‘

To tackle some of the pressing issues of our planet

women’s voice must be heard’

Louise Burfitt-Dons FRSA

Mission:To promote women’s profile in society by greater involvement in public speaking

Chair Louise Burfitt-Dons FRSA

Humanitarian and Inspirational Speaker

Speakers Panel

Steve Moore is Chief Executive of The Big Society Network

Patti Boulaye is a West End star and founder of ‘Support for Africa’

Mary O’Hara is an award winning journalist and writer

Jo Fairley is author of The Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible and co-founder of Green and Black’s.

Additional Speakers

Joana Picq is COO of online business magazine The Next Women

Servane Mouazan is CEO of Ogunte and founder of the Women's Social Leadership Awards

Shireen Irani is Founder of online legal assistance network i-Probono

Michelle Clothier is co-founder of youth-specialist communications and engagement agency Livity.

‘Women have long been the silent pillar of the country’s economy, but no more: they have evolved beyond CEO of the household and volunteer within their community to create jobs and value through their fast growing enterprise.’

Joana Picq, COO of The Next Women

‘I see a world where women bring about boldness, finesse and evidence of what they have achieved so far, in all their conversations. And have the confidence to expect equal consideration.’

Servane Mouazan, CEO of Ogunte

‘We work with some amazing female social entrepreneurs: these are the ones who bring others with them on the road to success, who share their learnings along the way, seeking ways to benefit all parties. That to me is big society!’

Lucy Windmill Director of External Relations ,The Big Society Network

‘Why not quantify the fiscal value of the transferable skills needed from the workplace to the voluntary sector so that women’s contribution to “Big Society” is acknowledged by the Exchequer?’

Jenny Garrett, director and founder of Reflexion & Associates Limited

`People often ask why do I do this. My answer is simple – people – they never cease to fascinate and amaze me!'

Melanie Bryan FRSA , winner of Prime Minister's Big Society Award

‘Someone remarked that the inspiration for David Cameron's 'Big Society' is his own mother's unpaid engagement with the local community (were not his parents also quite wealthy?). Enough said?’

Ann Murcott, FRSA

‘I think women would relate better to this concept if it were renamed the Small Society which sounds more intimate and neighbourly.’

Louise Burfitt-Dons, Humanitarian, Chair of RSA WSN

'You need to have time and money to give freely for the 'Big Society' - that's why married middle and upper class women were originally the backbone of the voluntary sector"

Deborah Wharton, Business Strategist, Coach and Trainer, Agenda for Change

`Is there a danger that by becoming involved in the Big Society, women will reinforce traditional stereotypes about their caring and nurturing roles? ‘

Judith Perle, Director, Management Advantage Ltd