Meet the team behind the Inspiring Women Networking Cafe
After a successful launch in spring term, the Inspiring Women Networking Caf茅 is returning for its second event on Wednesday 5 July. We caught up with the five fantastic people leading the event to find out why 颈迟鈥檚 important, what they aim to achieve and their hopes for the future.
Why did you want to be involved in organising the caf茅?鈥�
Amanda Bishop: For me, the caf茅 is about providing a forum and space for people to meet and chat to inspirational women. Its aim is to bring together like-minded people who are interested in networking, sharing ideas and building up connections. Often, conversations over a cup of tea are the best!
Who is the caf茅 for?鈥�
Ali Collins: Any members of staff with an interest in gender equity 鈥� everyone is welcome!
What do you hope the caf茅 will achieve? 鈥�
Ali Collins: The caf茅 aims to create a louder collective voice, gain institutional support for gender equity activities, expand the reach and scope of projects, help people put their ideas for initiatives into practice, and support the University鈥檚 strategic aim of eliminating its gender pay gap.
Shera Payne: We hope to鈥痑chieve a more coordinated and cohesive approach to gender equality initiatives at Warwick.鈥� The event will enable members of staff from across the University to network and identify areas for potential collaboration going forward.
Can you give me an example of something Warwick is doing right now to help improve gender equity across the University?
Shera Payne: Just to give one example, Cerys Currie and her team, from Warwick Medical School, organised a 鈥榃omen in Science鈥� careers day with a strong focus on work/life/family balance. They hosted an International Women鈥檚 Day panel discussion on 'Balancing an academic career with motherhood' which was very well attended. They are working to further support and promote scientific research careers for women and all under-represented groups.
Anne Wilson: I run , the women鈥檚 award-winning four-day personal and professional development programme for female staff in Professional Services at grades 3-5 within Education Group and Faculties. From the first programme in 2020, of the 18 participants more than 80% have successfully secured promotion at grade 6 or progressed in their careers beyond Warwick. The 2022 programme, which took place just over a year ago has seen several of the 20 participants similarly progress, through secondments, promotions or job regrades. An additional programme will be running this Autumn, funded by Faculties.
Annie Davey: Aware of our own patchy gender diversity profile in IDG, 飞别鈥檝别 taken action by creating a leadership and development programme to support the personal and professional growth of Women in IDG. The four-month programme has now been delivered to 93 women across four cohorts, addressing key issues and obstacles from stress and imposter syndrome to managing life changes from pregnancy to menopause.
Fast forward one year from now, what would you like the caf茅 to be like?鈥�
Annie Davey: A regular, centrally-promoted termly or quarterly event, funded by the University to ensure its long-term sustainability. Themed discussions with realistic takeaway actions, inspiring guest speakers who have made change real. We want to grow a dynamic, in-person and online community providing networking and development opportunities for us to learn from each other and build connections to other institutions for sector-wide initiatives.
How to get involved
Sign up for the next Networking Caf茅, Wednesday 5 July, and be inspired.