Will this be the election when we finally commit to gender equality for women in the workplace? Event

Abstract: We all believe in a more equal future. Women are the majority of voters, and steps to address inequality are popular with the electorate. Transforming our economy is not just essential to tackling many of the major challenges we face today, from low growth to labour shortages, but it's also a vote winner. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic we were promised that this was a moment to build back better - but so far there is little sign that we’re anywhere close to achieving that, least of all for women. Women were hit hardest by the pandemic and lockdown and today are bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis and low wages. Despite significant progress, women remain systematically disadvantaged in our economy - sharpest of all for women of colour, disabled women and lone parents. The next election will belong to candidates who put women's economic equality at the heart of their policy platform.

Speaker Bio: Jemima Olchawski is a social policy expert with 15 years' experience working on issues around social justice and women’s rights. Her career has spanned national charities, local government and a think tank, working to tackle inequalities and improve life chances. Jemima joins Fawcett from Agenda, the alliance for women and girls at risk where she has been Chief Executive since 2018. At Agenda, Jemima led campaigns on supporting survivors of abuse and gendered responses to women's mental health. She also looked at the connections between violence against women and girls and contact with the criminal justice system. Previously, she was Head of Policy and Insight at the Fawcett Society where she led projects such as Sex and Power, Strategies for Success and work on Gender Pay Gap reporting. Jemima also held roles at the London Borough of Newham and the Fabian Society.

The Fawcett Society is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights at work, at home and in public life. With a vision of a society in which women and girls in all their diversity are equal and truly free to fulfil their potential creating a stronger, happier, better future for us all.