Gina Pereira Receives STEP Profession Award
Bermudian independent private office and family governance adviser Gina Pereira has received the Geoffrey Shindler Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession at the 2026 STEP Private Client Awards in London.
A spokesperson said, “STEP is the global professional association for practitioners specialising in family inheritance and succession planning, with more than 23,000 members in 96 countries. The STEP Private Client Awards are seen as the hallmark of quality within the private client industry, with entries undergoing rigorous assessment by an international panel of leading experts.
“The Geoffrey Shindler Award recognises an individual’s outstanding contribution to the profession over the preceding three to five years, is made at the judges’ discretion and is not awarded every year. Pereira was one of five finalists for the 2026 award.
“Pereira is Principal of Dāna Stewardship Advisory, providing independent private office support to principals and families whose increasingly complex affairs have outgrown informal arrangements but do not require a full-time family office. She brings coordination and oversight across family, business, financial and philanthropic matters; aligns advisers and service providers; helps principals make informed decisions; and carries the work through to execution.
“Pereira has also made significant contributions to Bermuda’s private client and fiduciary framework. She spearheaded the industry initiatives behind the Trustee Amendment Act 2025 and the Benefit Entities Act 2025. She has also held leadership roles within STEP, including serving as Chair of its Responsible Stewardship of Wealth Steering Committee.”
The judges said: “Gina is a driving force for positive change across the private client profession. From pioneering legislative reform and influencing international policy to leading initiatives that support practitioners worldwide, her impact has been felt well beyond her own jurisdiction. Combining technical excellence with vision, leadership and an unwavering commitment to the profession, she has helped shape industry thinking and practice on a global scale.”
Reflecting on the award, Pereira said: “This award speaks to something larger than any one person’s work: the importance of strengthening the institutions we build and work within, so they can better serve the families and communities who rely on them. The work behind this recognition has been collaborative throughout, and I see it as reflecting the contribution of many colleagues over the years. I am particularly grateful to Claire van Overdijk KC for nominating me.”
