This inspiring event, kindly hosted by J.P. Morgan Asset Management, featured an incredible line-up of speakers and even a surprise visit from Rt. Hon. Rachel Reeves, first woman to hold the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer.
We were privileged to hear a keynote speech from Megan Greene, member of the Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England, who discussed the main uncertainties currently facing the UK economy. This was followed by an update on UK WEN activity from Chair, Almudena Sevilla CBE and an insightful presentation from author, Sophie Williams on ‘The Glass Cliff’.
It was an honour to hear from the Chancellor who shared her reflections on being the first woman in the office, which set the tone for our panel discussion on promotion practices, featuring Sharon Bell (Goldman Sachs), Liz Bennington (Dept for Business and Trade) and Prof. Sarah Smith OBE (University of Bristol), ably chaired by Misa Tanaka (Bank of England).
Recording can be found here: UK WEN Annual Networking Event 2025
A written summary from the event can be found here.
Photographs
Date: Tuesday 1 April 2025
Time: 9:00-13:30
Venue: J.P. Morgan Asset Management: The Great Hall, 60 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0JP
Event Programme
8:30 – 9:00 Arrival and registration
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome and opening remarks
- Karen Ward, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
- Imran Rasul, Professor of Economics, University College London and RES President Elect
9:15 – 10:00 Keynote speech: “Policymaking in the face of uncertainty”
- Megan Greene, External member of the Monetary Policy Committee, Bank of England
10:00 – 10:15 Update on UK WEN: Progress and future plans
- Prof Almudena Sevilla CBE, Professor of Economic and Social Policy, LSE and Chair, UK WEN
10:15 – 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 – 11:45 The Glass Cliff: Why Women in Power are Undermined – And How to Fight Back
- Sophie Williams, author of ‘The Glass Cliff’
11:45 – 12:30 Panel discussion: Transforming Promotion Practices to Support Women Economists
- Liz Bennington, Deputy Director North, Department for Business and Trade
- Sharon Bell, European Strategist, Goldman Sachs
- Prof Sarah Smith OBE, Professor of Economics, University of Bristol
- Chair: Misa Tanaka, Head of Research, Bank of England
12:30 – 12:40 Closing remarks
- Tera Allas CBE, Senior Economic Advisor, McKinsey & Company, and
Ambassador for UK WEN
12:40 – 13:30 Networking lunch (optional)