IWD Event Hailed a Success
The Council hosted its biggest ever event to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on Wednesday 8 March
The all-female event was fully funded by sponsors The Waterloo Foundation, ISG, and CJCH solicitors and supported by Big Fresh Catering. Guests enjoyed an afternoon tea whilst students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama performed.
Hosted by the Council’s Leader, Cllr Lis Burnett, the event featured keynote speakers exploring the campaign theme ‘why equal opportunities are no longer enough’.
The speakers were Heather Stevens CBE, Chair of the Trustees of the Waterloo Foundation, Jane O’Leary, Sector Director for Education at ISG and Kellie Beirne, Director, Cardiff Capital Region City Deal.
All of the women who spoke shared their experiences of being treated differently at work and overcoming prejudices to progress in their careers. And all spoke of their commitment to progressing equitable opportunities for women.
Opening the event Cllr Burnett said: “We can look back at how far we’ve come but we also need to look at how far we have to go.
“I’m very proud that we have a gender balanced Cabinet and Council. I am one of four female Leaders in Wales, which sounds very good but there are 22 local authorities.”
And on closing the event she added: “We couldn’t have come together today to celebrate without the generous support of our sponsors and our speakers today who have been been so inspiring. Thank you, shall we do this again?”, which received an appreciative round of applause.
The event was attended by Council staff, elected members, partners, local school pupils and sponsors. This is what they had to say on the day.
“This was a fantastic event celebrating the achievements of inspirational women within our organisation and an opportunity to meet and hear from others who are making a real difference in our wider communities”. – Lorna Cross, Operational Manager for Property.
“It’s brilliant to be able to attend an event like this, to hear from these inspiring women and to have young people here with us.” – Alex Thomas, Senior Youth Engagement Worker in Participation
“It was such a positive and inspirational place to be, and I personally took so much from the afternoon and really enjoyed spending time chatting and networking with such awesome and likeminded women.
“Please pass on our thanks to the Leader for the opportunity to sponsor and to attend such an important and well organised event.” – Jodi Winter, Senior Partner, CJCH Solicitors
