That’s a wrap on Women in Work Week 2026.
Couldn’t make it in person?
Buy a Digital Pass for a year's access to our digital hub, with every session from the Summit. Access opens 10 working days after the Summit, from Thursday 22 October, and we'll email you with details of how to log in.
The future of work must work for women.
Women in Work is the business platform bringing together leaders, employers, policymakers and experts to make work work better for women and, in doing so, better for everyone.
Through our flagship Summit, original research, benchmarks and year-round collaboration, we expose the barriers holding women back, identify what is genuinely working and give organisations the practical tools to attract, retain and advance female talent at every age and every stage of their working lives.
We don’t stop at conversation. We turn evidence into action and action into measurable progress.
Good for women. Good for business.
Women in Work Summit 2026
2 days. 3 stages. 80 speakers. 28 sessions. One shared ambition.
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Implementation Forum
Day One is about the practical work of change. We move beyond the “why” and get straight into the “how”, with real policies, real case studies and organisations already doing this work well.
The afternoon will culminate in the launch of the 2026 WiW GEM Report, setting out the latest evidence, benchmarks and markers for action that define what good looks like now.
You will leave with practical ideas to take back into your organisation, and the new report in your hands.
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Inspiration Stage & Impact Stage
Day Two brings all 400 guests together for the major conversations shaping women’s experience of work.
The Inspiration Stage will host the big ideas, evidence and leadership conversations of the day. Guests will also join one of four more intimate Impact Stage sessions in Hall Two, taking a deeper look at the research and practical action behind the headlines.
For more information and agendas, see Implementation Forum, Inspiration Stage and Impact Stage
Speaker Highlights
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![Alex Mahon]()
Alex Mahon, Superstruct Entertainment
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![Iris Bohnet]()
Iris Bohnet, Harvard Kennedy School
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![Mariella Frostrup]()
Mariella Frostrup, Women in Work
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![Cherie Blair]()
Cherie Blair CBE KC, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
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![Lord Mervyn Davies]()
Lord Mervyn Davies, Letter One
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![Kerri O'Neill]()
Kerri O'Neill, Ipsos
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Fiona Howarth, Octopus Electric Vehicles
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![Elliott Rae]()
Elliott Rae, Parenting Out Loud
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![Jo Farmer]()
Jo Farmer, Lewis Silkin
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![Heather Blundell]()
Heather Blundell, Grayling
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![Mia Balogun]()
Mia Balogun, McDonald's
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![Anna Whitehouse]()
Anna Whitehouse, Mother Pukka
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![Pavita Cooper]()
Pavita Cooper, 30% Club
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![Janine Chamberlin]()
Janine Chamberlin, LinkedIn
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![Lyndsey Simpson]()
Lyndsey Simpson, 55 Redefined
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![Susan Hope]()
Susan Hope, Scottish Widows
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![Karen Blackett]()
Karen Blackett, WPP
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![Dame Carolyn McCall]()
Dame Carolyn McCall, ITV
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![Roisin Currie]()
Roisin Currie, Greggs
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![Nicola Hodson]()
Nicola Hodson, TechUK
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![Liz Claydon]()
Liz Claydon, KPMG
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![Sandi Rhys Jones]()
Sandi Rhys Jones, Chartered Institute of Building
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![Jill Henderson]()
Jill Henderson, Scottish Widows
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![Dr Nighat Arif]()
Dr Nighat Arif, Women's Health GP
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![Lee Chambers]()
Lee Chambers, Male Allies UK
Why Women in Work exists
Women make up almost half of the UK workforce: a powerhouse of talent driving innovation, productivity and growth.
But too many workplaces are still built on structures that prevent women from thriving. Progress has slowed, gaps remain across pay, leadership and opportunity, and emerging technologies such as AI risk widening inequalities just as we should be closing them.
This is not simply a social issue. It is an economic opportunity we are failing to seize.
The opportunity is enormous
Supporting women to enter, remain and progress in work doesn’t just change individual lives. It strengthens organisations and drives economic growth.
Because gender equity isn’t achieved by promises. It is built through action.
Through our Summits, research, benchmarks and year-round community, Women in Work helps organisations understand what is holding women back, identify what is genuinely working and turn good intentions into measurable progress.
Good for women. Good for business.
In good company
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The C-suite, senior leadership teams, and business unit directors across organisations of all sizes and scales.
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HR, compensation, people, culture, talent, rewards and benefits, and wellbeing across organisations of all sizes and scales.
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Professionals with expertise or a focus on women in the workplace, including consultants, vendors, law firms, startups, and service providers.
Partner with us
We are currently seeking sector partners, media partners and sponsors to join us at the 2026 event and we invite you to take a look at our partner brochure for 2026.
“The quality, passion and knowledge of the speakers was fantastic. I've come away with so many ideas of things I want to implement.”
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WiW GEM Report
The Women in Work (WiW) Gender Equity Measure (GEM) Report 2026, in partnership with LinkedIn, is an annual review of 400 of the largest companies in the UK that sets the standard for aspirational modern workplaces that work for all.
We have one clear goal: to track the real progress companies are making in closing workplace equality gaps.
Because gender equity isn’t achieved by promises.
It’s built through real action.
Download the full WiW Gender Equity Measure Report 2026 to discover the businesses that are doing the most to close the gender equity gap.
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WiW Glass Ceiling Tracker
The glass ceiling is cracking - but around 80% of FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies have still never appointed a woman as CEO.
The first Women in Work Glass Ceiling Tracker charts nearly three decades of female leadership, revealing the pioneers who have broken through, where progress is gathering pace and what continues to hold women back.
Download the 2026 report to discover the data, stories and succession decisions that could change who reaches the top.
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WiW Progress Playbook
What does it take to create a workplace where women can thrive? The Women in Work Progress Playbook 2026 brings together research with Ipsos, insights from 2,833 working adults across Great Britain, and real examples from employers including Octopus Energy and Lush. It reveals what employees value most, where businesses are falling short, and the practical changes that can make a difference.
From flexible working without a career penalty to transparent pay, better management and visible female leadership, the Playbook sets out five shifts to help turn good intentions into everyday action. Whether you lead a business, shape its people strategy or manage a team, download the report for evidence, inspiration and practical steps to build a fairer workplace where everyone can succeed.
A note on inclusivity: We recognise that many of the health issues discussed at WiW Summits affect not only women but also trans men, non-binary individuals, and anyone who menstruates and these topics are relevant to a broader spectrum of experiences. Our events are committed to inclusivity, and our programs and support networks are available to all who are impacted—regardless of gender identity.