On 6 October 2014, New College Lanarkshire hosted the Inspiring Women in Scotland launch event. Ten senior women from government, public and private sectors, and the arts took part in a speed career-networking event talking directly with 100 young girls about their experiences, their job and how they got there. The high profile ‘career speed networkers’ were;
Adriana Konjani, General Manager, Shell Business Service Centre
Angela Mitchell, Partner, Deloitte
Jackie Killenn, Director, Big Lottery Scotland,
Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire
Kerry-Ann Duffy, Drilling Engineer, BP
Mary Contini, Writer and Broadcaster,
Maxine Dodd, Chair, Scottish Women in Games,
Merryn Somerset Webb, Editor in Chief, Money Week
Miriam González, Partner, Dechert LLP
Muffy Calder, Chief Scientific Advisor for Scotland
Prof Karen Vousden, Professor Cancer Biology, Glasgow University
The aim was to show a wide range of female role models across Scotland, to which young girls today can aspire. We hope to encourage thousands of other women in Scotland to join the Inspiring Women campaign and volunteer to pledge ‘one hour a year to talk to girls’ in a state school near home or work about their life experience, job and career route. Register here: http://www.inspiringthefuture.org/about/inspiring-women-campaign.aspx
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government is committed to supporting women in business and giving young women equal opportunities in the workplace. The Inspiring Women Campaign will encourage young women to unleash their economic potential and play a key role in growing our economy.”
Inspiring Women champion, Miriam González Durantéz said: “The women who accompany us at the Inspiring Women event in Glasgow are at the very top of their fields. They are outstanding role models. But there are many other amazing female role models in everyday life. We already have 10,000 volunteers and we are hoping to be many more. Hope this events serves to encourage many other women to join us. We only ask for one hour per year – everybody can do it!”
Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women’s Employment Angela Constance said: “Equal opportunities for women is very much at the forefront of the Scottish Government’s thinking, so I am very pleased to see so many female role models getting together for the next phase of this exciting initiative. I hope to be able to get involved in the near future and wish the organisers and participants the very best of success.”
Ken Cunningham CBE, General Secretary, School Leaders Scotland; “Good to see this highly successful charity launch another great initiative. Inspiring Women will undoubtedly build on some of the good work already started to inspire young girls into a wider range of careers which they otherwise might never consider. Raising aspiration and ambition in this way can only be good for our country’s future.”
See some Inspiring Women in Scotland media coverage:
BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29515805