#MakeWomenVisible Conference 2020

Polly Neate CBE

CEO of Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity. She is a prominent commentator in the media and on platforms as diverse as the Oxford Union and the first Women’s March London, on housing, social justice, leadership and feminism. She was previously CEO of Women’s Aid and, before that, Executive Director at Action for Children. She is a trustee of Agenda, the alliance for women and girls at risk and of the Young Women’s Trust. She was awarded Best Charity CEO on Social Media in 2019 and can be followed on Twitter @pollyn1 and Instagram @pollyatshelter. Polly was awarded a CBE in the 2020 New Year Honours List.

Wendy Irwin 

Head of Equality and Diversity at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The RCN represents nurses and nursing, promotes excellence in practice and shapes health policies. Wendy is the strategic and operational lead on equality and human rights for RCN in the UK. She has been instrumental in highlighting the workplace challenges faced by nurses and healthcare support workers working across a wide-range of care settings. Her role focuses on improving the experience and outcomes for the diversity of the nursing workforce across the UK. Wendy is widely recognised as an equalities pioneer and contributed to both research and writing about equality and inclusion in the workplace

Joeli Brearley 

Founder of the charity and campaigning group, Pregnant Then Screwed, which works to end the motherhood penalty and supports mothers who face discrimination. She started campaigning in 2015 after she was sacked by her employer the day after she informed them she was expecting her first child. Her employer was a children’s charity.

She writes for the Telegraph, is the winner of the Northern Power Women Agent for Change award, is an Amnesty International Human Rights Defender and a member of the United Nations Working Group: Women’s Human Rights in the Changing World of Work. She is currently taking the Government to court for indirect sex discrimination. Her debut book: ''Pregnant Then Screwed: The Truth about the Motherhood Penalty’’ will be published by Simon & Schuster on the 4th March 202

Triple Cripples

“TRIPLE CRIPPLES was created by two disabled Black Women, for Women, Femmes & Non-Binary POC, living with disabilities, each and every day, whose stories remain hidden from view.”

The dynamic duo, Kym Oliver & Jumoke Abdullahi, were frustrated with the lack of representation and unaddressed discrimination faced by Black and non-Black People of Colour living with disabilities. They joined forces and created a platform to increase visibility & highlight the narratives of this “invisible population, within an invisible population”! With topical videos, spotlight interviews, workshops, talks & lectures on topics ranging from relationships to travel.

The loveable duo has gained steady recognition for their insight & charisma. Featured on international platforms (BBC, AJ+, Vogue, Metro), and consulted for their invaluable perspectives in both academic & corporate circles (Oxford University, Cambridge University, Disability Leadership Institute, WOW). Black Disabled Culture cognoscenti, Kym & Jumoke, are relentless in their pursuit to transform the outcomes of those here and yet to come. 

Ayesha Hazarika, Chair

Ayesha is a Broadcaster, Journalist and Political Commentator. She is a Commentator for the Evening Standard and i Paper and a Times Radio Presenter. Ayesha is a Trustee for the Fawcett Society.

Mary O'Connell

Mary O'Connell is a comedian, writer and North London socialite. Her stage presence is dangerously aloof and despite her two degrees she's always been too cool for school. Her left field view makes for hilarious and absurd material.

Izzy Askwith

Izzy Askwith’s low energy mumblings have proved popular with audiences and judges alike. Despite having only started stand up comedy last year, she’s already won Funny Women, as well as being a finalist in the Rising Star New Act competition, the Comedy Virgins Max Turner competition and a semi-finalist in the 2Northdown New Act competition.