Aston University is delighted to partner with Aston Villa Women Football Club to deliver a series of events focusing on women in leadership. These events will give ambitious women the opportunity to hear from female leaders across private and public sector career about their journeys and achievements, and will also provide networking opportunities. The final event, Managing the Media, is a two-day interactive workshop that will teach participants how to deal with the press, hold press conferences, and master crisis management skills.
Q&A Event – Aston University – Date TBC 5-7pm
Please note this event has been postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions. We will contact all those who have signed up with a new date when it has been decided. Sign-ups for this event are still open below.
Put your questions to our panel of women leaders and have the opportunity to mingle and network over refreshments.
Speakers:
Guest Speakers
Jo Andrews – Professor of Communication and Management Practice
Jo Andrews joined Aston in April of 2019, having previously worked in the Business Schools of The University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University. When Jo left BCU in 2015 she was awarded Professor Emerita status in recognition of her thirty five-years of service there. Jo's research interests are in the area of Corporate Communication focusing upon the challenges organisations face in balancing internal with external communications.
Jo has designed Employee Communication Audits for numerous public and private sector organisations and has also conducted consultancy and training in the areas of Media and Crisis Management. Jo lectures in Marketing, PR, Event Management and Corporate Communication.
Andrea Hickman – Master Soc Sci. Diploma in Social Work/CQSW
Andrea retired in 2014 from a career as a committed child care professional, working as Assistant Director of Birmingham’s Children Services. Andrea chaired and led two local authority Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards, was a Social Services Inspector with the Government Inspectorate during which time she contributed to developing government child care legislation and guidance, and led on developing effective working relationships between the statutory and voluntary sectors, specifically across local government and NHS organisations.
During the course of her working life Andrea has been a Probation Officer, Principal Court Officer with Birmingham Social Services, Chief Education Social Worker for the Birmingham Local Education Department. In a voluntary capacity, a committee and board member of Birmingham Friendship Housing Association, a member of the National Steering Committee for Home Start UK. During the last nine years of her working life Andrea was a self-employed Child Care Adviser and trainer.
Ann Terry – Executive Coach
Ann runs her own consultancy and loves working as an executive coach and facilitator with a wide range of organisation across the public, education and private sector. She brings her own experience of working as a senior leader in health coupled with her scientific background in physiology and psychology to support her work.
As a coach and facilitator her work involves creating challenging, inspiring and psychologically safe spaces for leaders and their teams. This enables them to develop strategies and effective implementation plans to ensure maximum engagement and productivity.
The diversity of the organisations that she has been privileged to work with include: European commission, Transport for London, senior leadership teams of international pharma companies, leading global luxury brands, overseas retailers, climate change organisations, social care and housing associations. She also still works closely with the NHS including several specialist hospital trusts across the country.
Councillor Yvonne Mosquito - Deputy Lord Mayor
Since becoming a Councillor in 1996 she has held a variety of positions, leading and working on initiatives to combat a number of issues including: child sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation, elder physical and financial abuse, forced marriage, places of safety and knife crime, as well as supporting the development of multi-agency safeguarding and domestic abuse hubs.
Yvonne set up the Business Executive Forum as a mentoring and inspirational body which linked local businesses to young people. As General Secretary of the Standing Consultative Forum, she worked with the twelve major faith groups to address issues around social justice and inequality.
Yvonne’s support to the family of Marcia and Letisha Shakespeare, who were killed in the New Year shootings, helped bring about change in the way the police dealt with gang violence.
Following her appointment to the Police Authority in 1996, Yvonne championed mental health issues. As Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner she had responsibility for a number of areas which included Counter Terrorism, and Human Resources. As acting Police and Crime Commissioner she signed the contract which supported the transformation of the West Midlands Police.
As Chair of the People and Organisation Overview & Scrutiny Committee of Birmingham City Council and Chair of the Personnel Committee of West Midlands Police Authority she worked closely with Unison to ensure workers were treated fairly. She supported the Equal Pay, Bullying, Sex Discrimination & Victimisation, and Tribunal Fees campaigns.
Yvonne has called for support for local small companies and businesses and, as a Commissioner for the Legal Services Commission, argued for fair commissioning processes.
Yvonne was appointed to serve as Lord Mayor of Birmingham and First Citizen from May 2018 to May 2019 and as Deputy Lord Mayor from May 2019 to May 2020, agreeing to continue in the role until May 2021 to help lead the city through the pandemic. From May 2021, Yvonne will continue to serve as Lord Mayor’s Deputy.
Fern Wake – Chief Operating Officer, Cazoo
Fern Wake is UK Chief of Operations at Cazoo, where she is responsible for the operations and logistics teams, including Cazoo’s reconditioning facilities and its distribution hubs across the UK as well as its team of over 100 delivery specialists and fleet of single car transporters.
Fern was previously Chief Operating Officer at Farmdrop where she oversaw a team of 180 across purchasing, distribution and fulfilment. Fern has a proven track record and over 20 years’ experience in key operational and distribution roles, having previously been Group Operations Director at LoveFiLM running operations across Europe and prior to that as one of the earliest UK employees in operations at Amazon.
Fern is a keen sports woman and she loves outdoor swimming, cycling, running and yoga.
Lindsey Homer - Brand Manager, Cadbury
In her current role, Lyndsey is the responsible for a favourite Easter brand, Cadbury Creme Egg. Having had an array of FMCG brand roles from belVita to Cadbury Dairy Milk, Lyndsey has had broad experience leading and landing campaigns and product innovation. From belVita partnerships with Tassimo to launching three limited edition Cadbury Dairy Milk products invented by members of the public.
Alongside her marketing role Lyndsey is super passionate about driving the inclusivity agenda both within Mondelez and externally. Within Mondelez she leads an Inclusion platform, GENDA, which exists to support everyone in achieving their full potential. This has included hosting events with Alex Scott, author Adrienne Hebert and on the horizon, this summer a panel with Fearne Cotton. Alongside side this Lyndsey also works with The Code, a programme focus on mentoring young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.