Festival of Women

Joeli Brearley

Wealth Theme Keynote Speaker

Founder, Pregnant Then Screwed I Campaigner I Author I MBE

Joeli founded Pregnant Then Screwed, the UK charity campaigning to end the motherhood penalty, and now leads the team at Growth Spurt. For over a decade, Joeli has been at the forefront of the fight for women’s equality in the workplace.

Harriet Johnson

Safety Theme Keynote Speaker

Barrister | Founder member of Women in Criminal Law | Former Chair of the board at Women In Prison | Author

Harriet is a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, specialising in women’s rights and founder member of Women in Criminal Law and former Chair of Women in Prison. Harriet is also the author of Enough: The Violence Against Women and How to End It (Harper Collins, 2022).

Dr Helen Wall

Health Theme

Menopause Specialist | TV Broadcaster | Bestselling Author

Dr Helen Wall is a GP Partner, BMS-registered Menopause Specialist, bestselling author of Menopause and ADHD and resident doctor for BBC Breakfast. A trusted media voice on women’s health, she is passionate about helping women understand how hormonal changes throughout life can influence cognition, mood, wellbeing and neurodiversity – particularly during perimenopause and menopause.

Through her clinical practice, broadcasting, weekly column in Woman magazine and public speaking, Dr Wall is committed to improving awareness, education and access to care for women by empowering them with the knowledge and confidence to take control of their health and reshaping the conversation around menopause, ADHD and female brain health.

Lee Chambers

Wealth Theme

Founder & Chief Executive Office of Male Allies UK

Joining Coral on the panel is Lee Chambers, founder and CEO of Male Allies UK. A Great British Entrepreneur Award recipient, Freedom of the City of London honouree and 2023 UN Women Changemaker of the Year, Lee is a globally recognised expert on gender equality, allyship and masculinity. He sits on the board of CMI Women, co-chairs the Cross Sector Taskforce on Online Misogyny and Men’s Engagement, and is an ambassador for both Refuge and 50:50 Parliament. He is also the author of the bestselling book Momentum: 13 Ways To Unlock Your Potential.

Coral Horn

Wealth Theme

Founder of Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAS)

Coral Horn is the Founder of the Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAS), the UK’s largest business awards dedicated solely to women, and SheChain Live, a national event connecting women-led businesses with buyers, opportunities and growth. A passionate advocate for female entrepreneurship, Coral has spent almost two decades championing women in business, creating platforms that celebrate achievement, open doors and challenge perceptions. Through EVAS, SheChain Live and Pink Link, she has built a powerful community that supports, connects and amplifies thousands of women across the UK, helping them raise their profile, grow their businesses and realise their ambitions.

Erin Mansell

Wealth Theme

Deputy Director and Head of External Affairs, Women’s Budget Group UK

Erin leads WBG’s influencing work getting their analysis and evidence on a gender equal economy to as large and diverse audiences as possible. Erin has appeared in national broadcast and print media representing WBG on a wide range of issues including the UK Government’s budget and what it means for women; the importance of improving parental leave policies; and the global trend of falling birth rates. 

Emma Thackray

Wealth Theme

Senior Research Officer, Women’s Budget Group UK

Emma is a Senior Research Officer at the Women’s Budget Group (WBG), where she leads on grassroots and participatory research programmes. Her work focuses on ensuring that WBG’s research and policy is informed by lived experience, and on building meaningful partnerships that enable women who are often excluded from decision-making to have their voices heard and shape policy.

Gill Gardner

Wealth Theme

Head of Legal at the Co-Op Group

Gill is currently Head of Legal at the Co-op Group in Manchester leading a team of 32 lawyers supporting the legal requirements of the Co-op’s food, funeral care, and life services businesses. 

Over her career Gill has worked as a partner in private legal practice specialising in merger and acquisition work. She has held several non-executive appointments within education, the arts and financial services and currently is a director and the audit and risk committee Chair of Co-op Academies Trust. 

Simon Brierley

Wealth Theme

Chief Executive Officer of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce

Simon Brierley is Chief Executive of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, leading work to support business growth, economic development and employer engagement across the region. With extensive experience across membership organisations, commercial leadership and business support, Simon works closely with employers, local authorities and regional stakeholders to champion investment, skills and economic opportunity for East Lancashire.

Tracy Hopkins

Wealth Theme

Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Advice Blackpool

Tracy Hopkins is CEO of Citizens Advice Blackpool, bringing over 23 years of leadership experience across the VCFSE sector. A passionate advocate for social justice, Tracy is also an NIHR Pre-doctoral Fellow researching health inequalities in Blackpool, Chair of the VCFSE Alliance across Lancashire & South Cumbria and Non-Executive Director at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Micky Marsden

Wealth Theme

Co-Founder of JaRo HR

Micky is Co-Founder of JaRo HR and a CIPD qualified HR professional with over 15 years of experience across multiple sectors. Having started her career at the University of Oxford in 2010, she co-founded JaRo HR in 2020 alongside Louise Payne. Known for making complex HR and employment law accessible, Micky works closely with organisations to develop practical, people-centred solutions that reflect their culture, values and goals – giving employers the confidence and clarity to make great decisions for their people.

Kerry Scruton

Wealth Theme

Head of HR & Estates at Lancashire Women

Kerry joined Lancashire Women in 2005 as an Employment Support Officer and has progressed through the organisation to her current role as Head of HR & Estates. With a background in HR, recruitment and Advice & Guidance, and qualified to Management at Level 7, she brings over 20 years of third sector experience to the Senior Leadership Team. Kerry is passionate about supporting women in the workplace to thrive and develop.

Hayley Dickinson

Wealth Theme

Programme Manager at BAE Systems

Hayley Dickinson is a Programme Manager at BAE Systems with nine years of experience leading complex projects across key Typhoon programmes. Alongside her professional role, she serves as Air Sector Co-Lead of the Inspiring Women Network, championing initiatives that support and connect women across the business and wider community. Drawing on her own experiences, Hayley is passionate about inclusive leadership, diverse perspectives and empowering others to reach their full potential.

Andy Knox MBE

Health Theme

Co-Medical Director of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB 

Professor Andy Knox MBE is Co-Medical Director of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, Partner at Ash Trees Surgery in Carnforth and Honorary Professor at Lancaster University Management School. He co-founded the LSC Population Health Leadership Academy, is a Population Health Associate at the King’s Fund and recently published his first book Sick Society. He was awarded an MBE for services to Primary Care and Health Inequalities.

Dr Ewa Craven

Health Theme

Menopause Specialist 

Dr Ewa Craven is an NHS GP of over 20 years and the first British Menopause Society accredited Menopause Specialist and BMS Trainer in Lancashire. Founder of Dr Craven Women’s Health and former Clinical Lead for Women’s Health at Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, she has represented the region as a Women’s Health Ambassador on both the national forum and in Parliamentary groups.

Teri Stephenson

Health Theme

Chief Executive Office of Age UK Lancashire

Teri Stephenson joined Age UK Lancashire as Chief Executive in May 2018. She has held senior leadership roles across the charity sector, including at RNIB, Action for Blind People and Foundation, focusing on delivering high-quality services for people who are socially isolated or disadvantaged – an area she is deeply passionate about.

Earlier in her career, Teri worked in the criminal justice system, managing drug treatment services and a cognitive behavioral therapy programme within a high-security prison. She began her career in the Civil Service, supporting people furthest from the labour market into employment.

Debbie Haworth

Health Theme

Therapeutic Team Lead at Lancashire Women

Debbie is a Person-Centred Therapist and Therapeutic Team Lead at Lancashire Women. Qualifying in 2018, she has worked with children from the age of five, adults in private practice across the world, and many people with a range of neurodivergent experiences. Debbie is herself diagnosed with ADHD, giving her both professional and lived experience of neurodiversity. She is passionate about increasing understanding of how neurodivergence can present in women and how this can affect mental health, relationships and working life. Debbie believes that greater understanding can help workplaces move away from simply expecting people to fit in, towards creating environments where people can genuinely thrive. 

Sharon Isherwood

Health Theme

Clinical Lead at Lancashire Women

Sharon Isherwood is the Clinical Lead at Lancashire Women, a BACP–accredited counsellor and clinical supervisor with extensive experience in psychological therapies, clinical governance, safeguarding and complex risk, specialising in suicide prevention  and has a strong interest in workplace wellbeing. Sharon oversees therapy services and brings a trauma–informed, inclusive and evidence-based approach shaped by her work across NHS Talking Therapies, Perinatal services, Drug and alcohol recovery, Education and Private practice. She is passionate about supporting her team’s wellbeing and helping workplaces better understand and respond to the needs of women, neurodivergent colleagues, reducing stigma and those experiencing menopause. 

Dr Anna Hopkins

Safety Theme

Chief Executive at the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner in Lancashire

Dr Anna Hopkins became Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire in late 2024, bringing over twenty years of policing experience. Beginning her career with Greater Manchester Police specialising in domestic abuse, she has conducted applied research into Violence Against Women and Girls, advised national MPs on VAWG policy, worked as a consultant and trainer for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and served as a Domestic Abuse advisor.

Fiona Drouet MBE

Safety Theme

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of EmilyTest

Founded in memory of her daughter, EmilyTest is driving national change in how colleges and universities prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

Emily was just 18 when she died by suicide after experiencing sustained abuse by a fellow student. In the face of unimaginable loss, Fiona has worked tirelessly to ensure other young women are better protected – challenging institutions and influencing policy.

Yasmin Javed

Safety Theme

Campaigner

Yasmin is the mother of Fawziyah Javed – a talented lawyer and beloved daughter whose life was cut short in Edinburgh in September 2021. Fawziyah’s story gained national attention through the Channel 4 documentary The Push.

Yasmin has shown extraordinary courage in sharing her daughter’s story by campaigning tirelessly for stronger legal protections, greater awareness of coercive control and recognition of the often-overlooked issue of honour-based abuse.

Lancashire Female Justice Partnership Board

Safety Theme

Sarah Norcross (Programme Manager, Justice & Safety, Lancashire Women), Claire Ashworth (Senior Probation Officer and North West Probation Women’s Lead) and Anna Javed (Senior Probation Officer and Partnerships Manager) together co-chair the Lancashire Female Justice Partnership Board – a pioneering partnership bringing together organisations from across the system in Lancashire, co-produced with women with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

United by a shared commitment to trauma-informed, gender-responsive practice, this session will explore how collaboration, early intervention and lived experience can break cycles of harm and create lasting change for women in the justice system.