6th Annual Workplace Menopause Summit 2023

Elizabeth Smith

Director of Research , Business Forums International Ltd. (BFI)

Elizabeth is director of research and a founding co-director at Business Forums International. She is responsible for all programme content and writing, and researches current areas of interest for senior HR professionals in large organisations. BFI is the UK’s leading HR risk specialist conference and training provider, delivering key and timely information to over 3,000 delegates a year both through public and in-house training courses. Before founding BFI in 1996, Elizabeth specialised in researching corporate financial programmes in Asia and the Middle East, based in Dubai. She also worked in advertising and publishing in the Middle East and London. Elizabeth was educated in the West Indies, Saudi Arabia and Belgium before reading Modern Languages at Durham University. She is currently developing an online training course for line managers to raise awareness of menopause symptoms and ways that employers can work to make their workplaces more inclusive.

Vicky Jamieson

Natural Anti-Ageing Expert , Better Body Beauty & Wellness

With more than 30 years in the wellness & anti-ageing industry, Vicky has not lost her passion for sharing her wisdom to help women feel vibrant and energised to live a full life. She has featured in wellbeing magazines, been interviewed on HealthRadio in New York and speaks on specialist skin nutrition, lifestyle strategies to avoid burnout and support strategies to guide women through a healthy transition into Menopause. A results orientated wellness mentor and anti ageing expert, her continual adoption of innovative solutions, integrated with traditional methods help her clients have more energy in the boardroom, at the executive table and for their families. This is instrumental in giving women that “energy” edge, personally and professionally. Vicky has a busy Melbourne practice, offering specialised self care treatments and nutritional education to help women harness their physical, mental & emotional growth and creativity at a time which can feel uncertain. In 2020 she launched an online program to guide women to Thrive through Menopause. She also participates in triathlons, the latest three being half ironman races (2022). Vicky thrives on engaging women, sharing her wisdom and seeing the realisations and hope on their faces when they realise there are simple and effective solutions out there to help them on their journeys.

Amanpreet Deol

Solicitor , IBB Law LLP

Anna Fordjuor

Partner , AB & David

Anna has over two (2) decades of experience in Dispute Resolution, Probate & Intestate Succession, Family law and Property & Real Estate. She has acted on a broad range of complex commercial disputes. Notably, Anna led her team in the prosecution of an aviation dispute against a major international airline, leading to the recovery of damages for personal injuries. She also successfully represented a major construction company in multi-tier proceedings before the High Court and Court of Appeal in Ghana in a 14M USD construction dispute against a major construction engineering company. She is recognized by “Who is Who Legal” for her work in litigation and was featured by the Institute of African Women in Law in 2020 as a Woman in Law to Watch. Anna is a senior lecturer at the Ghana School of Law, a Notary Public and an alumnus of the International Visitors Leadership Programme which is a premier exchange programme by the United States Department of State. She is married and has two sons and a daughter.

Elizabeth Smith

Director of Research , Business Forums International Ltd. (BFI)

Elizabeth is director of research and a founding co-director at Business Forums International. She is responsible for all programme content and writing, and researches current areas of interest for senior HR professionals in large organisations. BFI is the UK’s leading HR risk specialist conference and training provider, delivering key and timely information to over 3,000 delegates a year both through public and in-house training courses. Before founding BFI in 1996, Elizabeth specialised in researching corporate financial programmes in Asia and the Middle East, based in Dubai. She also worked in advertising and publishing in the Middle East and London. Elizabeth was educated in the West Indies, Saudi Arabia and Belgium before reading Modern Languages at Durham University. She is currently developing an online training course for line managers to raise awareness of menopause symptoms and ways that employers can work to make their workplaces more inclusive.

Vicky Bawa

Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Maritime and Land , BAE Systems

Vicky is the Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at BAE Systems, Maritime and Land. Vicky has a track record of bringing innovation to design and deliver wide ranging strategic DEI solutions. Vicky is passionate about inclusion, weaving this into leadership and management practices and changing behaviours to reduce bias and create a sense of belonging. She draws from her own personal challenges and intersectionality to help others break through barriers and maximize their potential. Prior to joining BAE Systems Plc in June 2019, Vicky worked in the UK Civil Service and her career spanned a number of different Government Departments & Agencies. Vicky is very family orientated and in her spare time enjoys watching period dramas, anything connected to the supernatural, and gardening.

Kerry Parkin

Global Corporate Communications Director at Allwyn & board advisor to Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide

With a career spanning twenty five years working for some of the world’s largest blue chip companies, Kerry Parkin is driven by the desire to create lasting and positive societal change within all organisations she works with. Having held international positions at Virgin, Pernod Ricard, Microsoft, Costa Coffee, Nokia and Allwyn, Kerry brings an expansive view on best practices from around the world. She has a deep knowledge and expertise in external communications, leadership advisory, reputation management, ESG and internal culture and communications. Kerry has advised some of the biggest global businesses on improving their standing within the corporate community, and specifically creating a competitive edge regarding attracting and retaining talent through market-leading policies. During her significant corporate career Kerry developed, launched and communicated industry-leading policies in the areas of parental leave, miscarriage bereavement leave and menopause leave. Kerry currently serves as the Global Corporate Communications Director for Allwyn, the operator of the UK National Lottery. The National Lottery has been recognised in the top ten Best Place to Work, and a Well Being Special Award in UK’s Best Companies to work for. It also contributes over £35 million a week to good causes. In 2021, Kerry became a Board Advisor to Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, the UK’s only national peer-to-peer support service for those affected by suicide. In 2022, she became a qualified Mental Health First Aider and an advocate for trauma-related mental health services. This year, Kerry founded a support service for women aged 40-55. Available on LinkedIn, and through podcasts and services (launching early 2024), the support service is designed to help women holistically through this transitional midlife stage. Kerry is also a founding member of Chief UK and 100 Women @ Davos; as well as a sought-after and confident speaker on topics covering menopause, suicide prevention, mental health and humanised leadership. Kerry holds a Bsc in Psychology and is the mother of two daughters, Ivy and Mabel.

Brigitte Kaviani

Head of Health & Wellbeing , NHS South Yorkshire ICB

Brigitte is the Head of Health and Wellbeing at the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and has over 37 years’ experience working in the NHS. She graduated as a Diagnostic Radiographer and has undertaken several clinical, leadership and educational roles. From 2016 she held the role of Assistant Operations Director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, to lead on workforce HR and OD support which included staff engagement and Health and Wellbeing. Brigitte took on her current role in May 2021. With her creative vision, Brigitte has been very keen to make a difference to the Health and Wellbeing of the workforce across South Yorkshire. She became a menopause advocate in October 2021 and now leads on raising the awareness of menopause for all workforce in NHS and Social Care in South Yorkshire. Brigitte was born in Bethlehem, Palestine and has led on many overseas projects in health organisations in developing countries across three continents