OnDemand: Shaping the Future of Women in Leadership Conference 2026
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2026 Overview
In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the insufficient inclusion of women in leadership roles. Despite progress in gender equality policies and national EDI guidance, significant adjustments are still needed to support the career progression of women in industry
- Women now hold 43.4% of board positions in the UK’s 350 largest public companies, up from 40.2% the previous year
- The number of female CEOs in FTSE 350 companies declined from 21 in 2022 to 19 in 2024
- The proportion of women leading SMEs in the UK has declined to 14% in 2025, down from 15% in 2024 and 19% in 2021
The Shaping the Future of Women in Leadership Conference 2026 explored practical strategies for strengthening leadership pipelines and featured expert speakers who examined how to embed diversity at the heart of organisational strategy. Attendees will gain insight into proven approaches to recruitment, retention, allyship, and inclusive workplace design. The programme will also showcase real-world case studies from across the public and private sectors.
2026 Agenda
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Rosie Clarke, Principal Consultant, Inclusive Employers
Keynote: Identifying Structures that Hinder the Advancement of Women Leaders
Cllr. Hilaria Asumu, Councillor at Walkden South, Salford City Council and President Elect, Rotary Club
Keynote: Developing Pathways to Leadership
- Identifying the skills and experiences most valued in senior leadership roles
- Exploring strategies for overcoming barriers unique to women executives
- Learning how to position yourself for promotion or board-level opportunities
- Case studies of successful women who transitioned to executive roles
Rebecca Ajulu-Bushell, Chief Executive, The 10,000 Interns Foundation
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: How Women’s ‘Inner Conversations’ Shape Their Outer Realities
- Explores how women’s “inner conversations”—their internal self-talk—shapes their leadership identity, agency, and effectiveness at work
- Draws on 20+ years of leadership coaching experience and insights from 150 women leaders across diverse industries and geographies
- Introduces a conceptual framework linking inner dialogue to structural barriers, identity, and organisational context
- Shares a four-step process for reframing limiting inner conversations into empowering narratives that enhance leadership impact
- Uses real life examples, to illustrate the reframing process and offers actionable strategies for organisations and women leaders
Meenakshi Krishan, Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Employment Studies
Fireside Chat: Motherhood Vs. Leadership? Addressing the Motherhood Penalty to Remove Barriers for Women into Senior Roles
- Understand why addressing the motherhood penalty at work is crucial
- Identify parental transition points which constrict the senior leadership pipeline
- Discover how to support mothers’ return to work and remove barriers for career progression in your organisation
- Challenge common assumptions of leadership vs. motherhood
- Highlight the importance of considering intersectionality when tackling the inequalities mothers can face within their parenthood journey
- Explore how our practical toolkits can help parents and organisations develop a more inclusive talent management approach
Dr Jill Miller, Research Associate, The Open University
Dr. Wenjin Dai is a Senior Lecturer in Leadership and Diversity, The Open University
Kendal Wright, Lecturer in Policing in the School of Law, The Open University
Dr Keely Duddin, Chartered Psychologist and Senior Lecturer, The Open University
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break
Case Study: Advancing the Careers of Women Through Networks
- Discussing how external, specialty-based networks can provide peer support, beyond a single organisation
- Examining the impact of a network in increasing confidence and progression into senior clinical and academic roles
- Strategies for establishing impactful professional networks across Trusts, academia, and regional alliances
- Utilising external networks to shape leadership pathways, and support equal opportunities across the healthcare system
Helen Winter, Honorary Associate Professor, Clinical Director University of Bristol NHS SWAG Cancer Alliance
Case Study: Vocational Learning: Building Pathways to Employment and Leadership for Women
- Outlining how vocational learning frameworks can support leadership development early in education and training
- Demonstrating how vocational learning programmes equip women with the practical skills needed for career progression
- Highlighting case studies where vocational training has led directly to leadership roles in specific sectors
- Exploring strategies to design vocational curricula that support employability and leadership development from the start
Dr Miri Firth, Senior Higher Education Leader Expert in Employability, Inclusive Assessment & Education Policy, University of Manchester
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Social Identities Shape Leadership Presence
- Exploring how social categorisation influences women’s experiences in leadership roles.
- Identifying the power dynamics that impact the career trajectory of women from diverse backgrounds.
- Developing awareness and understanding of the internal (e.g. stereotype threat) and external (stereotypes) challenges women in leadership face.
- Creating environments where diverse leadership is truly accepted.
Yasmeen Hussain, Business Psychologist, Non-Exeutive Board Member, Qualifications Scotland
Dr Kellyanne Findlay, Deputy Head of School of Psychological Sciences, University of Strathclyde
Case Study: AI and the Future of Women in Leadership
Bharathi Kommana, AI Workforce Specialist, and Women’s Employee Resource Group, Microsoft
Questions & Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Rosie Clarke, Principal Consultant, Inclusive Employers
Conference Close
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2026 Speakers
Professor Susan Marlow
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Nottingham University Business School
Marina Glasgow
Chief Conciliator
ACAS
Jayde Howard
Lecturer in Business Management
University of South Wales
Sandra Kerr
Race Director
Business in the Community
Testimonials
Excellent conference today – outstanding speakers clearly at the forefront of the field.
Relevant, insightful and practical – thank you for all the powerful takeaways.
A really interesting event, with a great range of speakers.
