Women in leadership topic of next Glendon Global Debate

Women in leadership topic of next Glendon Global Debate

Join the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) and the Centre for Feminist Research, York University on Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m., to explore the issue of women in leadership during an event presented as part of The Glendon Global Debates.

During “Women in Leadership,” organizers will bring together a panel of passionate and trailblazing women who will share their leadership experiences in the public and private sector, including the challenges and opportunities, and strategies for advancing gender equity and women’s rights in Canada and beyond.

The discussion will consider that women in leadership roles are needed more than ever. In Canada, women are underrepresented in senior-level positions in both the public and private sectors, despite comprising more than 50 per cent of the population. The pandemic disproportionately impacted women, especially racialized, low-income and Indigenous women, exacerbating gender inequalities and outcomes. The result was job losses, increases in gender-based violence and the growing burden of childcare and household chores as a result of school and work closures.

Increasing the number of women in leadership positions in the public and private sectors will help to advance gender equality and pave a new path for a new generation of young women to achieve their potential. During this debate, panellists will consider: How do we break down barriers to the advancement of women, particularly racialized and Indigenous women? How do we change the narrative to give today’s young women hope and provide pathways for their future participation in public life? What lessons can we learn from the impact and response to the COVID-19 pandemic to improve gender equality?

Event panellists include:

  • Paulette Senior, CEO and president, Canadian Women’s Foundation
  • Kathleen Wynne, MPP Don Valley West
  • Dawn Lavell-Harvard, director, First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University
  • Kristin Blakely, Glendon School of Public and International Affairs senior Fellow
  • Christine Boyle, Vancouver city councillor

The event will be moderated by Minelle Mahtani, Brenda and David McLean Chair in Canadian Studies at the University of British Columbia.

Register here.