What does gender equality mean to you?

This year represents 100 years since some women won the right to vote and equality has come a long way, but is it long enough?

At a time where gender equality is a hot topic in the press we're looking to discuss the topic further, to see how it affects the world of business and professionals in their day to day lives.

Prior to the event, we would like attendees to tweet us their thoughts and questions on gender equality, which our panel will then discuss and answer at the event. Simply send your questions to @JCIManchester using #JCIEquality.

Chair bio

llona Alcock - Sector Group Manager, pro-manchester and Co-ordination Director, JCI Manchester

Having held a diverse range of roles in the past – everything from Commercial Litigation Solicitor in DLA Piper UK LLP to running a bespoke software development company with her husband – Ilona has a gained a real insight into what makes different businesses work.

Outside of her day jobs, Ilona has been an active JCI member since 2011 and was President of JCI Sheffield in 2014. Highlights of her JCI career include making the European finals of both debating and public speaking, launching the JCI UK Ten Outstanding Young Persons Awards and winning European awards for two local projects (one of which was also shortlisted globally).

Speaker bios

Amy Lynch - Head of Diversity and Inclusion at ThoughtWorks ( Event sponsor)

Amy has been working with technology teams and organisations for a decade, with a background spanning recruitment, sales and marketing. Passionate about equality and tackling injustice, she is currently heading up diversity & inclusion for ThoughtWorks, a global technology consultancy, working to make the tech industry a safer, more welcoming place for all. She is a keen photographer, enjoys travel and is an active member of the tech communities across Manchester & London.

Chelsea Murphy - Academic researcher at MMU

Chelsea Murphy is an academic researcher and community psychologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, with a background in gender and sexualities. After creating LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education and early intervention tools for preventing sexual violence, she has undertaken extensive research and development work on contemporary gender issues. This includes international research on LGBT domestic violence, educational campaigning on women’s sexual violence across Manchester and Bosnia, and third sector development work around sex and relationships education. 

She is interested in how education and community can promote women’s mental health and wellbeing across Greater Manchester, and her PhD looks into women’s health and wellbeing in the context of Devolution.

Kuldip Sahota- Founder Mr Singh's 

Mr. Singh's is a family run business in East London which produces a range of all natural, British made chilli sauces, pastes and crisps. As an entrepreneur Kuldip has battled with the challenges of the hyper masculine start-up scene and will share reflections on alpha male business culture.

Sinead Keenan - Freeman Fisher 

We’ll also be joined by Sinead Keenan an employment lawyer from our Better Me, Better We programme sponsor Freeman Fisher. Ensuring you know what your legal rights are when it comes to gender equality in the workplace and beyond can help you feel empowered. So knowing your rights is another important angle to add to the debate.