United Colleges Group (UCG) was proud to celebrate International Women’s Day on Thursday, March 6 with a special event at City of Westminster College, featuring an esteemed panel of accomplished women from a broad range of sectors.
The event, which honoured the achievements of women as well as fostering meaningful discussions and helping to inspire positive change in society, took place at City of Westminster College’s Paddington Campus and was open to students, staff and invited guests.
As part of UCG’s commitment to Inclusion and belonging, the morning Q&A session also aligned with the college’s other core principles of Mutual trust and respect, Putting our students first, Always improving and Compassion and empathy.
This year’s panel included:
- Karen Bonner MBE – Chief Nurse for London NHS
- Stacey Duguid – Fashion Editor and Columnist
- Kamiqua Lake – CEO of Coldr (Marketing Agency) and Founder of BlackCommsNetwork
- Rochelle Sylvester – Deputy Head at St Mary’s Primary School
- Antonia Kim Charles – Director of MTC Solicitors
Bringing together voices from the healthcare, fashion, marketing, education and legal sectors, the discussion delved into the challenges, successes and opportunities for women in today’s world; serving as a platform for empowerment, providing insights and inspiration for students, staff and the wider community.
The International Women’s Day event comes soon after another hugely successful panel discussion at the Paddington Campus. In January, UCG celebrated its annual EmpowerMENt Week, an initiative designed to raise awareness around men’s mental welfare, by featuring a group of diverse speakers made up of staff and invited guests to speak about mind health.
Karen Bonner MBE, Chief Nurse for London NHS, said: “Everyone has a different journey; events like this to mark International Women’s Day ensure young people can see the art of what’s possible, and hear real stories they can resonate with. I hope students were able take away from today that if you work hard, find what you love, stick to your values and surround yourself with good people, you will achieve in life. The college has a great diversity of people which is clear to see across the campus; I’m sure that will birth incredible young people who will go out into society to do amazing things. It’s so important we continue to inspire and support the next generation, in their careers and generally throughout their lives.”
Stephen Davis, Group Principal and CEO of United Colleges Group, said: “We were delighted to host this important event, celebrating the incredible achievements of women. Our panellists brought a wealth of experience, engaging in thought-provoking discussion with all who attended, and we look forward to welcoming our guests back to UCG in the future.”
Stacey Duguid, Fashion Editor and Columnist, said: “Events like this to mark International Women’s Day are crucial for colleges like United Colleges Group; this is where the real change happens – the real changemakers are these young people. Each woman on the panel today was so inspiring; they weren’t born into privilege and had to make their own way in life. I hope we were able to share a message of resilience with the students, the idea that you can move the dial in your life regardless of your background. We want young people to know that change begins and ends within them, and their past does not define them.”