Inclusion & Diversity Series: Gender Diversity – a women’s panel

As part of the City & Guilds Foundation Inclusion and diversity events series, offering thought-provoking conversations and actionable steps to promote equal opportunities and improve inclusion and diversity in your organisation.


In this event we explored gender diversity and women inclusion in male-dominated industries.


Women have made substantial progress in business and leadership positions. But many STEM-related fields are still resistant to gender diversity. How can coaching, mentoring and sponsorship help women increase their self-confidence and let their talent become the true driver for career progression?

Panel guest include:

Sonya Byers ( @veerasamy_sonya )

Chief Executive of Women in Transport

Sonya Byers is Chief Executive of Women in Transport. A non-profit membership network which supports the professional development of women working in transport through networking, mentoring, training and volunteering.

Women in Transport act as the secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary for women in transport which campaigns for gender balance in the transport workforce.


Alexandra Evreinoff  ( alexandra-evreinoff )

Managing Director of INvolve

Alexandra has worked at INvolve for almost eight years, and has been integral to the development and success of the business as a D&I consultancy and network working across intersectional inclusion. As the first person to join INvolve’s CEO, Suki Sandhu, in creating and growing the OUTstanding LGBT+ network back in 2013, she was responsible for engaging and nurturing an amazing range of clients that INvolve still works with today, and orientating them around positive actions to support diverse talent. This experience of driving inclusive cultures with global clients has helped position Alex as an expert on all things inclusion and allowed her to shape INvolve’s growing portfolio of inclusion initiatives.

Charly Young  (  @young_charlotte )  

CEO of The Girls’ Network

Charly founded The Girls’ Network with Becca in 2013, whilst they were teaching in secondary schools in North West London. Her background is in education that supports the whole child, and the use of networks to facilitate this. Prior to teaching, she worked at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) as an education researcher, and with Whole Education supporting school leadership teams.
She is passionate about the use of networks to empower, support and mobilise people, and believes that good mentoring can be transformational, for both mentor and mentee.




Carmen Watson  ( carmen-watson )

Chair at Pertemps Recruitment Partnership

Carmen Watson has established herself as one of the UK’s most successful recruitment leaders. During her time with Pertemps she has navigated through challenging business climates, implemented a strategy which has helped drive growth and position Pertemps as a market leader in its field, servicing a broad cross section of industry verticals and public sector bodies.

Through promoting and delivering best practise in the field of attraction, recruitment and retention of a diverse range of talent, Carmen has ensured Diversity and Inclusion is at the fore.

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