The online panel event will run from 13.00-14.00 on Tuesday 8 March

International Women’s Day event to explore why women and girls are key to solving the climate crisis

How women and girls can secure the legacy of COP26 and make a powerful contribution to the climate agenda will be the focus of an International Women’s Day panel event at the University of Exeter Business School next month.

The online event, on 8 March, will see a panel of inspirational women in business explore how climate change impacts women and girls more severely, as well as looking at the key role they can play in averting climate catastrophe.

“COP26 – Recognising the power of our contribution as girls and women” will feature a broad cross-section of female voices from business include a sustainable housing developer, a charity CEO, an award-winning entrepreneur and parenting expert, a leading solution sales expert and digital marketing strategist and the director of a specialist energy and sustainability consultancy.

They will be joined by Gail Whiteman, Professor of Sustainability at the University of Exeter Business School, whose work at COP26 as founder of climate science communications platform Arctic Basecamp saw her named among PR Week’s top 20 communicators for 2021.

The panel will be chaired by Ciara Eastell OBE, an organisational change consultant and coach and Professor of Practice at the University of Exeter Business School.

Ciara Eastell said: “I’m so pleased such an amazing group of women has agreed to be part of our celebrations for International Women’s Day at the Business School.

“I’ll be asking the panellists their views on how climate change is impacting women and girls as well as focusing on the contribution women and girls can have in taking action to address this global emergency.

“It’s such an incredibly rich mix of panellists and I’m sure it will be a lively conversation full of interesting and useful insights from the work their organisations are doing in this area.”

Business leaders on the panel include:

Chidinma Aroyewun, FinTech Exec and Digital Marketing Expert at DPO Group, the largest and fastest-growing African payment gateway, and alumnae of The Exeter MBA. Chidinma describes herself as a leader and entrepreneur who takes pride in her ability to influence people and processes towards achieving positive outcomes.

Erika Brodnock, co-founder of Kami, a virtual support and coaching system for working parents that fuses AI with human expertise. Erika is also a Visiting Research Fellow at Kings College London, a multi award-winning entrepreneur and Sky News’ resident parenting expert.

Rachel Lindley, CEO of Five Talents, a charity that offers poorer people in countries such as Uganda, DR Congo, Bolivia and Myanmar a safe place to save money, as well as providing small loans and literacy, numeracy, money management and business training. Rachel is an expert in microfinance and is interested in building partnerships and inspiring popular support for social, economic and community development both globally and locally.

Johanna Mitchell, Director of ClearLead Consulting, a specialist energy and sustainability consultancy based in Devon specialising in environmental planning advice. Johanna is an expert in the field of strategic environmental assessment and sustainability appraisal and has worked in numerous sectors. 

Emma Osmundsen, Managing Director of Exeter City Living, an innovative and sustainable housing developer owned by Exeter City Council. Emma is a Passivhaus champion who is passionate about creating homes and buildings that enhance wellbeing and contribute towards the preserving the planet.

This online event will run from 13.00-14.00 on Tuesday 8 March with audience members getting the chance to ask questions towards the end. The event is free and open to all.

Register for “COP26 – Recognising the power of our contribution as girls and women” here.

Date: 17 February 2022