This year’s Highly Commended Winner of Treasury Today Group’s Champion of Change award goes to Joanna Fanthorpe, singled out for her transformative contribution to wellbeing, diversity, equity and inclusion within the corporate treasury environment. Joanna is a highly experienced and widely respected professional, well known and deeply trusted both internally and across the wider sector. Her influence is built on authenticity, empathy and an unwavering commitment to creating healthier, more inclusive workplaces.
Historically, Save the Children International has had strong professional standards, but wellbeing and inclusion were not always embedded into the organisation’s day-to-day culture. Conversations around psychological safety, identity and belonging were often informal, inconsistent or left to individuals to navigate alone. Recognising this gap, Joanna stepped forward to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful change from within. For example, during covid she led check in calls, online yoga and availability, in a truly visionary approach where she led by example and emphasised the importance of looking after wellbeing from the inside and out.
Joanna has taken on new responsibilities beyond her formal role, recently volunteering to lead the internal DEI initiative SAFER, focused on supporting LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies. In doing so, she provided visible leadership at a critical time, helping to normalise conversations around inclusion, safety and belonging.
“Initially my stress levels were always peaking, and I had no one to openly talk to. Joanna made me feel comfortable and provided me suggestions on who to reach out to. She also went the extra mile to set up the meeting with an external wellbeing coach. I feel so much better these days – thanks to Joanna. Even if this is not her core job she has made time for this and made it her ambition to improve wellbeing in the team as part of her role!” says Asha Kumari, Deputy Treasurer at Save the Children International.
Joanna’s approach is collaborative and deeply human: she listens first, creates space for diverse voices, and ensures that initiatives are shaped by real lived experiences rather than assumptions. She is a recognised networking and relationship-management leader, using her extensive external and internal connections to bring best practice into the organisation and to build bridges across teams and functions. Within her own team, she is a champion of wellbeing, a trusted listening ear who actively advocates for mental health, challenges unhealthy norms, and is unafraid to push back when workloads or expectations threaten team health.
Her tenacity in “fighting for her people” has led to tangible improvements in morale, engagement and retention. The organisation’s visible improvement in team wellbeing, is a credit to her determination to improve work life balance and embed a noticeable structure.
The impact of her work is both qualitative and measurable. The team report feeling safer, more supported, and more comfortable bringing their whole selves to work and openly voicing suggestions and thoughts. Engagement and trust within teams have strengthened, while the organisation has benefited from improved collaboration, better decision-making and the harnessing of multiple perspectives. Wellbeing is no longer a side conversation, but an active, visible and evolving part of the culture.
Her leadership has laid the foundation for a more equitable and inclusive future state, one where wellbeing, diversity and performance are mutually reinforcing rather than competing priorities. Through innovation, courage and genuine care for others, she has personally changed the team for the better. Her journey is a powerful example of how one individual can drive cultural change through empathy, action and sustained commitment. She is a true role model and a deserving recipient of this award.
