Available to Advance HE members only
Despite sustained institutional commitments to gender equity, structural and cultural barriers continue to limit women’s progression and influence across higher education. Economic, political and social pressures, alongside increasing leadership complexity, mean that translating policy into meaningful, lasting change remains challenging.
Advancing Gender Equity through Inclusive Leadership brings together senior leaders from across the world to explore how inclusive leadership practices can accelerate progress on gender equity – moving beyond intention to measurable impact.
Are you interested?
Bookings are now open for the Advancing Gender Equity through Inclusive Leadership event on 21 May.
Why attend
Many higher education leaders are committed to advancing gender equity, but day‑to‑day realities can make progress difficult to sustain. Structural barriers, cultural norms and competing priorities often mean that good intentions do not translate into action.
This event focuses on the practical leadership behaviours, decisions and conversations that shape gender equity in departments and teams. It offers a focused opportunity to step back, reflect with peers and identify realistic actions that can be taken within your own context.
What you will gain
By participating, you will:
- Gain practical tools and inclusive leadership strategies to support measurable progress on gender equity
- Strengthen your ability to embed equity and inclusion into everyday decision‑making, policy and culture
- Explore how leadership behaviours and organisational cultures shape gender equity outcomes
- Learn ways to break down structural and systemic barriers to women’s leadership
- Connect with a global peer network of senior leaders facing similar challenges
- Leave with clear, context‑specific actions you can take within your own sphere of influence.
Who is this for?
This event is designed for mid to senior leaders in higher education who play a role in shaping culture, policy and leadership pathways, including:
- Heads of Department and Heads of School
- Academic leaders (Programme Leaders, Senior Lecturers, Associate Professors, Professors)
- Research leaders and Research Managers
- Professional services leaders working in HR, organisational development or EDI.
Gender equity in leadership doesn’t advance through good intentions alone. It shifts when leaders are willing to examine their everyday decisions, behaviours, and use of power - even when that feels uncomfortable. While cultural and organisational contexts differ around the world, many of the leadership tensions shaping gender equity are shared. Learning from global experience can help leaders recognise these patterns, while reflecting more honestly on how they show up in their own reality.Baljit Birring, Senior Consultant, Inclusive Leadership, Advance HE
Book your place
Date: 21 May 2026
Time: 08:00–10:00 BST
This two-hour session is practical and participatory, combining short expert inputs with facilitated discussion and peer learning. Leaders will explore how inclusive leadership behaviours influence gender equity outcomes and identify realistic actions they can implement within their own departments and teams.
Drawing on perspectives from across the UK, MENA, Australasia, Ireland, Cyprus and wider Europe, the session will focus on:
- Breaking down structural and systemic barriers to women’s leadership
- How inclusive leadership fosters belonging, equity and performance
- Translating strategic commitments into measurable progress
- Practical actions to amplify women’s voices and influence.
Facilitator
Baljit Birring, Senior Consultant, Inclusive Leadership, Advance HE
Speakers
Sarah Morgan, Chief of Staff at QMUL, UK
Maria Cinque, PhD, Professor at Università LUMSA, Italy
Dr Faiza, Dean of Student Affairs at Liwa University, UAE
Dr Zozan Balci, University of Technology Sydney, Australia; Visiting Research Fellow, University of Liverpool, UK
