8.30AM | Registration open & Networking Breakfast

Start the day with purpose – and pastries. This isn’t just small talk. It’s where bold ideas are sparked, allies are found, and unexpected collaborations begin. Great conversations often start with good coffee, so take a moment to connect with fellow attendees, high-profile speakers, and industry leaders, before we dive into a day of bold discussions and game-changing ideas.

9.15AM | The Rallying Cry: Why are we here?

Our co-founder and host sets the tone for the day - why this moment matters, what’s at stake, and how we rise to meet it together. Expect warmth, wisdom, and a challenge to act.
Mariella Frostrup is one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters and columnists. Her contribution to arts and literature along with her advocacy on gender and social issues have placed her at the forefront of the cultural landscape. She made the ground-breaking BBC1 documentary The Truth about Menopause and she currently presents her own daily show on Times Radio covering issues of the day.

9.30AM | The Nine-Billion-Dollar Question: How Do Leaders Win Differently?

Greg Jackson doesn’t do corporate jargon. He doesn’t do empty pledges or tick-box diversity initiatives. As the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, the UK’s biggest energy supplier, he’s proven that doing the right thing isn’t just good PR - it’s sound business. Greg has built one of the few companies in WiW Gender Equity Measure (GEM) to have no gender pay gap, over 50% female leadership, and shared parental leave as standard. In his dynamic session, Greg will share how equity became a competitive advantage for this $9bn company.
Mariella Frostrup is one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters and columnists. Her contribution to arts and literature along with her advocacy on gender and social issues have placed her at the forefront of the cultural landscape. She made the ground-breaking BBC1 documentary The Truth about Menopause and she currently presents her own daily show on Times Radio covering issues of the day.
Greg Jackson is the founder of Octopus Energy Group, the global energy and technology company driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Launched in 2016, the Group now serves 7.2 million customers across 18 countries, and operates a £6bn portfolio of renewable energy assets across Europe.
Octopus drives the tech-enabled green energy transition, innovating relentlessly to make energy better for consumers and the planet. Kraken, Octopus’s proprietary green tech platform, is at the heart of the Group’s growth and is now contracted to serve over 40 million accounts across the globe, with further 10 million to follow soon.
Greg is a serial tech entrepreneur and has built and sold a number of successful businesses before starting Octopus. He is an angel investor in a wide range of start-ups, and is a key thought leader in the UK on issues related to energy transition, energy costs and innovation.

10.00AM | The View from the Top: Leading as a Woman - What we’ve learned and what needs to change

There’s no lack of ambition or capability. So why are women still missing from the top jobs?Join us as we explore the stubborn cultural and systemic barriers keeping women out of the C-suite (and the CEO role). What are the strategies that are opening doors? We’ll talk power, policy, sponsorship, and the myth of meritocracy.
Jo Farmer is Joint Managing Partner at Lewis Silkin, a law firm focused on what really matters to business – its ideas and its people. Lewis Silkin is a firm that has always followed its own path, purposefully challenging the norm, and seeking to help shape the future by working with individuals and businesses who are forging the way forward across innovation, tech, and creativity.

Jo plays a pivotal role in steering the firm's strategic direction and fostering a culture of inclusivity and innovation. With a deep commitment to social mobility, Jo has been a vocal advocate for creating opportunities within the legal profession for individuals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Her personal journey and professional achievements have inspired many, as she actively campaigns for greater social mobility in the legal sector, ensuring that talent and potential are recognised regardless of socio-economic background.

She has also been instrumental in implementing a ground-breaking parental leave policy at Lewis Silkin, which allows all new parents to take up to 52 weeks of leave, with 26 weeks at full pay, regardless of gender or sex. This policy is designed to support both parents in balancing their professional and personal lives, and to challenge outdated gender stereotypes in the workplace. Rather uniquely, Jo didn’t want this policy to be a USP for Lewis Silkin, but rather set the industry norm and has therefore challenged other law firms to follow suit and has proactively offered to share the policy so that other can understand, learn and implement themselves. Jo's efforts in this area have not only benefited the Lewis Silkin's employees but have also set a benchmark for the legal industry, promoting a more equitable and supportive environment for all.

In addition to her leadership roles, Jo is a leading lawyer in the field of advertising and brand reputation and is recognised as an Eminent Practitioner by Chambers UK. She advises a range of high-profile clients, from brand owners and content creators, to communications agencies and media platforms.
Karen is a proven turnaround CEO with a 30-year track record in value creation, energising teams, creating vibrant cultures and consistently delivering business growth and success. She is the former UK President for WPP, the world’s largest marketing services group, where she was directly responsible for driving growth in WPP’s second largest market of 13,000 people, and managing revenue of $2 billion. Karen has extensive multinational experience having previously served as EMEA Chief Operating Officer, with key priority markets being Russia, Turkey, France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, South Africa and Israel.
In 2014, Karen topped The Power List, being the first businesswoman to come in at number 1.
As a long-term champion of the Creative Industry sector, Karen was a Non-Executive Director for Creative UK, a position she held from 2016-2025. Karen was appointed Chancellor of The University of Portsmouth in 2017, the first Alumna to become Chancellor, and was a former Non-Executive Director of The UK Government Cabinet Office.
In 2018, Karen was appointed Race Equality Champion for business by Prime Minister Theresa May.
Karen founded The Black Equity Organisation in 2021, alongside David Lammy MP, David Olusoga OBE, Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, Ric Lewis and Dame Vivian Hunt. BEO is an independent, national Black civil rights organisation created to dismantle systemic racism in Britain, drive generational change and deliver better lived experiences for Black people across the country
In June 2022, Karen was appointed a Non-Executive Director for Diageo (a FTSE Top 10 company)
Karen has been awarded honorary doctorates from The University of Portsmouth, Southbank University, Reading University, Ravensbourne University and is a Fellow of Kings College London.
In April 2024, Karen was awarded Freedom of the City of London and received a CBE for Services to Advertising and The Creative Industries in the January 2025 King’s New Years honours.
In May 2025, Karen joined The Board of The British Fashion Council, and in June 2025 was appointed Non-Executive Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Georgie Holt is reshaping the economics and infrastructure of media. As CEO and Co-Founder of FlightStory, the media and investment company founded with Steven Bartlett, she’s building the infrastructure to turn creator IP into global companies.
FlightStory is home to The Diary of a CEO, the second biggest podcast in the world, and a blueprint for scaling human-led media ventures. Under Holt’s leadership, FlightStory launched We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson, and Begin Again with Davina McCall both are now reaching a global weekly audience of over 1M in just six months, and have expanded across the US with an operating model that merges content, commerce, and capital.
Previously, Holt was Managing Director at Acast (UK & US), where she helped lead the company through IPO. With 20+ years of experience in media and publishing, she’s now building a future where creators are founders, owned audiences are high leverage assets, and human-led IP becomes the engine behind billion-dollar companies.
Liz is the Global Head of Deal Advisory and a Vice Chair of the UK firm. She also leads the KPMG Global Life Sciences sector. Liz has spent the majority of her 18 year partner career advising clients across the Consumer, Retail and Life Sciences sectors on large, complex carve out transactions & transformations.
Liz is a dedicated leader, mentor and advocate for inclusion, diversity and equality and co-chair of the KPMG Senior Business Women’s Network.

10.25AM | Making Work, Work for All: A Case Study

Inclusion isn’t a side project – it’s a commercial imperative. This session explores how progressive organisations are putting inclusion at the centre of their strategy. What happens when we stop treating it as charity, and start recognising it as business-critical?
Viviane Paxinos is a transformative CEO and board director with a proven track record of driving growth and delivering successful business turnarounds across global markets. As former CEO of AllBright and Everywoman, she has demonstrated exceptional ability to reimagine business models, drive digital transformation, and build high-performing global teams. Her expertise lies at the intersection of consumer, tech and community.
Awarded the prestigious Freedom of the City of London and recognised as one of the Most Influential Women in Business by Start Up Magazine, Viviane is a passionate advocate for diverse and inclusive leadership and a sought-after keynote speaker who champions thriving workplace cultures. With a post-graduate degree from London Business School, she combines empathetic leadership with decisive execution to deliver extraordinary results.
Kristin Anderson is Chief People Officer at The Economist Group, the global media and insights company best known for publishing The Economist.
Since joining in 2023, she has led the Group’s global People strategy—spanning talent, leadership, learning, culture, and the embedding of company values into everyday ways of working.
Kristin is passionate about building high-impact leadership at all levels. She has a strong track record of designing scalable leadership frameworks that drive performance and cultural transformation, particularly during times of change. Her work has helped executive teams navigate complex transformations, develop inclusive and resilient leaders, and embed leadership behaviours that foster innovation, accountability, and purpose.
Prior to The Economist Group, Kristin was Chief People and Culture Officer at World Vision International and held senior roles at Citrix and Microsoft, where she shaped people strategies that enabled growth and sustained leadership excellence.
Anna is the London Office Senior Partner for KPMG, Chair for the London Region and a Vice Chair of the UK firm. She leads our work with Private Enterprise clients out of London, and our Professional Services client base across the UK. In addition to chairing the ‘London Leaders’ Circles’ Anna is responsible for building strong relationships with a broad range of organisations across London
Prior to this role, Anna held COO roles and from 2017 – 2020, was Head of People for KPMG in the UK and Executive Board member. She was responsible for the strategic and operational aspects of HR, Learning and Culture with in the UK, enabling KPMG’s ambition to be a Magnet for Talent through attraction, development and retention of talented people at all levels of the organisation.

10.50AM | Coffee & Networking Break

Refuel, reset, and keep the conversations going.

11.10AM | Against the Grain: Redefining Leadership in Finance

Robyn Grew has shattered expectations as the first woman and openly gay CEO of Man Group, the world's largest publicly listed investment management business. A former criminal barrister turned finance leader; she has built a career by tackling the challenges others run from.
In this candid conversation, she shares why embracing difference is a superpower, not a setback; how to lead authentically in industries where women are still the minority; and what must now change to make the future of work truly equitable.
A must-attend session for anyone ready to rewrite the rules of leadership.
Mariella Frostrup is one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters and columnists. Her contribution to arts and literature along with her advocacy on gender and social issues have placed her at the forefront of the cultural landscape. She made the ground-breaking BBC1 documentary The Truth about Menopause and she currently presents her own daily show on Times Radio covering issues of the day.
Robyn Grew is CEO of Man Group, a global alternative investment management firm with USD 168.6 billion* assets under management that is listed on the London Stock Exchange. As CEO, she leads the firm’s Executive Committee and is an executive director on the Man Group Board.
Since joining Man Group in 2010 through its acquisition of GLG, Robyn has served as Group COO, Head of ESG, General Counsel and, prior to becoming CEO in 2023, President. Robyn led Man Group’s corporate reorganisation in 2019 and has also spearheaded the firm’s diversity programme to ensure the firm attracts the best talent.
Robyn has worked in the investment industry since 1994. Previously, she held senior global positions at investment banks in London, New York and Tokyo, including Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers, as well as what is now the ICE Futures Europe exchange. She is a qualified barrister and member of the Standards Board for Alternative Investment (SBAI) Board of Trustees

11.45AM | Behind Every Great Woman: The Power of Partnership

In this honest and refreshing conversation, we hear from a husband-and-wife duo who’ve navigated big jobs, entrepreneurship, busy lives, and parenting – side-by-side. They’ll reflect on what real allyship looks like, how they’ve challenged traditional gender roles, and the practical ways they’ve supported each other’s ambition over the years.
They’ll reveal what it really takes to make partnership work – at home and at work – and how we move beyond outdated expectations.
Debbie is a prolific angel investor and the co Chair of the U.K. government backed ‘Invest in Women Taskforce’. Appointed by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, she has raised an initial funding point of £250m to support female powered businesses, the largest in the world. She is the co-founder of WJV, the boutique investment and strategic innovation firm, championing diversity, wellness and economic empowerment and a Founding Advisor to Smart Society Ventures. Debbie is Executive Chair of The Better Menopause, empowering women's performance at midlife through science-backed products. She is a Non Executive Director of Channel 4 and a Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company. She is the co- Author of the business bestseller ‘Believe, Build, Become - How to Supercharge your Career’ (Penguin 2019). Debbie is a Board Member of The Mayor of London’s Business Advisory Board and The Women’s Prize for Fiction, where she Chairs the Development Board. She is a Former Evening Standard 'Entrepreneur of the Year’ and Author of the 'Wosskow Review on the Sharing Economy' for the UK government (2015) and former Chair of Sharing Economy UK. Debbie was awarded an OBE in June 2016 & received Freedom of the City of London 2019. She graduated with an MA in Philosophy and Theology from New College, Oxford
Tamara Heber-Percy and James Lohan are the co-founders of Mr & Mrs Smith, a boutique travel company renowned for its curated collection of luxury hotels. Their journey began in 2003 after a disappointing stay at a supposed boutique spa hotel in the Lake District, which turned out to be a health clinic. This experience inspired them to create a guidebook featuring handpicked romantic hotels, emphasizing genuine experiences over glossy marketing.
Initially, they self-published their guidebook, which sold 20,000 copies within two months, surpassing expectations. By 2005, recognizing the potential of the internet, they transitioned Mr & Mrs Smith into an online booking platform, maintaining their commitment to quality and personal recommendations.
Tamara, with a background in marketing, took on the role of Chief Technology Officer, while James, experienced in events and nightlife, focused on brand and marketing. Their combined expertise and shared passion for travel have been instrumental in building a trusted brand that resonates with discerning travelers worldwide.

12.10PM | Mind the Gap: Pay, Pensions & The True Cost of Inequality

What starts as a pay gap today becomes a savings gap tomorrow. Every missed promotion, unequal bonus, or barrier to leadership chips away at women’s long-term financial prospects.
This session lifts the lid on the wider economic cost of fiscal inequality, as Women in Work’s own Gender Equity Measure, in partnership with LinkedIn, highlights bold ideas from employers closing the gaps, not just in salary, but in opportunity and support - from first job to retirement and beyond.
Because closing the gaps at every life stage is not just fairness - it’s a business and economic imperative. Expect practical data-led insights from our expert panel as they share the actions that really make a difference in closing money gaps across the generations.
Janine Chamberlin is UK Country Manager at LinkedIn and Vice President, Talent Solutions. In her role, she is responsible for driving member growth, strategic partnerships and revenue across the UK, as well as leading sales teams around the world as they help companies to attract and develop the talent they need to succeed. With 41+ million members in the UK and over 1.1 billion members globally, LinkedIn’s vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.
Janine has 16 years of experience building and leading teams at LinkedIn having joined the company in its infancy in 2008. She has advised customers and clients on their marketing and workforce strategies, and helped to grow LinkedIn’s Marketing Solutions and Talent Solutions businesses. Prior to LinkedIn, Janine held positions at Wanadoo and Orange UK, where she led online advertising teams.
Janine is passionate about technology, diversity and talent, and helping companies to develop strategies to scale and grow. In 2017, she completed a master’s degree in Consulting and Coaching for Change at INSEAD.
Jill celebrates 26yrs at Scottish Widows this year, having spent most of this time in and around Workplace Pensions. Most recently Jill took on the role as Head of Workplace Strategic Relationships, building relationships with financial advisers, consultancies, and workplace clients. Previous roles include interim Head of Workplace Relationships, and Partnership Director.
Jill has a long-standing passion for financial equality, and is Co-Chair of the Scottish Widows Women in Retirement workstream.
Johanna Noble is the money editor at The Times and The Sunday Times. Before arriving at The Times and The Sunday Times in 2021, Johanna was the associate editor at MoneySavingExpert.com for nearly eight years where she worked closely with Martin Lewis on topics such as pensions, mortgages and banking. She was the editor of Moneywise magazine from 2008-2013 and has also worked as personal finance correspondent for the Mail on Sunday.
Roshni Hainsworth is a Fair Pay and DEI Consultant at Mercer in their HR Transformation team. Roshni has over 18 years of consulting experience working with clients on benefit strategy and transformation projects. Before working as a Fair Pay and DEI consulting specialist, Roshni held several strategy adviser roles to senior executives, supporting on operating model changes and strategic initiatives.

12.45PM | Wake-Up Call: The Urgency of Equity in Leadership

As some of the world’s most powerful companies quietly retreat from DEI, we open the day with a powerful provocation: what’s at risk when equity is deprioritised – and what must we do to stop the backslide?
Two of the UK’s most fearless leaders speak candidly about what’s happening behind the scenes in business, what needs to happen next, and why leadership without inclusion is no leadership at all.
escription
Alex leads one of the world’s leading live entertainment companies, operating more than 80 music festivals across Europe and Australia, including Germany’s Wacken Open Air and Barcelona’s Sónar.
She joined Superstruct in 2025 after nearly eight transformative years as CEO of Channel 4, where she made history as the first woman to lead a major UK broadcaster and successfully defended the organisation’s public ownership through two privatisation attempts.
At Channel 4, she drove the shift to a digital-first public service media company, building the UK’s largest free streaming service and dramatically expanding impact across the nations and regions. A passionate advocate for equitable representation, she has championed women’s health at work and disability inclusion throughout her career.
Her path spans science, technology, and the creative industries. She began in Physics before earning a PhD in Medical Physics from Imperial College London, later leading global production powerhouse Shine Group and software firm Foundry. She also serves as a non-executive board member of Chanel Inc., bringing together creativity, technology, and business leadership in her role transforming live entertainment experiences.
Baroness Martha Lane Fox Founder and Chair of Lucky Voice, President of the British Chambers of Commerce Martha is one of the UK's most influential voices on technology, business, and social equity. As a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, she sits on multiple boards including British Airways as a non-executive director and serves as Chancellor of the Open University. Martha co-founded lastminute.com in 1998, pioneering online travel booking, and later served as the UK's Digital Champion from 2009-2013, helping create gov.uk. A fearless advocate for responsible technology and inclusive leadership, Martha has become increasingly vocal about the dangers of unregulated tech power and its impact on democratic institutions and workplace equity. Through her role on Twitter's board during its sale to Elon Musk, she witnessed firsthand how concentrated tech power operates. She continues to challenge tech leaders on diversity and accountability while building sustainable businesses as founder and chair of Lucky Voice. Her recent parliamentary speeches and writing focus on the urgent need for tech regulation, digital literacy, and protecting democratic values from billionaire influence.

1.15PM | Networking Lunch

A chance to take stock, refuel, and connect with speakers, colleagues, and new allies.

2.15PM | The Future of Equity: How Men and Women Rise Together

What does male allyship look like in 2025 - and how do we close the growing divide between young men and women at work? At Women in Work, we believe gender equity is not just a women’s issue, it is a workplace issue. Building cultures where everyone can thrive means rethinking the pressures, expectations and norms that still shape how boys become men, how women’s careers are supported, and how employers create systems where both can succeed - from early careers to leadership.
In this keynote panel hosted by Pavita Cooper (30% Club), To Be a Boy podcast hosts Elliot Rae (Music. Football. Fatherhood.) and Joeli Brearley (Pregnant Then Screwed) join psychologist and inclusion expert Lee Chambers to explore how today’s workplaces can evolve to work for all. Together, they’ll unpack:
- How rigid ideas of masculinity limit men, fathers, and workplaces alike
- How the motherhood penalty continues to hold women back
- What shared parental leave, inclusive leadership and allyship can look like in practice
- How organisations can bridge the divide and create genuine equity for the next generation
This session will challenge the status quo and reimagine what genuine equity could look like in the decade ahead - inspiring businesses to build workplaces fit for Gen Z, Gen Alpha and beyond.
Elliott Rae is the founder of the parenting platform MusicFootballFatherhood, called the ‘Mumsnet for Dads’ by the BBC. He is the curator of the bestselling book, DAD, presenter of BBC One documentary ‘Becoming Dad’ and co-founder of the Working Dads Employer Awards.
Elliott created the Parenting Out Loud campaign which supports employers to build workplace cultures where dads can be loud and proud about their caring responsibilities at work.
Elliott is the ex-Head of DEI Delivery at HM Treasury and one of the UK’s most prominent speakers on fatherhood, men’s mental health and masculinity.
He co-hosts the popular podcast, To Be A Boy, which is one of the top parenting podcasts in the UK and he has written for publications such as The Independent, The Telegraph and Grazia and frequently appears across the media, including a feature on Loose Women and regular contributions to Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio London.
Elliott was recently awarded an MBE and his work on gender equality has been recognised by the United Nations and he was awarded the #HeForShe award by UN Women UK.
In 2025, Elliott created and hosted the world’s first Working Dad’s Summit
Joeli Brearley is a prominent British activist, author, and public speaker, best known as the founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, a charity dedicated to addressing workplace discrimination and the motherhood penalty. Her work has inspired changes at both societal and legislative levels. She is credited with influencing the recent £5.2 billion investment in childcare, as well changing laws on flexible working, tribunal time limits, and redundancy protections. In 2021 she took the Government to court for indirect sex discrimination and won her claim. Joeli spearheaded the biggest protest of mothers the UK has ever seen - March of the Mummies saw 15,000 parents march across 10 UK cities garnering nationwide attention for demanding workplace equality and better policies for parents. Joeli has been recognised for her influence in activism and gender equality. She was listed among British Vogue’s “25 Most Influential Women,’’ was PR week’s 8th most prominent British communicator in 2023, and was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours. She frequently contributes to high-profile publications, raising awareness about the systemic challenges faced by working mothers. Her book, Pregnant Then Screwed: The Truth About the Motherhood Penalty, has been lauded for its candid exploration of these issues and for empowering women to fight back against discrimination. Joeli remains a tireless advocate for creating a fairer and more inclusive workplace for women everywhere.
Pavita is recognised as a leading culture and diversity expert; she has over 30 years’ experience as an executive culture leader across a range of global blue-chip organisations, including Shell, Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group. Pavita has acted as an advisor to Boards, CEOs and executive teams across sectors that include financial services, energy, consumer and luxury goods.
Pavita is a passionate advocate and relentless campaigner for greater equity across business and society. She is a regular speaker and media contributor on improving representation across business.
Pavita is Chair of the 30 Percent Club UK, the oldest gender campaign in the UK. She is also at trustee of the King’s Trust and the Old Vic Theatre.
Pavita is a previous recipient of Woman of the Year at the Asian Business Awards; in 2025 she was listed in the Powerlist of the 100 most influential Asians in the UK.
Lee Chambers is the Founder and CEO of Male Allies UK. After a diverse career, from corporate finance to building and exiting tech company, he is now focused on supporting organisations to engage men in inclusion and promote effective allyship. He has been featured on the Startups 100 Index, has received a Great British Entrepreneur Award, and sits on the board of CMI Women, Regenerage UK and the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School. In 2024, he received the Freedom of the City of London for services to equality in business. He is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in the USA, the first Black British scientist to be awarded in its 33-year history, received for his work on health inequalities. He is the 2023 UN Women Changemaker of the Year, and is an ambassador for the UK Governments Lilac Review for Disabled Entrepreneurship. He speaks globally on allyship and intersectionality, having taken the stage at One Young World, ChangeNOW and the Bloomberg Global Equality Summit, and is the author of the bestselling book, Momentum: 13 Ways To Unlock Your Potential

2.50PM | Ai & The Future of Work: Who’s Leading the Way?

AI, automation, hybrid models – work is changing fast. But who’s shaping the future? This session explores how inclusion can be hardwired into our systems and technologies from day one – so tomorrow’s workplace doesn’t replicate yesterday’s bias.
Dr Nicola Hodson was appointed Chair, IBM UK and Ireland, in January 2025. Prior to taking on this role, Dr Hodson served as Chief Executive IBM UK and Ireland, a position she held for two years.
Dr Hodson is an accomplished technology industry leader with a deep understanding of the challenges facing the tech industry, as well as extensive experience in business and digital transformation. In 2023 and again in 2024, Dr Hodson ranked highly in Computer Weekly’s list of the 50 most influential people in UK technology, and in CRN’s 2024 A-List.
Dr Hodson held senior positions at Microsoft for 15 years, including as a global leader of the transformation of the Microsoft commercial sales, marketing and operations business and UK Chief Operating Officer covering its UK commercial and consumer business.
As Deputy President of techUK, the trade association for the IT industry, Dr Hodson has a wide breadth of experience and understanding of the tech sector, from large companies to start-ups, coupled with significant experience in the energy sector. She has extensive Board experience across multiple sectors, including Beazley plc, Drax Group plc, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). She has formerly served as a non-executive at Ofgem, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) group, as a governor of Bradfield College, and as a director of start-up Bramble Energy.
Dr Hodson previously worked in the IT and business services division of Siemens, at CSC (now DXC), as a management consultant for EY and in the nuclear industry at BNFL.
Dr Hodson holds an MBA and a PhD in Engineering. She is married with three sons and two stepsons, loves outdoor pursuits and is a keen motorbike enthusiast.

3.10PM | Women’s Health & The Bottom Line: Tackling the economic impact of health inequality

Too often, women’s health is sidelined under-researched, underfunded, and misunderstood. But the cost of that neglect isn’t just personal. It’s economic.From menstrual health to menopause, fertility to chronic conditions, the gaps in healthcare access, diagnosis, and support are driving women out of the workforce and holding businesses back. In this essential session, we’ll unpack the real price of health inequality - lost productivity, missed potential, and rising attrition - and ask what it takes to build workplaces where women can truly thrive.Our speakers will share bold strategies for change, including how forward-thinking employers are putting women’s health on the agenda and unlocking both wellbeing and business value in the process. A 2024 McKinsey Health Institute study estimates that addressing the women’s health gap could boost the global economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040.Investing in women’s health isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a business imperative.
Dr Nighat is a GP specialising in women's health, family planning and menopause care with over 18 years of experience in the NHS and she runs her own private practice. She is an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is a medical broadcaster on TV and Radio. She is a health content creator working with YouTube Health and the WHO Fides programme as well as co-host on a Podcast called “That Time of The Month”.
Dr Nighat is the Ambassador for Wellbeing of Women and co-founder of The Health Collective.
Dr Nighat is the recipient of the 2023 Prime Ministers 'Point of Light' Award in recognition of her work of raising awareness of Women's Health issues in the UK and the 2024 Woman of the Year at the Asian Achievers Awards as well as recognised with having her portrait in the National Portrait Gallery as one of the “LEGENDS” making waves in healthcare in the UK.
Dr Nighat is the author of the bestselling The Knowledge: Your guide to female health from Menstruation to the Menopause, a fully inclusive and illustrated book on all things women’s health. Her work has been published in British Vogue, The Times and Good Housekeeping.
Lucy is a Senior Partner in McKinsey’s Boston office. Lucy has 15+ years of experience advising CEOs and top teams at leading pharma, biotech and life sciences companies globally on growth strategy, innovation, sustainability, and organizational transformation. Lucy is the Global Leader of the McKinsey Health Institute and a leader in our Life Sciences and Healthcare practices. Lucy is a Board member of MassBio, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and the Aspen Institute Latinos in Society program.
Dame Lesley Regan is Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Imperial College London at St Mary's Hospital Campus where she continues her clinical practice in Reproductive Medicine. As Past President RCOG, she led the "Better for Women" report, published in December 2019, which shone a spotlight on taboo topics such as poor access to contraception, abortion, period problems, menopause and domestic violence and abuse. The key recommendation of this hard hitting report was the urgent need for an NHS-led Women's Health Strategy.
In 2020, Lesley was awarded a DBE for her services to Women’s health in the late Queen's New Years Honours list. In June 2022 she was appointed Women's health Ambassador for England to help implementation of the DHSC's Women's Health Strategy.
Dr Petra Simic is the Medical Director for Bupa Health Clinics, responsible for the safety and effectiveness of services delivered in Bupa Health Clinics. Bupa Health Clinics deliver private GP, Health Screening, Mental Health, Physio, MSK Medicine, Dermatology, Nursing and Health coaching in face to face, virtual and corporate onsite locations across the UK.
Petra remains practising as an NHS GP, and prior to joining Bupa in 2016 was a GP partner in Hertfordshire. She is passionate about delivering high quality Primary Care, developing strong and stable communities of excellent clinicians and creating innovative, customer centred and cost-effective ways to deliver health care.

3.45PM | Holding Power to Account: Senior Cabinet Ministers in the Hot Seat

Governments shape the system – but are they truly showing up for gender equity? We invite UK Government Ministers to respond directly with real answers to the questions business leaders want answered. What policies are working to close the gender pay gap? What’s not? And where is real accountability going to come from? This session puts ministers on the spot to provide real answers - not just soundbites.

4.10PM | Coffee & Networking Break

Grab a hot drink and power through the final sessions.

4.30PM | The Last Word: Turning Insight into Action

We close not just with applause, but with real action. A rousing final reflection on what we’re taking forward – and how we turn insight into real, measurable change.
In 2015, Anna founded Mother Pukka - a platform that became a rallying point for parents navigating the highs and lows of modern-day life. Drawing on her own experiences as a working mother, Anna launched the Flex Appeal campaign to challenge the outdated and inflexible working practices that disproportionately affect women, particularly those with young children. Her call was simple but powerful: flexible working should be the norm, not the exception.
Over the years, Anna’s campaign has evolved into a nationwide movement, culminating in a historic victory in 2024 when the Flexible Working Bill was passed into law. This groundbreaking legislation gives all workers the right to request flexible working from day one and ensures that employers provide greater transparency and fairness for workers across the UK. The new law also allows employees to submit up to two requests per year, making it easier for individuals to manage work-life balance without fear of discrimination.
For Anna, the passing of the Flexible Working Bill was the culmination of years of tireless campaigning, but she remains resolute in her belief that there is still much work to be done. Her advocacy continues to focus on normalising flexible working across industries and ensuring that workplace policies promote inclusivity, equality, and well-being for all.
Laura Pullman is the Arts and Entertainment editor for The Sunday Times, which she joined in 2017. Her present role includes writing major features and magazine interviews. She was the paper’s New York correspondent (2018-2021) before becoming comment editor in London. Over the past eight years, she has reported from the US-Mexico border, covered the killing of George Floyd from the ground in Minneapolis and has interviewed a wide range of people from Paris Hilton to Melinda French Gates. She lives in London with her husband and two-year-old son.

4.55PM | WiW Summit Closing Remarks

Mariella Frostrup will take to the stage to sum up the day.
Mariella Frostrup is one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters and columnists. Her contribution to arts and literature along with her advocacy on gender and social issues have placed her at the forefront of the cultural landscape. She made the ground-breaking BBC1 documentary The Truth about Menopause and she currently presents her own daily show on Times Radio covering issues of the day.

5.10PM | Closing Reception: Cocktails, Canapés & Conversation

After a day of bold discussions and fresh insights, let’s keep the momentum going.Join us for cocktails, canapés, and conversation – because some of the best ideas (and collaborations) happen after hours.

A day packed with inspiration - and real momentum.