IoD Glass Ceiling Group

It was a privilege to be installed as Aldgate Ward Club President this March with guest of honour Alderwoman and Patron Dame Susan Langley DBE. It is an exhilarating feeling and it was an atmosphere of excitement with nearly 50 members and guests in attendance. During my year I will be continuing to promote Aldgate Ward Club as the best Ward Club in the City and hopefully overtake Broad Street in numbers. It is an honour to be one of only four (as far as I can see dating back to 1907) female Presidents of the Ward Club and especially happy my year coincides in a particularly special way for the Ward Club and me as our Patron Dame Susan Langley becomes the third Lord (Lady) Mayor in November subject to election. I would like to congratulate the incoming committee members and thank the tireless committee, my advisors and our dynamic and youthful membership for all your support, encouragement and joy over the past 6 years and the year ahead. With special thanks to our Corporate Sponsor Medical Prime (UK)! Thank you Tina Lambert for the piccies Next event drinks 3 April City Livery Club ￡10 Join us 30 April for a fantastic talk by Jeffrey Blum FICS FCIArb about A Maritime Legacy: The History of Shipping in Aldgate Ward at St Ethelburga's 6.30-9pm drinks & supper ￡20 #wardclub

INVITATION: 2nd April 6-8pm First Wednesday - Destination Monaco. Don't miss Corinne RICCIARDELLA - Partner, GORDON S. BLAIR LAW OFFICES who will be outlining the many opportunities surrounding this unique location. With an opportunity for open discussion, this event is not to miss. 6pm - Arrivals 6.30pm - Speakers 6.50pm - Q&A 7.10pm - Drinks and networking Oriental Club, 11 Stratford Place (Bond Street) Ticket price includes drinks and snacks ￡15 members / ￡25 non-members Register https://lnkd.in/dqVda6xA #london #monaco

International Women's Day 'Question Time on Accelerate Action'. I was very pleased to be a member of the panel, along with Mei Sim Lai, The British Malaysian Society; Judy Tayler-Smith, BA PGDip FSAScot; Vanessa Dal Busco, IoD Glass Ceiling Group, IoD International Trade Group; Susan ???? Fang; Rita W Bologna FRSA and Hon Alderman Mushtaq Lasharie CBE. Guildhall, City of London. At this well attended event there were many thoughtful questions and comments from the audience. I was pleased to mention the 'menopause and the workplace' awareness raising activities of our doctors at Medical Prime (UK) specialist menopause clinic (Dr Theodora Kalentzi ,Dr Ashlesha Dhairyawan and Dr Nicola Davies). Also to note the recent election of Melanie Hampton as Chair of The Construction Liveries Group (I am a representative of The Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass ). This event was organised by The British Malaysian Society in partnership with Women in the Livery ( City Livery Club ).

Knackered but Fulfilled: Reflections on a Whirlwind Monday ???? Monday was a sprint, physically and mentally, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The day kicked off with me chairing the first panel at the inaugural The PIE High, a fringe event focused on K-12 and boarding schools, running alongside the well-established #PIELive Europe conference. Listening to Jon Peach, Deaglan McArdle, Shamim Ghani, Oliver Rodriguez-Pearson and Maozi Chen discuss the pillars of strong school-agent partnerships - trust, communication, collaboration and transparency, was both insightful and affirming. More than just buzzwords; these are the foundation of sustainable relationships in our industry. Then, I dashed across to the Guildhall Club for another panel with the Women in the Livery and the The British Malaysian Society, expertly moderated by Mei Sim Lai. Alongside Rita W Bologna FRSA, Vanessa Dal Busco, Hon Mushtaq Lasharie, David Stringer-Lamarre and Judy Tayler-Smith, BA PGDip FSAScot, we tackled a pressing question: How do we accelerate progress toward gender parity in work, business, politics and community? It’s a conversation we need now more than ever. After years of progress in women’s empowerment, we seem to be entering a new phase where voices are pushing back, claiming the feminist movement has “gone too far” (as highlighted in a recent Financial Times report). But progress is never linear. As long as the overall trajectory is forward, we shouldn’t be deterred by temporary setbacks. One of the most rewarding moments of the day? Reconnecting with my former student, Jane Jiayang Xie. She shared her journey, from boarding school to university and now into the workforce, at a student roundtable with fellow educators. Jane is an outlier, in the best possible way. From day one, she embraced life in the UK beyond the classroom, immersing herself fully in the culture and community. It’s no surprise her life is unfolding so well now. Sometimes, seeing just one student truly thrive is all the motivation I need to continue mentoring hundreds more. ?? For those unfamiliar, PIE stands for “Professionals in International Education” - powerhouse community driving conversations in our sector. ?? Sandy Bhangal -Chaib, what a lovely surprise bumping into you last night! Here’s hoping our paths cross even more if we both get involved in the City Livery Companies. ? If you’re passionate about bridging cultures, empowering students, or driving real change in education, please connect with me. Who knows where the next conversation might lead? ?

Pleased to be asked to be a panellist once again for the annual celebration of International Women's Day. The theme for 2025 was 'Accelerate Action' as according to data from the World Economic Forum, and at the current rate of progress, it will take roughly five generations from now to reach full gender parity. The lively debate took place at the Guildhall Club, in the Guildhall, City of London. The annual IWD event at the Guildhall, is always organised by Mei Sim Lai, a fellow Past President of the City Livery Club, and who also heads up the British Malaysian Society and 'Women in the Livery', where I serve on the committee. It has been the highlight of the 'Women in the Livery' calendar for many years. All proceeds from the event go towards the The Rt Hon. the Lord Mayor Alastair King's Big Curry Lunch, which takes place on 10th April. Among my distinguished panellists were Rita W Bologna FRSA, David Stringer-Lamarre, Vanessa Dal Busco, Susan ???? Fang and Hon Mushtaq Lasharie CBE. After we all introduced ourselves and described the many roles or accolades we had achieved, there then followed a one and a half hour Q & A session, followed by a networking reception with a wine buffet. Please to see so many friendly faces there and to meet some new people from the Malaysian community in London. Lovely to see amongst others: Clerk of the City Livery Club, Phillipa Stary, Master of the Livery Company of Wales, Agnes Xavier-Phillips JP DL, fellow Carolean Elise Rasmussen, former Sheriff Wendy Mead OBE CC, dear friend, Ximena Montano, Gillian Kaile, Virginia Bond, Marianna C and Peter Byrne. Photos below include: The illustrious panellists; Also, me with the wonderful Elise Rasmussen and her friend Flora; me with the female whirlwind that is, Marianna C and me pictured with the kindest lady I know and great supporter of everything I do, Ximena Montano.

“Accelerate Action”, the title of international women’s day question time organised by Mei Sim Lai of The British Malaysian Society and women in the Livery. A superb panel who each introduced themselves and spoke a little about their journeys in business and the paths they took before the audience in the members dining room in Guildhall asked a wide variety of questions creating a fascinating discussion. Wonderful to hear from Rita W Bologna FRSA , David Stringer-Lamarre , Vanessa Dal Busco , Judy Tayler-Smith, BA PGDip FSAScot Susan ???? Fang and Hon Alderman Mushtaq Lasharie CBE. During the networking as always it was lovely to catch up with women livery friends Elise Rasmussen , Marianna C , Agnes Xavier-Phillips JP DL , Philippa Starry and Wendy Mead.

International Women's Day 'Question Time on Accelerate Action' March 10, 6-9 pm. I am pleased to be a member of the panel, along with Mei Sim Lai, The British Malaysian Society; Alderman Professor Emma Edhem, City of London Corporation; Vanessa Dal Busco, IoD Glass Ceiling Group, IoD International Trade Group; Susan ???? Fang; Rita W Bologna FRSA and Hon Alderman Mushtaq Lasharie CBE. Guildhall, City of London. Booking: https://lnkd.in/e3EGX8wR This event is organised by The British Malaysian Society in partnership with Women in the Livery ( City Livery Club ). The painting in glass behind me, 'Nexus', is by top international artist Helen Whittaker MBE, Upper Warden, The Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass.

International Women's Day QUESTION TIME 2025 on the 2025 theme "Accelerating Change" Booking: https://lnkd.in/e4kcAtc7 Please reserve your place(s) as soon as possible as places are limited. Date: 10 March 2025 Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Venue: Members' Dining Room, The Guildhall Club, West Wing Dress Code: Business attire / Smart casual COST Covers food, refreshments and charity donation. ￡45 pp CHARITY FUNDRAISING This is a satellite fundraising event in aid of the 2025 The Lord Mayor's Big Curry Lunch. Proceeds will go to help the Armed Forces and their families. #britishmalaysiansociety #IWD2025 #IWD

At our February Confident Woman event, we visit DRMR Clinic in Knightsbridge founded by the fantastic Manrina Rhode, who will show us the clinic and talk about her inspiring journey. She?is one of the world’s leading authorities in cosmetic dentistry, recognised as?Dentist of the Year 2022,?and a consistent name in?Dentistry’s Top 50, who was featured in BBC's 'Turkey Teeth' documentary and in Tatler's Beauty and Cosmetic Surgery Guide. Join us on 13 February, 5.30-7.30 for an inspiring afternoon to learn from Manrina and connect with like-minded women. - Check the details and sign up here (25% discount to IoD Glass Ceiling Group members with code GLASS25 at checkout): https://lnkd.in/et9T9_Ba All funds go to charity. Timea Kadar IoD Glass Ceiling Group Vanessa Dal Busco

In Parliament, the House of Commons chamber is decorated with the arms of MPs who died in office. Due to the current, unreformed, state of the Law of Arms, however, the arms of Jo Cox MP, murdered in June 2016, are not her arms at all, but those granted to her husband after her death. This is not the case for the arms granted in similar circumstances to male MPs, including the late Sir David Amess MP. Because the Law of Arms does not recognise the right of women to pass their arms to their children (except in very specific circumstances) this arrangement was deemed necessary to allow the arms to be used by Jo Cox’s children – they could not have done so if the arms had been granted to Mrs Cox directly. Even so, only Mrs Cox’s son will retain the right to transmit the arms to his children; the same is not true for her daughter. Moreover, while wives can bear their husband’s arms by courtesy (the reverse is not true, and the position for same-sex couples is not clear) they must do so with a “mark of difference” to show they are not the true “owner” of the arms. The Cox Arms that appear in Parliament are not so differenced, meaning that Jo Cox’s career in parliament and death in service of her community is currently honoured with what are, unambiguously, the arms of her husband. This is a stark reminder both that heraldic honours remain a relevant part of our culture today, but also that the Law of Arms is currently unfit for purpose and in need of reform to ensure its continued vibrancy and functionality.?