Inspiring the high flyers of tomorrow

Apr 7 2009 by Nicola Juncar, The Journal

THE North East’s most influential women are backing an initiative launched today to raise the aspirations of young women from our region’s schools.

The North East Women (New) Leaders conference will see some of the region’s high flying women and emerging talent coming together to both inspire and offer guidance to students on how to make it to the top.

The event will be held in the Newcastle Business School’s facilities on Northumbria University’s City Campus East on April 24.

More than 500 of the region’s most promising female students, aged 16 to 18, will attend to listen to words of wisdom of speakers from business, the arts and public life.

These include Margaret Fay OBE, chair of One North East; Lorna Moran MBE, CEO of Northern Recruitment Group; Erica Whyman, chief executive of Northern Stage; Sarah Green, director of CBI North East; Jane Atkinson, vice president for Sembcorp Utilities UK; Nickie Gott, North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2007; and television presenter Kim Inglis.

In addition, Professor Sharon Mavin, associate dean for research and consultancy at Newcastle Business School, will be hosting the event and giving a presentation entitled The Devil Doesn’t Always Wear Prada: Tales from the Boardroom.

This aims to introduce some of the fables and labels which surround women in business, highlighting dilemmas and tensions, particularly for women in senior management.

She will be joined by Helene Speight, businesswoman and one of the 2008 finalists of the hit television show The Apprentice, who will talk about her own experiences of the programme and her career.

The New Leaders Conference programme has been developed by Central Newcastle High School, in Jesmond, as part of its commitment to preparing girls for leadership in whatever career they choose to pursue.

Headmistress Hilary French said: “As leaders in education, it is our duty to ensure we educate and nurture our pupils to succeed in life beyond the classroom.

“In today’s challenging and uncertain economic times, it is more important than ever that we provide our girls with opportunities to develop the independence and self-belief to grow into strong, inspirational women.

“There is no better way to do this than by giving the girls the opportunity to meet with women who have already achieved, or are on their way to achieving, success in their careers.”

Beccy Earnshaw, from conference partner SCHOOLS NorthEast, added: “We are delighted to support this fantastic event. The young women attending are the future leaders of our region and we should do all that we can to raise aspirations and inform them of the opportunities available to them.

“This event celebrates the many talented and trailblazing women in our region and recognises that ensuring that future generations of young women have the skills, confidence and ambition to succeed is vital for the North East’s prosperity. By enabling those to meet strong, realistic role models they can learn more about what the route to success can look like and how they may realise their own potential.”

There are still some places available and any schools wanting to sign up their students for the conference should email NEWleaders@schoolsnortheast.com  or call (0191) 280-5037.