Inspiring stories shared at event
WOMEN from across the region’s businesses and organisations shared their inspiring stories at the North East Chamber of Commerce’s Inspiring Females Conference.
The event, sponsored by Newcastle Airport, explored the pivotal role businesses can play to inspire inclusion and equality, and emphasised the importance of collaboration to create a stronger, fairer North East.
Alix Bolton, chair of the Chamber’s Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF), who shared information about initiatives such as the British Chambers of Commerce’s Workplace Equity Commission, and the upcoming WLF report on women progressing in the workplace, said: “As proud chair of the Chamber’s Women’s Leadership Forum for the past five years, I’ve had the honour of witnessing both remarkable progress and significant challenges in the realm of gender equality.
“Events like today are really crucial to keeping that momentum alive. The theme ‘inspire inclusion’ is particularly fitting this year. It underscores the importance of creating an environment where every woman feels valued and included, a place where her contributions are recognised and celebrated.”
Solicitor and managing partner at Sweeney Miller Law, Surbhi Vedhara, spoke about lessons learnt during her career journey, and why businesses should take calculated risks and invest in people to grow.
Ms Vedhara said: “We now employ over 85 staff and we have a 50/50 representation of men and women in leadership roles, that’s a stat I’m hugely proud of. Surround yourself with positive voices, and don’t underestimate the importance of diversity in the workplace. I realised I can deal with my differences from a position of strength rather than weakness. I bring a lot of different things other people can’t. Diversity brings immense opportunities.”
Kay Carrick, development team manager at St Cuthbert’s Hospice and a member of the Chamber’s WLF, hosted a panel of Inspiring Females Award winners and encouraged attendees to enter the awards to “break through glass ceilings”. Panellists included Caraline Robinson, manufacturing director at Husqvarna UK, Alison Maynard, deputy principal at New College Durham and Natalie Collins, CEO at The Women’s Liberation Collective.