WIPL Conference Summary

7/29/2019 WIPL Conference Summary

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Conference 2012

The WIPL conference celebrated the work of the project over the past

three years. Over 180 women attended from the North West region

and Scotland, many of whom had participated in WIPLs training

programmes, workshops and seminars. The conference provided an

opportunity to capture the learning from project partners and

explored a number of key questions on womens leadership.

Conversation on womens leadership chaired by Margaret E Ward with

Bernadette McAliskey, Fiona Mackay and Ailbhe Smith

Womens Leadership in Reshaping SocietySummary of conference proceedings, Derry, September 2012

Key points on womens leadership Historically, public and political life was created for men and

is, by design, exclusive of women. Thus, transforming the

current power structures is urgently required.

Leadership, which involves building self worth and developingskills, has come to be surrounded by mystique. Currently,

leadership qualities such as relationship building, still regarded

as the preserve of women have not become mainstream.

Leadership training must be followed with opportunity toparticipate in decision making. Experiential learning, acornerstone of leadership training, has become devalued.

Women are taking to the streets again as the recessiondeepens. Anger at seeing rights eroded is a motivating factor.

Role model imaging can be empowering but also limiting.Instead think about Rebuilding womens independence and

planning for the future is vital, otherwise the gains made are

in danger of being lost.

Women into Public Life (WIPL) is a

regional partnership between

Second Chance Education Project

for Women (Donegal), Foyle

Womens Information Network

(Derry/Londonderry), Engender

(Scotland) and Donegal County

Council. WIPL was funded from

2010-12 by the EUs INTERREG IVA

Programme which is managed bythe Special EU Programmes Body

(SEUPB)

WIPL Steering Committee with

Mayors of Derry and Donegal who

opened the conference.

With more WIPL type programmes,

the qualities women bring to

leadership will come to be viewed

as more mainstream, a welcome

development to the situation

heretofore, where women whosucceeded were those that

emulated traditional masculine

qualities

Dr. Fiona Mackay, University of

Edinburgh


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EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER

Research on the gender balance of boards of key decision making

structures in Donegal and Derry/Londonderry was launched at the

conference. A panel of elected representatives responding to the research

highlighted the need for improved gender balance within all partner

urisdictions and cited several examples of the chasm between policy andpractice. While opposing views on legislating for quotas were expressed,

the need for recruiting women into public life who represent the broad

spectrum of womens issues across all strata of society was emphasised.

Reform of the public appointments system was urgently recommended.

The need for a female apprenticeship programme, the necessity of state

bodies embracing the wealth of womens experience and the need for a

commission of public appointments in the Republic of Ireland were raised

by delegates.

Panel discussion: Kathleen Lynch TD, Cllr. Ellen Morton, Martina Anderson

EP and Anne McAteer, HSE

Where are the women?

Im not a feminist but- delegates highlighted that feminism

is often misunderstood, is broad ranging and has different

meanings depending on your particular life stage, life choices,

experience and world view.

Gender quotas in Irish politics- the recently enacted legislation

in the Republic was regarded as a good starting point. A similar

parity law in France was discussed; however, it was emphasized

that legislation does not automatically lead to change.

Nobody ever asked me...! Making the leap into party politics -elected representatives discussed the personal challenges of

politics, the need for family friendly work practices and the

importance of having support systems in place.

Campaigning and influencing participants heard of successful

campaigns such as the Pink Ladies Breast Cancer Support Group

and the Empty Purse campaign by the Womens Resource &

Development Agency.

Workshop discussions

Its still a male, pale world

here in Scotland.Cllr. Ellen Morton

I believe that if you legislate,

the barriers will fall.

Kathleen Lynch, TD


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Workshop discussions, contdWomens leadership and the boardroom the lack of transparency regarding board appointments in

NI was raised as a key factor for poor levels of female applicants. In the Republic of Ireland the absence

of any process or commission for public appointments was regarded as a major issue which needs to be

urgently addressed.

There she goes again sticking to our agendas as leaders to advance womens equality Working

within a deeply embedded patriarchal world was viewed as challenging and it was recommended that

other models of leadership and good practice - family friendly and creative in nature be explored.

Speaking Up - To manage situations where women find it difficult to speak up practical tips were

suggested: managing your physical reactions; preparing well; knowing your strengths; letting go of

points if no longer valid, evaluating your performance and learning when to stop speaking!

Key RecommendationsThe energy and enthusiasm of participants at the conference clearlydemonstrated the importance of providing spaces and opportunities

for women to debate and strategise on what is required to address the

under-representation of women in public life. Some key

recommendations included:

We need a more transparent process in public appointmentsin Northern Ireland and a formal appointments system in the

Republic of Ireland.

We need more emphasis on quotas in politics in NorthernIreland; if you legislate, the barriers will fall.

We need men need to take a step back. We dont always need training we need opportunities; its a

demand problem, not a supply problem.

We need mentoring and support systems.Be prepared, utilise all your

contacts, believe in yourself, lear

the rules, be inclusive, consider

cost and embrace your

uniqueness!

(May Blood, Closing Comments)

Donegal Co Council Second Chance Education Foyle Womens

Project for Women Information Network

For a copy of the full conference report and video visit:

www.fwin.org.uk

www.derrycity.gov.uk/woman

www.donegalcdb.ie

The views and opinions expresse

in this report do not necessarily

reflect those of the European

Commission or the Special EU

Programmes Body.
http://www.fwin.org.uk/http://www.fwin.org.uk/http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/womanhttp://www.derrycity.gov.uk/womanhttp://www.donegalcdb.ie/http://www.donegalcdb.ie/http://www.donegalcdb.ie/http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/womanhttp://www.fwin.org.uk/

Documents

WIPL Conference Summary