BoardAble Final Session

State Opening of Parliament

State Opening is undoubtedly one of our most glamorous events of the year. 

Ambassador members who were lucky in the ballot arrived in their Ascot finery to watch the royal procession.

We then meandered through the main Palace to soak up the atmosphere. 


Including a visit to the royal gallery and robing room, plus a brief chat with a BBC crew who were filming the event!

After that to our private room for an excellent State Opening luncheon. 




A big thank you to the House of Commons team!

Lunch was followed by an hour spent in the House of Commons chamber listening to the PM and Leader of the Opposition debate the Queen’s speech.

Roundtable debate: Closing the Skills Gap

At the House of Lords, Pink Shoe hosted the UK launch of a ground breaking report from EY launched at the WEF at Davos. 

APPGE Co-chairman the Earl of Erroll got the event off to a lively start. Julie Teigland of EY then outlined the 5 key aims of the report.

On behalf of DfID Baroness Verma then shared with us the activities of the High Level Panel, which Justine Greening is a member.

We then heard from Maria Miller MP about the excellent progress being made by the Women and Equalities Committee.

The discussion chaired by Jill Pay debated the key ideas with delegates. 

We then enjoyed the inspiring closing remarks from Pink Shoe’s longstanding friend Lorely, Baroness Burt before adjourning for the reception.

‘Empowering women for economic growth’ at Chatham House

An absorbing roundtable at Chatham House with guest speaker HE Mme Michelle Bachelet, the President of Chile. 

As part Women ³ Fast Forward Women, EY are supporting an innovative W20 initiative created by Chatham House.

EU Business Debate

With everyone's attention on the EU referendum, Pink Shoe held its own debate to help members and colleagues make a decision on this momentous and historic vote.

With such a huge topic, it was decided that the focus was to be specifically on business for the audience of leading entrepreneurs, professionals and parliamentarians.

The debate ‘In or Out – which is better for British Business?’ was lively, engaging and highly informative. The speakers were all superb and each put across their case with gusto and a wide range of knowledge and know-how.

The speaker order was balloted, so first we heard from The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, leader of the House of Commons, eloquent and persuasive on behalf of Vote Leave. 

Then it was time for Baroness Kramer, followed by Labour MP Emma Reynolds, both passionately articulating a well-founded case for StrongerIn. 

Finally, Bernard Jenkin MP spoke for Vote Leave, again with passion, he put across some highly rational arguments.

After the presentations, the splendid chairman Professor Tim Evans, Professor of Business & Political Economy at Middlesex University, introduced our additional panellists, lawyer and director of Women for Britain (Vote Leave) Olivia Cooper; and Alex Mitchell, Executive Vice President of the European Confederation Young Entrepreneurs, which has 60,000members across europe. 

The debate was opened to the floor for some excellent questions from delegates. Topics ranged from the wisdom of President Obama's strong intervention on Britain leaving the EU;  the real cost of membership and 'balancing the books'; to whether red tape would be reduced if the UK votes to leave.

All too soon we had to end, with many delegates remarking that they had learned a huge amount from the brilliant speakers and panel. Several saying that the evening had persuaded them 'off the fence' and they'd been able to decide which way to vote in June.

After the debate we adjourned to Parliament Street for a reception and lots more discussion on the EU accompanied by a selection of English, French and Italian wines and cheeses!

Images from  official Pink Shoe Photographer Sharron Wallace 

www.sharronwallace.com 

BoardAble Programme and Aperitivo

The first session of Pink Shoe's latest BoardAble Shadowing programme was held for the successful candidates of the Spring 2016 cohort.

Delegates were out through their paces from the start, going through a mock boardroom exercise then receiving feedback and individual learning points from trained senior board-level observers. 

Following a rigourous day, delegates were able to relax with other Pink Shoe members at the April Aperitivo.

UN Future of Cities

Pink Shoe Ambassador Jacqueline Winstanley, who leads on Inclusive Entrepreneurship for our UK Economic Blueprint for Women, was honoured to receive an invitation from Professor Diana Davis, Founding President of International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) to attend a High Level Meeting  'The Future of Cities' at the UN Headquarters in New York. 

The meeting was organised in support of the 2030 Agenda including the Sustainable development Goals.The programme included  the ICCC Awards Ceremony ‘Raising the Roof’.

This was a fabulous opportunity for Jacqueline to listen and contribute to the debate. 

Presentations from the Global Architects of the Future were very impressive and filled with innovation - humanitarianism in the pursuit of intergenerational Cities around the world.

The meeting was followed by a Gala reception and Concert in the delegates’ Dining Room overlooking the Hudson River by moonlight with an equally impressive Musical Programme. It is certainly true that Music touches the Soul and can unite all Nations.

Jacqueline thanks Professor Davis for the kind invitation and her continued hospitality of Afternoon Tea overlooking Central Park the following day.

She is looking forward to working with Professor Davis and her colleagues going forward. Following the UN meeting, Jacqueline joined ICCC at April’s prestigious invitation-only Windsor Consultation at Windsor Castle.