City Women's Network, London

30th Anniversary Dinner at the House of Lords

Thursday 30th April 2009

Guests at dinner in the Cholmondeley Room

City Women’s Network’s 30th Anniversary Dinner at the House of Lords on the evening of the 30th of April 2009 was a sell-out event and a huge success; a truly impressive grand finale to our programme of events celebrating our 30 years since the network was officially founded in 1978. Before we sat down for dinner in the suitably splendid surroundings of the Cholmondeley Room, we had champagne, photographs, and lots of networking overlooking the Thames on the riverside terrace of the House of Lords.

Baroness Butler Sloss (centre) is joined (left to right) by Roz Morris, CWN Vice President, Janet Gaymer, CWN Patron, Baroness Goudie of Roundwood, and Clare Dobie, CWN President

Our host for the evening, Baroness Goudie, set the speeches rolling by welcoming us, and mentioning the Equality Bill which, it is hoped, should make a difference to women in employment. Our other speakers addressed the question of ‘I didn’t get where I am today…’, starting with Joni Lysett Nelson, one of CWN’s founding members, who cast her mind back to the early days, and reflected how much things have changed since then, including the fact that she and her fellow CWN pioneers could not then book tables at restaurants in the City of London – only men could do this.

Rosalind Gilmore speaking

Rosalind Gilmore, with a distinguished track record on boards, and as a top civil servant, observed that she would not have got where she is without the generosity of colleagues.

Some of CWN’s longest serving members and founder members share a joke on the House of Lords terrace. (Left to right) Hilary Sears, Monica Fisher, Joni Lysett Nelson, Pat Wright and Ellen Cantor.

Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, whose wealth of experience of the Bar dates back to 1953, pointed out that sometimes gender could work in our favour. She modestly suggested that on several occasions she had been selected for positions because a (probably token) woman was needed to show balance.

Among those attending the dinner were many long-standing members including (left to right) Jane Craig of Manches LLP, our dinner sponsors, and past presidents, Hilary Sears, Diane Morris and Alison Thorne.

Many long-standing members and past presidents of CWN attended the dinner including Nicola Stevens, Mei Sim Lai, Hilary Sears, Alison Thorne and Diane Morris (now president of The International Alliance for Women). Other guests included the heads of several women’s organisations; Max Benson, Co-Founder, Everywoman, Liz Campbell, Director, Wellbeing of Women, Christine Lawrence, Chairman, Women in Banking and Finance, Herta von Stiegel, Chairman, The Prince’s Trust Women’s Leadership Group, Stephanie McKendrick, Canadian Women in Communications and Michelle Brailsford, President European Professional Women’s Network- London.

Our sincere thanks go to our sponsors, Manches LLP, and to the members of the 30th Anniversary Committee: Janine Roxborough Bunce, Monica Fisher and Pam Waring, for the amazing energy and time they put into creating our excellent programme of 30th anniversary celebratory events.

Report by Roz Morris and Sue Sheen

Pictures by Jason Alden

Click on the pictures for captions




	Home Home Contact us About CWN Who we are Members' testimonials Board profiles Committees How to join FAQs Events Forthcoming events Past events 30th anniversary Media Press releases Media coverage Connections Links Members How to join FAQs Partners	CWN – 30 years of successful women’s networking For more than thirty years City Women’s Network has been a valuable resource for its members and some of them have told us why they believe CWN is so important for them. Click here to read what our members say about CWN. We ran a major programme of events celebrating our 30th Anniversary, starting in May 2008 and culminating with the 30th Anniversary Dinner in April 2009. 30th Anniversary Dinner at the House of Lords Thursday 30th April 2009 City Women’s Network’s 30th Anniversary Dinner at the House of Lords on the evening of the 30th of April 2009 was a sell-out event and a huge success; a truly impressive grand finale to our programme of events celebrating our 30 years since the network was officially founded in 1978. Before we sat down for dinner in the suitably splendid surroundings of the Cholmondeley Room, we had champagne, photographs, and lots of networking overlooking the Thames on the riverside terrace of the House of Lords. Our host for the evening, Baroness Goudie, set the speeches rolling by welcoming us, and mentioning the Equality Bill which, it is hoped, should make a difference to women in employment. Our other speakers addressed the question of ‘I didn’t get where I am today…’, starting with Joni Lysett Nelson, one of CWN’s founding members, who cast her mind back to the early days, and reflected how much things have changed since then, including the fact that she and her fellow CWN pioneers could not then book tables at restaurants in the City of London – only men could do this. Rosalind Gilmore, with a distinguished track record on boards, and as a top civil servant, observed that she would not have got where she is without the generosity of colleagues. Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, whose wealth of experience of the Bar dates back to 1953, pointed out that sometimes gender could work in our favour. She modestly suggested that on several occasions she had been selected for positions because a (probably token) woman was needed to show balance. Many long-standing members and past presidents of CWN attended the dinner including Nicola Stevens, Mei Sim Lai, Hilary Sears, Alison Thorne and Diane Morris (now president of The International Alliance for Women). Other guests included the heads of several women’s organisations; Max Benson, Co-Founder, Everywoman, Liz Campbell, Director, Wellbeing of Women, Christine Lawrence, Chairman, Women in Banking and Finance, Herta von Stiegel, Chairman, The Prince’s Trust Women’s Leadership Group, Stephanie McKendrick, Canadian Women in Communications and Michelle Brailsford, President European Professional Women’s Network- London. Our sincere thanks go to our sponsors, Manches LLP, and to the members of the 30th Anniversary Committee: Janine Roxborough Bunce, Monica Fisher and Pam Waring, for the amazing energy and time they put into creating our excellent programme of 30th anniversary celebratory events. Report by Roz Morris and Sue Sheen Pictures by Jason Alden Click on the pictures for captions 30th Anniversary events Read about the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner with guest speaker Cherie Booth QC Read about the 30th Anniversary Breakfast Panel - Gender in the Boardroom. Read about the 30th Anniversary President's Cocktail Party. Read about the launch of the 30th Anniversary year.


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