Agenda item

Resolved unanimously – That this Court wishes to convey to –

Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE

its deepest appreciation and gratitude for the distinguished way in which she has carried out the demanding role of the Lord Mayor of the City of London during the past year.

Fiona Woolf has travelled extensively throughout her Mayoralty, to areas as diverse as the Gulf, Turkey, North Africa, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Latin America.  The range of overseas visits, which has resulted in close to 100 days abroad in the last twelve months, highlights a very real commitment to maintaining a programme of engagement with both existing and opportunity markets. 

Like her predecessors, in addition to her overseas visits programme, Fiona has devoted a significant amount of time to strengthening the City’s links with the wider national economy.  As well as taking the opportunity to promote her overseas visits programme, visits to regional centres such as Cardiff, Aberdeen, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Sheffield have also informed discussions in the international arena and ensured that the Lord Mayor has remained representative of the views of the entire UK-based financial and professional services industry.

The diverse nature of the visits programme that she has undertaken is particularly appropriate, given that the key theme of Fiona’s Mayoralty has been that of diversity. She has used events, both at home and abroad, to promote the business case for diversity and inclusion and her “Power of Diversity” programme will ensure a lasting legacy in this area, maximising the value and innovation that increased diversity can bring to organisations not just within the City, but the United Kingdom and the global marketplace too.

Fiona’s passion and dedication have also been unfailing in respect of her commitment to ensuring sustainability within the financial services sector, with her “Tomorrow’s City” programme promoting collaboration to enhance the opportunities for long-term value creation offered by the need for infrastructure and sustainable urban development. Her significant role in promoting UK expertise in this field during the overseas visits programme will provide an invaluable boost not just to those nations she has visited, but also to the UK's engineering, financial and business support service industries, who will benefit greatly from this exposure.

Notwithstanding her commitments, both overseas and around the UK, the Lord Mayor’s support for the Livery and Livery Company events has ensured that the important bonds between the Livery and the City of London Corporation have been not only been maintained but also enhanced.

The support of the Lord Mayor’s Consort, Nicholas, has been unstinting throughout the year, as highlighted by his Chairmanship of the Lord Mayor’s Charity Leadership Programme.  His commitment has ensured that the Mayoralty was a real team effort, and we express our gratitude for his support to the Lord Mayor during a memorable year.

In closing, in taking their leave of Fiona Woolf as the 686^th Lord Mayor of this City, her colleagues sincerely hope that she, Nicholas and the rest of the family will long retain many happy memories of a successful and diverse year in office.