Welcome to our celebration of International Women’s Day 2025! Today, we gather to honor the remarkable achievements, resilience, and contributions of women worldwide.

International Women’s Day is not only a day of reflection but also a moment of action. It reminds us to celebrate women’s strides in every field, from science and technology to education, politics, and the arts. But it’s also an invitation to recognise the work that still needs to be done—addressing barriers, supporting equality, and ensuring opportunities for the next generation of women and girls.

Together, we can continue to champion a world where every person’s voice is heard, respected, and valued.

The theme for 2025 is #Accelerate Action for gender equality.

We are delighted to be joined by our Guest Speakers, so far confirmed:

Thank you to our event sponsor WSP Solicitors.

• Alex Gidman – Assistant Head Coach for the England Womens Cricket Team. Alex went to Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire, where he became a talented cricketer playing for the first XI. Alex worked his way through the youth ranks as a Gloucestershire player, starting in the Under-17s County Championship tournaments of 1997 and 1998. His first-class cricketing career began with limited overs cricket in 2001 in the C&G Trophy. He played his first County Championship match a year later, and while Gloucestershire failed to impress in that year’s competition, they were promoted the following year, with Alex establishing himself in the middle-order and averaging over 40 with the bat. A highly respected figure in the men’s game, Gidman previously spent four years as head coach at Worcestershire County Cricket club who he led to T20 Blast Finals Day in 2019 and was head coach of the white ball team when the New Road outfit lifted the title the year before. Alex enjoyed a 15-year playing career at both Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, making over 500 professional appearances where he captained the latter for five years.Alex was appointed Assistenat Head Coach to the England Womens Cricket Team.  in October 2023 
• Lynette Barret  – CEO National Star Lynette was originally a care and support worker and has never lost sight of this. She has moved through the ranks at National Star and gained many qualifications along the way, including an MBA. Lynette was previously Chief Operations Officer before becoming Chief Executive in 2022. She is also Chair of Natspec.
• Louise Speaight – Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications, L3 Harris. Louise is a business leader with over 19 years of experience in strategic marketing, business transformation, account management and sales.An advocate for driving positive change within a business, working collaboratively to define mid- to long-term strategic intent and building that into operational delivery and continued excellence. Experienced at combining strategic and creative thinking, demonstrating strong leadership when needed, but remaining open to fresh ideas to enhance performance. An authentic leader committed to instilling a diverse, equitable, engaged, and inclusive performance culture. Such initiatives include a commitment to the Women in Defence charter, mentoring programmes, and founding the UK chapter of L3Harris’ internal Women’s Employee Resource Group.

• Camella Cephas  – WSP Solicitors Camella qualified as a solicitor in 2011 having completed her training contract in London. She worked in both private practice and for the local authority in London before moving to the Gloucestershire area in 2015. Camella became and Associate at WSP Solicitors in 2021 after joining the firm in 2020. In 2022 Camella became a Board Director at WSP and Head of Children & Care Law. Camella is an accredited member of the Law Society’s children panel and specialises in both public and private Children law cases. She is also a keen advocate and represents her clients at court hearings.Her vast experience ranges through dealing with complex cases such as those with an international element, forced marriage protection orders, issues of non-accidental injuries and sexual abuse. Camella also has experience of dealing with vulnerable clients and represents both parents and children through their court appointed Guardian.

#Accelerate Action

At the current rate of progress, it will take 134 years, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity in 2158, according to data from the World Economic Forum.

So, together, let’s Accelerate Action and speed up the rate of progress worldwide.

Please join us to celebrate, and be a part of this global movement toward a more inclusive future for everyone.