Women@Reading Staff Network recruiting co-Chairs

The Women@Reading Staff Network, which champions issues of gender equality across the University, is recruiting two co-Chairs to lead the Network in its work.

Women@Reading provides a collective voice for its members to champion topics of interest, proactively supporting the University in meeting its gender identity and sex equality targets and enabling the University to be a safe and thriving environment for women.

The appointed co-Chairs will lead the Network of over 430 colleagues, provide leadership to an active Steering Group (currently 13 members), and set priorities and direction for the Network alongside Professor Allán Laville, Dean for Diversity and Inclusion. Co-Chairs will also work closely with their counterparts in other University Staff Networks. 

The co-Chair roles are rewarding and offer opportunities to gain experience chairing meetings, leading events, influencing policy and practice, engaging external partners and developing leadership talents.

These are 0.1 FTE positions where it is expected that line managers will support co-Chairs to have time to make an impact.

The current Network co-chair, Rachel Thorns, steps down at the end of 2023 after three years in the role. Rachel will continue to be a member of the Steering Group.

Campaigns and initiatives

Women's health has been a recent priority for the Network. Initiatives have included monthly women's health cafes, promoting access to sport and active wellbeing, and developing and publishing menopause at work guidance.

Other initiatives include campaigning for better access to period products and events organised in collaboration with other Staff Networks, such as the recent Saluting Our Sisters celebration.

The Network has also contributed significantly to the institutional Athena SWAN action plan, which sets the direction for improving gender equality at Reading.

How to apply

Please review the role outline and email Rachel and Allán by 22 December outlining:

• Why you’re interested in the co-Chair role
• The relevant skills and experience you can bring to the role
• What your key priorities and vision for the Network would be

Expressions of interest will be reviewed by the Women@Reading Steering Group and Allán. It is hoped that the successful candidates will be appointed early in Spring term 2024.

For an informal chat about what the position entails, please contact Rachel or Allán.