as being mentored by George Graham over the past six years, has been an invaluable experience that has shaped my professional journey. I’m now looking forward to building on this and steering the organisation through our next phase, leading SYPA’s highly talented and committed team in delivering excellence for our scheme members."

At the LAPF Investment Awards 2025, we’re proud to have been shortlisted in all four categories we entered:

• Fund of the Year (assets over £3bn)

• Investment Innovation

• Governance

• Rising Star – where our colleague Euan Hill (Service Manager - Programmes and Performance)  has been nominated.

We’re also pleased to be finalists at the LGC Investment Awards, where SYPA is shortlisted for Fund of the Year (Large) and Euan has once again been recognised in the Rising Star category.

These nominations are a real tribute to the hard work and dedication of our team, and we’re thrilled to see this recognised on a national stage.

The winners will be announced in October and November 2025, and we look forward to sharing the results with you. Wish us luck!

During this time you can still use our website and access your pension account online at mypension

How Important Is It?
88% of members told us that responsible investment is important to them.

Climate Change Matters
61% of members said they expect SYPA to focus on climate change alongside financial returns as part of our investment strategy.

What Members Expect
You told us what you want to see from us:

• 90% want clear, transparent communication about how their pension is invested
• 80% want regular updates on the impact of responsible investment
• 72% want to be able to provide feedback on our approach

Profit vs. Principles
39% of members believe that financial returns and responsible investing are equally important, while another 29% felt one is only slightly more important than the other.

✅ The Right Investments
You were clear on what kinds of investments you support:

• 88% support ethical technology companies
• 87% support renewable energy
• 82% support social housing and community infrastructure
• 82% support companies transitioning to greener practices

❌ The Deal-Breakers
You also identified what you don’t want us to invest in:

• Companies with poor labour practices (88%)
• Tobacco producers (80%)
• Companies linked to deforestation (79%)

What’s Next?
We're encouraged to see how closely your views align with our investment values. Here's what we'll be doing next:

• Staying the course: Your feedback supports our current investment direction, so we’ll keep building on what’s working.
• Reviewing our strategy: We’ll use your input to help shape the review of SYPA’s overall investment strategy over the coming months.
• Updating our policies: Your views will help inform our next Responsible Investment Policy, due in March 2026.
• Improving our communication: We’ll integrate your feedback into how we communicate with you in the future.
• Reaching younger members: We’ll put more focus on helping younger members connect with their pension and understand its value.

Thank you again to everyone who took part – your views help shape our future.
Stay tuned as we continue to put your feedback into action.

Funding can be used for a variety of purposes, such as boosting working capital, purchasing equipment, recruitment, marketing and product development.

The opening of the Sheffield office marks the latest step in FW Capital’s regional expansion. Joe Parikh is the first member of the Sheffield team  and will be working with businesses in the area to provide funding to accelerate growth from the South Yorkshire Debt Fund
Before joining FW Capital, Joe worked in banking audit at KPMG Manchester, conducting statutory audits for large and listed financial institutions. He also holds a First-Class BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Liverpool.

Joanne Whitfield FW Capital Fund Director said: “South Yorkshire has a rich history of innovation and change. By bringing investment opportunities to the region, we can drive further economic success and prosperity. We’ve been working hard since the launch of the South Yorkshire Debt Fund to support local entrepreneurs access finance to develop and scale up. Having a base in Sheffield is key to the successful delivery of the South Yorkshire Debt Fund, and we are building a team of  locally based people, who will be on the ground working with business owners across the region. We’re pleased to welcome Joe to the team and his appointment strengthens our presence in South Yorkshire.  Joe lives in Sheffield and is keen expand his local network and provide businesses with even more localised, personal support.”

Joe Parikh, Assistance Investment Executive, FW Capital added: “I’m looking forward to working with local businesses, enabling them to secure the financial resources necessary for growth and job creation. The client facing aspect of the role is something I am passionate about, bringing added value to businesses and seeing the direct impact of how the right funding can change the direction of a business and bridge the funding gap. This is a great opportunity for me and I’m excited to join the FW Capital team.”

Councillor Donna Sutton, Chair of South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, said: "The opening of FW Capital’s Sheffield office marks an important step forward in delivering the South Yorkshire Debt Fund. We’re proud to see our investment supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and driving sustainable economic growth across our region. This fund shows how pension investments can deliver real value – not just strong financial returns, but tangible benefits for the communities our members live and work in."
 

FW Capital has a strong track record of providing flexible finance to dynamic SMEs and manages UK-based funds of £410.8m businesses across various funds including the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II which drives sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the North of England