WIREDGOV

Maria Eagle MP, the parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Government Equalities Office, will open the Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) second annual conference on Wednesday 10 June 2009 and participate in a panel discussion.


With a focus on learning, the conference will give delegates from the further education and skills sector a chance to network with inspirational leaders and peers, develop their leadership skills, discuss career development and learn more about actively promoting equality in their organisation. Speakers will include:


· Penny de Valk, Chief Executive, Institute for Leadership and Management

· Sara Thornton, Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police

· Elaine McMahon, Principal, Hull College

· Maxine Room, Principal, Park Lane College, Leeds

· Janet Nevin, Principal, Ashton Sixth Form College

· Princess Adetopi A Kosoko, Registrar, Lagos State Polytechnic, Nigeria

· Peter Daley, Director, College Leadership Services, Protocol National


Delegates will be able to participate in one of four breakout sessions, and there will be plenty of opportunities for networking during the day.


Sally Dicketts, WLN chair and principal of Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, said, "Our aim is to develop a strong, dynamic and influential network of women in leadership roles to ensure equality of opportunity throughout the FE system – this is strongly reflected in our conference programme, which should interest both women and men.


"Although women constitute 63 per cent of the FE and skills workforce, and 60 per cent of the managers in colleges are female, only 36 per cent of FE college principals in England are women. It's interesting to note that 50 per cent of outstanding colleges and 46 per cent of 157 Group member colleges have female principals – there's clearly a business case for diversifying leadership in colleges. Our conference will examine what can be done to encourage more women into leadership roles."




NOTES TO EDITORS


WLN's second annual conference will be held at the Novotel London St Pancras on Wednesday 10 June 2009, and is for:


· Leaders and managers in the FE and skills sector, including senior women and men, governors, equality and diversity directors and managers, HR and staff development directors and managers, principals and chief executives, and vice-principals

· All women who want to work in senior roles, and men who recognise the important contribution of women in their organisations’ capacity building, succession planning and talent management strategies, to ensure that the further education and skills sector has the leadership skills and capability to fulfil its crucial role in the economy and society


Visit the WLN website at www.wlnfe.org.uk/events.html for further information.



About WLN


The Women’s Leadership Network is for women who hold or aspire to leadership and management roles at all levels in the further education and skills sector. It was established in 2007 as a successor to the original Women’s Network, to raise awareness of women’s issues in the sector.



WLN's purpose is to:


· help develop a strong, dynamic and influential network of female leaders, to ensure equality of opportunity throughout the FE system

· promote and represent the interests and aspirations of women in FE by influencing leadership thinking and policy

· encourage career progression by supporting women managers to pursue leadership roles and work to improve support for women in the workplace

· provide professional support and intelligence networks for female leaders in FE

· raise awareness of the under-representation of women in FE leadership

· be recognised as a source of good professional practice.


CONTACT


WLN press office


Lindsay Baugh: 07736 246 697 or 01707 392 552

Email: lindsay.baugh@howardsgate.co.uk 



Women's Leadership Network

OCVC

Oxpens Road

Oxford

OX1 1SA


Website: www.wlnfe.org.uk