Female leaders from the world of business,
education, technology, journalism and the arts shared their knowledge and
expertise with over 450 young women from schools across the region during the 3rd
North East Women (NEW) Leaders conference, organised by Northumbria University and
Newcastle High School for Girls.
The aim of the event was to
supercharge the future of the next generation of female leaders by providing exposure
to women who have reached the top of their professions.
Keynote
speakers Kate Denby, Executive Director of Northern Stage (Arts) and Jacqueline
De Rojas,President of Tech UK named
in ‘Europe’s Inspiring Fifty’, most inspiring female role models for 2017 (Technology)
were joined by high ranking women including Lucy Winskell, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Employability & Partnerships) at Northumbria University. They talked to the girls about their rise to
the top and what it took to get there.
Newcastle High School for Girls, hosted
NEW Leaders at its new school premises in Tankerville Terrace, Jesmond in
partnership with Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School. The
Conference was also supported by lead sponsor North East LEP as part of its NE
Ambition strategy.
NEW Leaders conference - 27.09.17 from Northumbria University on Vimeo.
Over 30 of the region’s top female
leaders ran mentoring sessions on the day giving girls an insight into what it
takes to make it to the top in their chosen career.
A range of industries and roles were
represented during these sessions providing a particular leadership focus. Successful
women leaders from Ernst and Young, Nestle, The Trinity Mirror Group and other
leading organisations all took part.
Conference delegates also had the opportunity to get
creative and identify the characteristics that make a great leader, as well as
learning more about their own personal leadership identity
and brand. The individual assessments took place during a unique
workshop developed for NEW Leaders and delivered by leading academics at
Northumbria University, specialists in leadership and gender equality.
Natalia Blagburn, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Northumbria
University’s Newcastle Business School, said: “It
is a very important agenda to raise the aspiration of young women in the North
East. Women make up around half the world’s population, but if they are
under-represented at the top levels then companies are effectively missing 50%
of the talent pool.
“Research by Newcastle Business
School shows that a shortage of female leaders is bad for the workplace and the
overall economy. We have been working with a number of high profile
organisations, including the seven North East County Councils, professional services
company Accenture and other IT solution providers to help tackle the gender
imbalance.
“Having more women in top positions is not only good for
individual careers but can open up new growth and profit opportunities for
businesses of all sizes and across all sectors.”
Organisers and sponsors are united
in their desire to see more women in leadership positions over the next two decades.
Together they have mobilised female leaders from inside and outside the region
to share their knowledge and experience in the hope of combating gender
inequalities and inspiring young women to strive for the top in whatever career
or profession they choose. This is the third time the NEW Leaders Conference has
been held, the first took place in 2011. While the format has changed the
ambition remains the same, to raise the aspirations of young women in the North
East and provide them with role models, mentors and career goals.
Five partner schools joined with
Newcastle High to take part in this year’s event, St Mary's Catholic High
School in Newcastle, King Edward V1 School, Morpeth, Ponteland High, Whitburn
Academy and Heaton Manor. Over 450 girls from the Sixth Forms of these schools,
years 12 and 13, were in attendance.
Hilary French,
headmistress of Newcastle High School for Girls, one of 25 schools within the
Girls’ Day School Trust, said:
“NEW
Leaders is 21st century careers advice for girls. At Newcastle High, we live by the mantra,
‘There is no limit to what can be achieved with determination’ and our
conference will demonstrate this in abundance. It is so important to give
teenagers real role models to learn from and crucial that women at the top of
their professions extend the ladder back down to the next generation to create
a female succession path.”
“Working
alongside Northumbria University and with the support of the North East LEP, we
have through NEW Leaders created an excellent vehicle to deliver this and we
are delighted to be able to share this opportunity with girls from across the
region. Through collaboration with others we are determined to challenge gender
inequality, give girls the confidence to aim and achieve at the highest level
as well as to celebrate the very many women who contribute so much to our
economy and society”
Michelle
Rainbow, Skills Director, North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
“Our ‘North East Ambition’ is for each and every young person to be
able to access excellent careers guidance. We are supporting NEW Leaders
because it will identify opportunities in areas where females are traditionally
underrepresented, so we can map the full range of routes on offer.
“We want young people to be able to access inspiring information
showing the breadth of opportunities in the North East, and are looking forward
to NEW Leaders, which is a great example of independent and state schools
working together to share experience.”
