Event date: 07/03/2025
Start Time: 9:00 am
End Time: 1:00 pm
Location: 7 East St, Leicester LE1 6EY, UK
7 East St
Leicester LE1 6EY
UK
Accelerating Gender Parity
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
This year (2025) Shine Together CIC will be holding our annual International Women’s Day Panel Discussion and Networking event at the YMCA Leicester, 7 East St, Leicester LE1 6EY, hosted by Paul Brown, CEO, YMCA Leicester.
The theme campaign theme for 2025 is ‘Accelerate Action’ for women worldwide. A call to raise awareness of the current level of gender parity. According to the World Economic Forum, it will take 134 years to reach full gender parity – 2158. We can come together and ensure we do better than this prediction.
Join our panel of speakers as they discuss this topic and share their experiences and ideas of how we can together speed up the rate of gender parity.
Join us for great networking, and the opportunity to meet many of our Women’s Awards Winners and Shine Members, and speak with our panelists.
#AccelerateAction
Gender Parity Panel Members:
I. Stephanie Boyce
Dr. I.Stephanie Boyce (Hon. Causa)LLB (Hons), LLM, DipICArb, FRSA, FKC Honorary Professor of Law. Former President of the Law Society of England and Wales.
A strategic visionary who brings significant expertise in legislative affairs, strategic policy development, and stakeholder engagement.
I. Stephanie Boyce is a solicitor, executive mentor, thought leader, commentator, and a trusted advisor to executive leaders. Stephanie is using her leadership position for wider positive social impact, particularly around issues of social mobility and social justice.
Stephanie’s work has been recognised with a number of awards. In 2020 Stephanie was voted on to the Governance Hot 100 – Board Influencer and made the Power List 100 Most Influential Black People in the UK in 2021, 2022, and 2023 and jointly awarded the 2022 Burberry British Diversity Awards-Inspirational Role Model of the Year. Most recently, following a public ballot, Stephanie is featured in an art exhibition celebrating ‘100 Black Women Who Have Made a Mark’.
Julie Towers
Director of Recruitment (Search, Interim, Sourcing) at Penna PLC
I started my career in HR at Nottinghamshire County Council on the YTS (now apprenticeship) scheme and became MD of Penna in 2011 enjoying Director roles at Euro RSCG Havas, and Tribal Group in between.
As a leading recruiter for the public services I have supported more chief executive appointments than any other recruiter, and consider myself a leader in finding leaders. I am a member of the business board for the Care Leaver Covenant.
Paul Forrester-Brown
Chief Executive of YMCA Leicestershire.
Paul is the Chief Executive of YMCA Leicestershire with over 40 years of experience in community-based work, specifically with disadvantaged young people/adults. Previously, Paul was the head of youth service in the London Borough of Camden, an area youth officer in Birmingham, and part of a specialist team of training and development workers in Coventry. He has a wealth of experience in social housing, education, health, governance, charity, and property law. Paul is a serving magistrate (over 20 years) specialising in youth and domestic violence courts and a former member of the Leicestershire Police Authority, where he chaired a range of committees, including professional standards, stop and search, and EDI issues. Paul currently chairs Leicestershire Police Adult and Youth Scrutiny Panels for out-of-court disposals and sits on the YMCA England and Wales national board.
During Paul’s career, he has championed Equality and Inclusion, especially around women in the workplace, diversity, and progression.
Leanne Bonner-Cooke MBE
Founder of LBC Mentoring Ltd, and Co-Founder of Shine Together CIC
Leanne I was awarded MBE for Services to Women in Business and Technology in 2018.
As a multi award winning serial entrepreneur, Leanne has worked in the corporate world and start-ups, leading innovation and growth.
LBC is about Leading Businesses Consciously. What that translates to is my belief that people and our teams are at the core of success. Now after 35 years of gaining a range of skills, experiences and knowledge, I want to use that to mentor and coach you. I support business leaders like you to collaborate and communicate effectively to deliver results.
Sandra Pollock OBE, MA
Sandra is a serial entrepreneur: Founder of Open Mind Training & Development Ltd, The Women’s Awards, Co-Founder of Shine Together CIC, a leadership, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisor and Consultant.
Sandra also holds several N.E.D. roles which include Director Trustee of Bamboozle Theatre Company, Diversity Advisory for Porsche Club Great Britain (PCGB), Advisory Council Member of the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA), and Co-Chair of the Strategic Independent Advisory Groups (SIAG) Leicestershire Police.
Sandra is listed in the ‘100 Black Women Who Have Made a Mark’. She’s also a Motivational Speaker, a Reiki Master Practitioner, a Freelance Radio Presenter, an Author, and Poet.
Sandra was awarded an OBE for Services to Equality in 2021.
Additional panelists to be confirmed.
Teas, Coffees, and Refreshments will be available.
Book your tickets
IWD 2025 Conference: Accelerating Gender Parity
Event Registration Form
Exhibition Stalls
This event also offers the opportunity for exhibition stalls. This is a great opportunity to present your products and/or services to our members, guests, and sponsors. Spaces are limited, so register early. Stall availability is on a first come first serve basis.
