With a focus on the IWD 2024 theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion’, the 2024 University of Chester Diversity Festival and IGS International Women’s Day 2024 reflects on Women and ageing.

“When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment. The #InspireInclusion campaign aims to forge a more inclusive world for women.”

Building on the successes of our previous IWD events, this year we are delighted to welcome Helen Tomlinson, the UK Government’s first-ever Menopause Champion. Joining us live for an online discussion with the University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Eunice Simmons, Helen will discuss her career journey and life lessons learnt along the way as well as the changes she has made in the Government adviser role and would like to continue making.

Following this, the University of Chester’s Helen Webster will discuss the connection between the perimenopause and ADHD traits. Helen will cover the impact on functioning in day to day life as well as her own journey of discovery and management. This section includes input from Emma Weaver, Deputy CEO of the ADHD Foundation. The ADHD Foundation is the UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, supporting the 1 in 5 who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more.

Una Cottrell, founder of 45 Not Out, will then lead a panel of mid-life women who have experienced ageism in some form during their normal day to day lives to discuss how they overcame it. 45 Not Out is a community, spread over several online platforms, of like-minded, midlife and older women who are still serious about their life, career and everything else.

This in-person event will include plenty of time for breaks, networking and discuss