This year marks 20-20 Trustees 40th birthday. From humble beginnings to almost tripling in size since 2017, we’re meeting the team that make the magic happen. This week we speak to Aimée Denham.
I’m a Trustee Director leading on six schemes. I also co-lead another four, and am a member of a DC Sub-Committee. Essentially I’m making and implementing decisions about the running of the schemes, covering anything from funding negotiations, changes to investment strategy, communications with members, long term strategy planning, adviser and provider management, budgeting, the list goes on! I’m also a member of 20-20’s People Strategy Committee which acts as a HR Strategy function for the business and I co-lead our DC strategy planning.
Up the Villains! I’m a season ticket holder at Aston Villa and have been going with my dad for over 30 years. I try to go running a couple of times a week and I enjoy Pilates, although don’t often get chance to do it… My daughter keeps me very busy the rest of the time (like watching Frozen 2 for approximately the 8,000th time!!!)
I got into trusteeship to make a difference. Helping improve outcomes for members motivates me every day, although it is tricky sometimes to get the balance right with so many competing tensions. Knowing you’ve genuinely made a positive difference to someone’s retirement outcomes is a great feeling… even if they don’t know about it!
I’m having a fantasy dinner party. My first guest is Noel Gallagher, as so many of my memories growing up are linked to Oasis’ music. He seems to have some very funny anecdotes too! My second guest would be another musical icon, Kate Bush. I’ve been a massive fan for years. One of my earliest memories is watching her perform Wuthering Heights on Top of the Pops: It was mesmerising, and consequently it stayed with me. My third guest would be my grandad. He died just before I moved into my first house in my early 20s, so knew nothing of my subsequent house renovations; my husband; daughter, or how my career panned out. I’d just love to just update him on everything.
The last gig I went to was The Twang. They do an annual “Twangmas” Christmas gig in Birmingham which has been a bit of a staple for years. Although thanks to the pandemic, Christmas 2019 was my last one.
It’s a cliché but the people are what make this business. We’re hugely protective of our culture, and rightly so, because it’s really positive. There is a genuine desire to collaborate and help each other out wherever we can. It’s not about individuals or egos, it’s about how we can do the right thing for the schemes we work on and how we harness the talents of the people in the business to do that. Everyone has their own unique skill set and style and is passionate about that they do – as well as being brilliant at it and doing it with a sense of humour! One client described us as “a breath of fresh air”, which summed it up!
My sporting hero is Paul McGrath. He’s my all-time favourite player. It’s well known that he wasn’t the fittest player around, but he didn’t need to be, his reading of the game was unbelievable. He knew what the opposition player was going to do before they did. There’s a reason he’s still known as “God” at Villa, 30+ years after leaving!
I’m fortunate to work in a really innovative industry. There’s so many people that aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo, so just working closely with my colleagues and advisers, listening to their different ideas is always really powerful for me. We also have some really good lunch and learn sessions that always make me think.
Only one of my pets has a name. Okay they may only be fish, as my husband is allergic to everything! His name is Trevor the Plec (the fish, not my husband)…!
Trust your gut a bit more. Have more courage to speak out when you have something to say; that would be my advice to my younger self.
With over 40 years-experience in trusteeship, 20-20 Trustees is an award-winning professional independent trustee organisation, committed to making a difference in the world of pensions. Whatever your trustee requirement, we can help. Get in touch today!