Supporting, Celebrating & Inspiring Women in Black Country Business
They Said She Couldn’t Do It, But She Did!
Do you wonder what makes her successful?
Are you looking for ways to achieve success and the balance you want?
Want to hear from successful women and gain insights into achieving your version of success?
Then join us to hear from our inspiring speakers who are going to share their stories, tips for success, and advice, and inspire you to do the same.
Hear from some of the region’s inspirational women who are leading some of today’s top Black Country companies, charities and centres of learning.
This event celebrates and promotes the contribution, and role, ambitious and successful women who work and live in the Black Country play.
Be at the beginning of an exciting new network and forum for Women in Black Country Business.
It provides a platform to collaborate and share experiences and inspire future business women, helping to make the Black Country a fair and inclusive place to work for the next generation of talented women.
Help increase the awareness of women in leadership positions, highlight the lack of gender parity in the boardroom and the widening pay gap.
Ideal for those of you looking to develop your careers, take the next step - going from manager to leader, looking to take a seat on the board, or 'pivoting' to start your own business or even break into a new industry.
EVENTS – COLLABORATION – BEST PRACTICE – NETWORKING
Agenda:
09.30am: Arrival tea/coffee and networking
09.45am: First speaker
11.00am: Presentations end
11.30am: Close after networking
Please note: Filming is taking place at this event, please let the event organiser aware on the day if you do not wish to be on camera.
Speakers:
Beverley Nielsen – Associate Professor
West Midlands born, Beverley Nielsen, is passionate about the region, believing we sit in the heartland of UK makers and creators, with a goldmine of young talent.
She is Associate Professor and Director at IDEA Institute, the Institute for Design & Economic Acceleration at Birmingham City University, where she has worked for the past 10 years as Visiting Tutor, MA Design Management, Director Employer Engagement and Director Corporate Affairs. Beverley has launched a number of initiatives whilst at the university including 'Birmingham Made Me', with a focus on promoting the Midlands' manufacturing excellence along with design and brand-led businesses.
She has helped start up over 40 new companies involved in diverse areas including fashion, jewellery, interiors, integrated healthcare, outdoor activities, connected & autonomous vehicles, bicycle accessories and ultra-light rail.
Previously Director of FTSE 250 business AGA Rangemaster plc and MD of subsidiary business, Fired Earth, she was also Director of CBI West Midlands having spent 10 years working for the CBI as a European policy advisor and Assistant Director, CBI North West.
She has been recognised for her contribution to business in the region as Midlands Business Woman of the Year, the Business Desk's West Midlands Ambassador of the Year, the ALL Ladies League Woman of the Decade in Enterprise and Leadership and was awarded an honorary master’s degree from Coventry University.
Beverley is proud to have been an Associate Fellow at WMG, the University of Warwick for the past 18 years and is a Director of ART Business Loans.
She was elected a Councillor in Worcestershire in 2009, before standing as the first and only female candidate in the first election for the West Midlands Metro Mayor.
Lisa Cowley - CEO Beacon Institute for the Blind
Educated at Wolverhampton Girls High School Lisa has worked for a number of charities throughout her career after gaining a First-Class Honours degree in Zoology and Evolutionary Psychology from Liverpool, University.
Before joining the Beacon Centre, Lisa was Deputy Chief Executive at the Black Country Living Museum and was instrumental in securing £9.8 million form HLF and £8 million from Black Country LEP funding.
Working on management and development of the museums’ enterprise activities including Food & Drink and Retail, she helped deliver c £1.7 million turnover for the site.
Her career has seen her in campaign roles with the British Horse Society, Friends of Flaxmill Maltings in Shropshire and the Conservation Volunteers organisation.
Lisa’s current role at The Beacon Centre encompasses overseeing the development and delivery of all Beacon’s care and support services, stimulating new ideas and innovation as well as creating new partnerships and collaborations which help Beacon provide better services. Through Lisa’s strategic vision, Beacon aims to truly make a visible difference to those living with sight loss.
She said, “I have always worked within the Charity sector, which has been a conscious decision of mine as I’m really passionate about making a difference. I feel very lucky to be part of the team at Beacon, who are all so driven to support others, improve people’s prospects and change perceptions. Working together, I am confident we will help create a society where individuals value and protect their sight and a visual impairment does not limit or determine opportunities”.
Professor Michelle Shaw - Director of Educations & CEO University of Wolverhampton Multi Academy Trust
A Professor in Education with over 25 years’ experience working in Schools, FE and HE with extensive experience of senior leadership and management, Michelle will give an insight into current women in leadership research data, the challenges this throws up, her own lived experiences as a senior leader in Education and the ways in which, through school education, we can begin to make a difference?
Teresa Boughey MA Chartered FCIPD Founder and CEO of National Award-Winning Jungle HR a strategic HR Consultancy Practice that works with Executive Boards and Leadership Teams during times of change and business transformation.
Described by her peers as personable, innovative and high energy. Teresa has operated at Senior level within a variety of industries and sectors including FTSE 250, Financial Services, Travel Industry, Private and Public Sectors, Charitable Organisations and a Sunday Times Top 100 Company that grew 30% year on year.
Her achievements are award winning and include leading on the acquisition of the iconic Gleneagles hotel, delivering business transformation programmes across Europe achieving combined cost savings of c3.5million euros as well as providing Executive Coaching to Board & C-suite members.
Teresa has also been appointed to one of only 50 UK Female Entrepreneur Ambassador roles and is currently a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women and Enterprise and also the Women and Work All Party Parliamentary Group.
Her book, ‘Closing the Gap – 5 steps to creating an Inclusive Culture’ provides Corporate CEOs and HR Directors with a clear framework which can be used to create a culture that welcomes diversity and aims to close the gap in gender pay using her TRIBE methodology.
As an active fundraiser Teresa has also helps raise funds for various charities and is currently an Ambassador for The Hunger Project – Unleased Women’s Project.
Teresa will speak about Closing the Gap and how to weave diversity throughout organisations.