Women's Leadership Network - Press releases
Friday 9 May 2008
Furthering women's leadership – WLN conference 9 June 2008
On Monday 9 June 2008, the Women's Leadership Network (WLN) will host its first conference in London. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the achievements of female leaders in further education and skills; promote the progression of more women to leadership roles in the sector; explore the potential for women to help address the succession crisis; examine ways of overcoming the barriers to career progression faced by women; and consult with sector leaders about how they would like WLN to support them in their endeavours.
The conference is for leaders and managers in the FE and skills sector, including principals and chief executives, vice-principals, senior women, governors, and equality and diversity, HR and staff development directors and managers.
The event will be chaired by Sally Dicketts, who is chair of WLN and principal of Oxford and Cherwell Valley College.
Keynote speakers will include:
- Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education
- Professor Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University.
Delegates will be able to participate in two of four practical workshops, and there will be plenty of opportunities for networking during the day.
Sally Dicketts said, "Promoting an inclusive and equitable approach to people management is vital if the FE and skills sector is to meet the needs of learners and mitigate the impact of a looming succession crisis. Although women are well-represented in FE management, occupying between 50 and 60 per cent of first-line and middle management roles, only 28 per cent of college principals in England are women.
"Our first conference will bring together sector leaders and managers to hear about the experiences of top women leaders in education, share best practice and examine ways to promote the progression of more women to leadership roles in the FE and skills sector. It will also serve as timely reminder that legislation introduced last year lays a general statutory duty upon all public authorities to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity between men and women."
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