women in london

Equal Pay – Where Next?
A landmark conference for key stakeholders to collaborate on a progressive new roadmap towards realising equal pay

Friday 28th May 2010 from 09:30-15.30
Congress House, 28 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS

The Fawcett Society, TUC, Equality & Human Rights Commission, and UNISON are delighted to invite you to a landmark conference to mark the 40th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act and build a robust roadmap for the future of equal pay.

This collaborative event offers a unique space for key equalities stakeholders to reshape the debate around equal pay and propose practical, progressive action to tackle the gender pay gap and bring historic legislation to fruition in the 21st Century.

Participants will work to shape key recommendations on the themes of how work is organised; law and legislation; the business case for equal pay; the role of culture and attitudes in closing the pay gap, and challenge a panel of leading figures including the Government Minister for Equalities to respond.

Speakers include: Government Minister for Equalities; Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON; Ceri Goddard, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society; Kay Carberry CBE, Assistant General Secretary of the TUC; Dr Jean Irvine OBE, Business Commissioner, EHRC; Karon Monaghan QC of Matrix Chambers.

To reserve your place at this event and for more information please contact Aisling Mannion A.Mannion@unison.co.uk 0207 551 1319 by Friday 21 May 2010.

Conference Agenda
9.30 Registration and coffee
10.00 Opening plenary
* Ceri Goddard, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society
* Kay Carberry CBE Assistant General Secretary of the TUC
10.40 Open sessions – An opportunity for all participants to shape the future agenda for equal pay by contributing to debate within one of the four open sessions:
* The business case for equal pay
* * Presented by Sheila Wild of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, chaired by Alan Christie of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (tbc)
* Equal pay and the way work is organised
* * Presented by Sarah Jackson of Working Families, chaired by Nicola Smith of the TUC
* The legislative framework for equal pay
* * Presented by Karon Monaghan QC of Matrix Chambers, chaired by Bronwyn McKenna of UNISON
* Equal pay: attitudes and culture
* * Presented by Ceri Goddard of the Fawcett Society, chaired by Mirriam O’Reilly, Journalist and Broadcaster
12.45 Lunch and networking
13.45 Panel debate – An opportunity to challenge the panel to respond to recommendations emerging from each open session debate. The panel will be chaired by Samira Ahmed of Channel 4 News and will include:
* The Government Minister for Equalities (invited)
* Dr Jean Irvine OBE Business Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission and non-exec Board Member in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
* Ceri Goddard Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society
* Dave Prentis General Secretary of UNISON
* Sarah Veale CBE Head of Equality and Employment Rights at the TUC
* Norah Senior – British Chambers of Commerce Board Member Chair UK Regions
15.30 Close