CISI 2025 financial services global exam awards top 6 countries are Egypt, UAE, Ghana, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia

Apr 30, 2025

 

 

By Lora Benson

Financial services students from 26 countries celebrated their exam success, along with their families, friends and colleagues, at the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) annual awards ceremony at Mansion House, London 29 April 2025.

The total number of winners this year is 143, including the CISI Educational Trust students. The top six countries represented are Egypt (11), the United Arab Emirates (10), Ghana (9), Kuwait (3), Qatar (3), and Saudi Arabia (3).

There are 64 winners from overseas, the highest number ever. Countries with first-time winners are Austria, Portugal and Sweden.

The gender split of winners is 63% male and 37% female. In 2024 and 2023, it was 62% male and 38% female.

The live event was hosted by Hannah Prevett, deputy editor, The Times Entrepreneurs Network.

Firms with the highest winners are Banque Misr (7 prizes), Ghana Investment and Securities Institute (5 prizes), One Search Limited (4 prizes), Commercial International Bank (3 prizes), Evelyn Partners Investment Management LLP (3 prizes), Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA) (3 prizes)

UK regions represented are Birmingham (3), Bristol & Bath (1), Cotswolds (1), East Anglia (1), East Midlands & Lincoln (1), Essex (4), Guernsey (1), Lancashire & Cumbria (1), Liverpool, Chester and North Wales (3), London (30), Manchester (2), Northern Home Counties (2), Northern Ireland (2), Scotland (7), South Coast (4), South East (2), Southern (6), Thames Valley (2), Yorkshire (4).

Candidates were recognised for their achievements across levels and categories including Schools, Colleges & Universities, Foundation, Capital Markets/Corporate Finance, Wealth Management, Operations, Islamic Finance, Risk & Compliance, Wealth Management and Financial Planning.

Mandy Gill, CISI executive director of global learning, above, said: “Many congratulations to each and every one of our 143 global award winners. Their achievements are testament to their tenacity, focus and the support of their wider community, including families, carers, friends, firms and teachers. We wish them all the very best in their future careers and lifelong learning journeys.”

Below are links to some of our global achievers’ thoughts on receiving their awards, the challenges they faced combining work/study and their revision tips. And explore The Review (https://www.cisi.org/review) to read more stories about award winners.


UK winners



Ciara Mimnagh, Chartered MCSI
Investment manager in London

Winner: Level 7 Chartered Wealth Manager

Hetty Hyde-Durrant CFP™ MCSI
Financial planner in the Cotswolds

Winner: Level 7 Diploma in Advanced Financial Planning

Alan Porteus ACSI
Head of enterprise risk & compliance in Scotland

Winner: Level 3 Investment Operations Certificate

Advika Saravanan
Securities services operational risk manager in the CISI South Coast region

Winner: Level 3 Technology in Investment Management (operations)

Global winners



Justin Ng-See-Quan CFP™ Chartered MCSI
Senior financial planner in the UAE

Winner: Level 6 Certificate in Pension Transfers & Planning Advice

Magdalene Sarbah
Financial analyst in Ghana

Winner: Level 2 Fundamentals of Financial Services

Laila Al-Jefairi
Director of professional services in Qatar

Winner: Level 2 Fundamentals of Financial Services