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Event Summary

Women want their employers to be more understanding about their health. Now is the time for employers to step up workplace support by introducing female-friendly policies and benefits, improving flexibility, and boosting investment in women’s health initiatives.

The annual Women’s Health in the Workplace conference will place online on Wednesday 24th September 2025. Bringing together forward-thinking organisations from across the world, we will share UK best practice, international case studies, and fresh perspectives.

With new guidance and an updated code of conduct for public services announced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, understand the impact to your organisation on how to support women at work from maternity discrimination to providing single-sex spaces.

Gain insight from a legal expert on your duty of care, including women undergoing fertility treatments such as IVF and how changes to policy including the Employment Rights Bill could further protect employees including new requirements for businesses with over 250 employees to publish Menopause Action Plan.

We will outline actions employers must take to support women through their life cycle from menstrual health to maternal mental health and postpartum health at work. Spotlighting endometriosis which affects 1.5 million* women in the UK, how can your workplace support women through and after diagnosis to ensure women do not leave the workforce.

Upskill line managers to spot signs and symptoms of health conditions at work. With the right support, they will feel more confident to have difficult and sensitive conversations.

With learning from international case studies and best practice UK speakers, we hope you will join us in September to take the next steps to becoming a truly inclusive employer for women.

Key Points

Gain insight on the latest guidance and policy changes including EHRC Code of Conduct and Menopause Action Plans
Understand your legal duty of care
Improving your understanding of women’s health conditions and the impact in workplaces
Understanding your responsibility as an employer: making reasonable adjustments
Adapting workplace policies to include menstrual, reproductive and hormonal health, and fertility treatment
Next steps for pregnancy and maternity policies in the workplace
Progress and next steps in the menopause revolution
Initiatives to support women’s mental health and wellbeing needs at work
Equipping line managers to hold sensitive and difficult conversations
Male allies – the importance of getting buy-in from men

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Group discounts

Great agenda with very good speakers
Lisa Jones, The Hippodrome Casino

Very informative, topical issues covered with lots of practical examples I can take forward in my own organisation
Nicola Jones, Pobl Group

Great opportunity to listen to the expert speakers today- really exceptional.
Belinda Hewett, University Hospitals Dorset

So relevant to raising the profile of sexual and reproductive health, intersectional and cultural issues and establishing collaborative solutions
Emma Persand, Lemur Health and Working with the Menopause

Agenda

09:15 – 09:45

Registration, Tea and Coffee

09:45 – 10.00

Chair’s Opening Remarks

10.00– 10:40

Keynote Address - Investing in Women’s Health in the Workplace: Retention, Policy and Closing the Gender Pay Gap

Next Steps for women’s health policy: from hormonal health to long-term health conditions
The employer’s responsibility: a shift in culture
Working towards closing the gender imbalance: pay gap reporting, maternity rights and health specific policies

10:40 – 11:05

Case Study 1: Inclusion, Empowerment and Updates to EHRC - Future Pregnancy and Maternity in the Workplace

Main Pregnancy and Maternity Rights: Guarantees paid maternity leave, protection from unfair dismissal
Making necessary accommodations: What should you include in pregnancy and maternity policies
Protecting and including the rights of LGBTQ+ maternity and paternity rights and inclusion
Providing support for maternal mental health at work and women post traumatic births
Supporting women returning to work from maternity leave, and from career breaks due to childcare

Live Q&A

10:55 – 11:05

Kat Parsons

Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Centrica

11:05 – 11:30

International Case Study 1: Removing the Stigma Surrounding Fertility Treatment - Building a Better Workplace Support Mechanism

Understanding the impact of infertility and IVF treatments on women: providing reasonable adjustments
The cycle of IVF: what support will a person need at work and when?
Providing time off and flexible working
What to include in workplace policies and toolkits

Live Q&A

11:20 – 11.30

Justine McLullagh

Strategy & Insights Lead, Retail, Google

11:30 – 12:00

Networking Tea and Coffee Break

Meet your colleagues and make new connections.

12:00 – 12:25

Legal Surgery: What are Your Responsibilities as an Employer?

Put your questions and scenarios to an employment law specialist and hear new insights on:

The new Employment Rights Bill: what is its impact on workplaces?
Changes to maternity rights, flexible working and reasonable adjustments

12:25– 12:55

International Case Study 2: Innovations in Meeting Women’s Health and Wellbeing Needs at Work

Taking a whole life cycle approach to understand women’s mental health and wellbeing needs at each stage of their journey
Women in male-dominated industries
Hearing the voices of women of all ages: gathering information and communication the results
Female leadership at work: Changing perceptions and wellbeing
How does the UK compare?

Live Q&A

12:40 – 12:50

Floor Smit

Strategy Specialist, Group Digital, IKEA GROUP

12:55 – 13.15

Panel: Harnessing the Power of AI and Digital Tools To Support Women’s Health

The business case for ramping up investment in women’s health tools and services
A new era of technology and women’s health data
Fertility tracking to menstrual cycle monitoring
How can innovative devices empower women to take a more active role in understanding and managing their unique health needs?

Live Q&A

13:05 - 13:15

Joyce Harper

Professor of Reproductive Science, Institute of Women’s Health , UCL

Johanna Roostalu

Director, Women’s Health, BioInnovation Institute

13.15 – 14:00

13.15 – 14:00 Networking Lunch

14:00 – 14:45

Panel Discussion: Challenges for Managers in Supporting Women’s Health at Work

Ensuring that policies, practices and culture means that there is psychological safety for women to feel they will still be able to progress and be supported during a health need or crisis
Changing the conversation and culture from team to whole organisation
LGBTQ+ and stigmas and taboos around women’s health in the workplace
DE&I allowing diverse sectors of your employee to feel comfortable to open-up about their health and seek support if needed
Providing a safe space for managers to feedback on areas for improvement to their senior leadership
Practical Tips for holding an effective conversation

Live Q&A

14: 35 - 14:45

Annisha Taylor

Head of Diversity and Inclusion Business Partnering, BBC

Fay Simpkins

Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing, National Highways

Anu Hatti

Head of Programme Delivery, NHS Blood & Transplant

Trishna Naik

Strategy Deployment Manager, JaguarLandRover

14:45 – 15:20

Leadership Panel: Putting The Focus on Senior Leadership to Enhance Accountability and Support Budget

The business of the business case: Why is it so hard to win budget?
Leadership gaps which underestimate women’s health burden, limiting innovation and investment
The main issues, pregnancy, menopause, IVF: what support will a person need and what needs to change
Changing senior male leadership’s misconceptions about women’s health and tackling stigma

Live Q&A

15:10 - 15:20

Annisha Taylor

Head of Diversity and Inclusion Business Partnering, BBC

Karen Notaro Chartered

Head of Engagement and Wellbeing, HM Courts & Tribunals Service

Natalie Jutla

EVP and Benefits Lead, DEFRA

15:20 – 15:55

Panel: Lived Experiences of Empowerment: What Really Made a Difference to Women’s Health At Work – The Voices of Women

In this session we will review the impacts that both poor and best in class conditions have on women. How have these inequalities been addressed? What differences with they make?

Live Q&A

15:45 - 15:55

Sarah Tait

Senior Workplace Experience Lead, Lloyds Banking Group

Helen Clark

Associate Director, Royal Public Affairs

15:55 - 16:00

Chair’s Closing Remarks

Speakers

Anu Hatti, Head of Programme Delivery, NHS Blood & Transplant
Annisha Taylor, Head of Diversity and Inclusion Business Partnering, BBC
Fay Simpkins, Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing, National Highways
Kat Parsons, Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Centrica
Trishna Naik, Strategy Deployment Manager, JaguarLandRover
Karen Notaro Chartered, Head of Engagement and Wellbeing, HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science, Institute of Women’s Health UCL
Sarah Tait, Senior Workplace Experience Lead, Lloyds Banking Group
Natalie Jutla, EVP and Benefits Lead, DEFRA
Helen Clark, Associate Director, Royal Public Affairs

International Speakers:

Justine McLullagh, Strategy & Insights Lead, Retail, Google will share the perspective of a US employer. Understand what we can learn from international wellbeing programmes and how the UK compares.
Floor Smit, Strategy Specialist, Group Digital, IKEA GROUP will share insights from the Netherlands on how to achieve gender equality and support long-term health conditions uniquely experienced by women.
Johanna Roostalu, Director, Women’s Health, BioInnovation Institute in Copenhagen will discuss work to strengthen women’s health innovation/

Contributors and Partners

Contributors

CPD

This course is CPD Certified.

Contribute 6 hours towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and receive a certificate of attendance.

EDI in Leadership Conference

Thursday 19th June 2025

Face-to-Face

Diversity, Equality, and HR Conferences

Kat Parsons

Justine McLullagh

Floor Smit

Joyce Harper

Johanna Roostalu

Annisha Taylor

Fay Simpkins

Anu Hatti

Trishna Naik

Annisha Taylor

Karen Notaro Chartered

Natalie Jutla

Sarah Tait

Helen Clark

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Event Summary

Key Points

Sponsorship

Group discounts

Testimonials

Agenda

Agenda

Registration, Tea and Coffee

Chair’s Opening Remarks

Mind the Gap: Investing in Women’s Health

Keynote Address - Investing in Women’s Health in the Workplace: Retention, Policy and Closing the Gender Pay Gap

The Big Issues – Reproductive Health at Work

Case Study 1: Inclusion, Empowerment and Updates to EHRC - Future Pregnancy and Maternity in the Workplace

Kat Parsons

Kat Parsons

Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Centrica

International Case Study 1: Removing the Stigma Surrounding Fertility Treatment - Building a Better Workplace Support Mechanism

Justine McLullagh

Justine McLullagh

Strategy & Insights Lead, Retail

Google

Networking Tea and Coffee Break

Legal Surgery: What are Your Responsibilities as an Employer?

Innovative Ideas – What Works in Practice?

International Case Study 2: Innovations in Meeting Women’s Health and Wellbeing Needs at Work

Floor Smit

Floor Smit

Strategy Specialist, Group Digital

IKEA GROUP

Panel: Harnessing the Power of AI and Digital Tools To Support Women’s Health

Joyce Harper

Joyce Harper

Professor of Reproductive Science, Institute of Women’s Health

UCL

Johanna Roostalu

Johanna Roostalu

Director, Women’s Health

BioInnovation Institute

13.15 – 14:00 Networking Lunch

Panel Discussion: Challenges for Managers in Supporting Women’s Health at Work

Annisha Taylor

Annisha Taylor

Head of Diversity and Inclusion Business Partnering

BBC

Fay Simpkins

Fay Simpkins

Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing

National Highways

Anu Hatti

Anu Hatti

Head of Programme Delivery

NHS Blood & Transplant

Trishna Naik

Trishna Naik

Strategy Deployment Manager

JaguarLandRover

Business Case for Women’s Health

Leadership Panel: Putting The Focus on Senior Leadership to Enhance Accountability and Support Budget

Annisha Taylor

Annisha Taylor

Head of Diversity and Inclusion Business Partnering

BBC

Karen Notaro Chartered

Karen Notaro Chartered

Head of Engagement and Wellbeing

HM Courts & Tribunals Service

Natalie Jutla

Natalie Jutla

EVP and Benefits Lead

DEFRA

Panel: Lived Experiences of Empowerment: What Really Made a Difference to Women’s Health At Work – The Voices of Women

Sarah Tait

Sarah Tait

Senior Workplace Experience Lead

Lloyds Banking Group