Women in Professional Services event: Wednesday 12 October 2022

Staff are invited to the first face-to-face networking event organised by the Women in Professional Services (WPS) Network, taking place on Wednesday 12 October 2022 at the Student Life Building with guest speaker Dawn Coker.

Event: Women in Professional Services Network present a guest talk from Dawn Coker “Making a Difference: From My Journey to Yours”
Date: Wednesday 12 October 2022
Time: 1pm to 2pm
Location: LJMU Student Life Building (SLB)
Attendees: Women in Professional Services (WPS) members and other female professional services staff
Sign-up: Register using eventbrite by Friday 7 October (registrations after this date will still be accepted, but please note this deadline has been set for catering purposes)

Event agenda

• Welcome by chairs
• Keynote speech from Dawn Coker on “Making a Difference: From My Journey to Yours”
• Q&A
• Networking & light lunch

What to expect from the event?

LJMU’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team caught up with the co-chairs of the event who gave an insider view on what they expect from the event.

“This is a chance for you to meet and chat with women in professional services from across the university. We are joined by Dawn Coker, who earlier this year won the ‘Women Making a Difference Award’ at the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards 2022. She will be sharing with us her story.” – Sian Downes, Co-chair of WPS

“We are thrilled to be holding our first in-person event.  Women supporting women from professional services, of all grades, including our inspirational and award-winning speaker, Dawn Coker. We look forward to seeing you there.” – Sharlene Whittle, Co-chair of WPS

About the guest speaker Dawn Coker

Shining a light on the great things women in business can achieve, Dawn is an inspirational and tenacious leader who aims to revolutionise the culture of the financial services sector.

It is Dawn’s tenacity that helped her overcome the challenges that going through early menopause in the workplace threw at her when she was aged just 37. Tackling the issue of unsupportive and uncaring colleagues whilst experiencing debilitating symptoms such as memory loss, hot flushes and excessive sweating meant Dawn was exhausted both physically and mentally, with no one to talk to.

Following her personal experiences of menopause in the workplace, Dawn is committed to supporting women’s advancement in business through developing and retaining female talent. One way of doing this was by rolling out a menopause policy at Access2Funding in 2021, which helps colleagues to openly, and comfortably, instigate conversations about the menopause.

Since launching her menopause policy, Dawn has been approached by businesses across the UK asking for a copy to help them implement their own. She has also shared her menopause journey at business events and on various workplace wellbeing apps to help raise awareness further.

Dawn said: “Barriers are being broken down slowly, awareness is increasing, and more companies are beginning to implement workplace menopause policies. However, there is still a long way to go to educate and help SMEs retain talented women who are facing menopausal symptoms.”

What is the WPS Network?

LJMU’s Women in the Professional Services (WPS) Network is for all female staff in professional services at all levels and grades, therefore "non-academic". Importantly, the group serves as a source of information and peer support for female staff.

Find out more about the Women In Professional Services Network.

Visit the LJMU Equality webpages for more information about the work of LJMU’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team or send the team an email.