With the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day being #ChooseToChallenge, at LSBU, we’re choosing to challenge the taboo that surrounds the menopause – not just in the work place but in daily life. This includes a lack of understanding or willingness to discuss the issue, misconceptions about the symptoms & its impact, and the language used around the menopause, & those experiencing it, which can be negative, unkind & often derogatory. For something that affects so many people, there’s a distinct lack of awareness about the menopause and as a result, gender bias, discrimination & stereotyping are all potentially enforced.

Thankfully, things are starting to change. Conversations about menopause are becoming more normalised and less difficult & embarrassing for many people. As LSBU launches its menopause policy to raise awareness of menopause transition and provide information and support for those who are directly or indirectly affected, we are proud to bring together a panel of experts to openly discuss & challenge some of the ideas & beliefs around the menopause.

This event aims to share best practice as to how workplaces, and individuals, can be more inclusive and better support those around them who are experiencing the menopause in an informed, sensitive & accepting way. We'll be joined by a panel of experts from different professions who will be sharing their work & insight. There will also be an opportunity ask questions and share your thoughts & experiences which may help others.

Join us as we choose to challenge this topic, dispel myths & share knowledge so that we can work towards making the menopause a better experience for those it affects.

Provisional programme

3pm – Welcome & introduction - Marcelle Moncrieffe-Johnson, Chief People Officer, LSBU

3.10pm – Entertainment with Dr Naomi Paxton, performer, writer, broadcaster, & researcher

3.30pm – In conversation with....

• Carolyn Harris MP, Member of Parliament for Swansea East
• Claire McCartney: Senior Policy Adviser, Resourcing and Inclusion , CIPD
• Claire Bellone, Nurse Consultant – Menopause and PMS Service, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
• Dr Eiman Aleem, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science, LSBU

Chaired by: Marcelle Moncrieffe-Johnson, Chief People Officer, LSBU

4.20pm – Audience Q&A

4.50pm – Panellists share parting thoughts

4.55pm – Closing remarks & summary

5pm - Close

This event will be delivered virtually using Zoom Webinar. We'll send out the joining instructions the day before the event.

Check out our follow-up event entitled 'Hormones, the menopause & mental health' taking place on Thursday 11 March from 11am - 12pm.

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Biographies

Dr Naomi Paxton is currently employed as Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. She is also a Parliamentary Academic Fellow, and an Associate Fellow of the School of Advanced Study, University of London. ​ Naomi trained as a performer at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). After a decade as a professional actor, in 2011 she started a PhD in the Drama department at the University of Manchester. Her doctoral research, completed in 2015, explored the work of the Actresses' Franchise League and the contribution of theatre professionals to the suffrage campaign. Naomi is a member of Equity, and The Magic Circle. She is also Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for The Magic Circle.

Born and raised in her own constituency of Swansea East, Carolyn Harris grew up with a keen interest in politics. After gaining a degree in Social Policy from Swansea University, Carolyn continued to work within her community, setting up two centres for disaffected youths. This was followed by roles as a Regional Director for a capacity building not-for-profit organisation and then a Regional Manager for a children’s cancer charity. Carolyn then worked for the former Member of Parliament for Swansea East, Siân James.

On 7 May 2015, she was first elected as the constituencies Member of Parliament and was re-elected in both the 2017 and 2019 elections. In April 2018 she became the first Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour. Carolyn has risen from a backbencher to Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition. She Chairs the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Gambling Related Harm, Online and Home Electrical Safety and Beauty, Aesthetics & Wellbeing.

Claire McCartney is the Resourcing and Inclusion Policy Adviser at the CIPD. Claire specialises in the areas of diversity & inclusion, flexible working and resourcing. She has also developed guidance around compassionate bereavement support, workplace carers , creating menopause-friendly workplaces, domestic abuse workplace support and age diversity and has worked on a number of international projects. She is the author of several reports and articles and regularly presents at seminars and conferences.

Prior to her roles at the CIPD, Claire has run her own research and consultancy organisation and was Principal Researcher at Roffey Park where she conducted research projects into a variety of topics including Roffey Park’s annual Management Agenda survey, work-life balance, flexible working, employee volunteering, talent management, and diversity. Claire has also worked with a range of clients on tailored research needs.

Claire Bellone - "I am a Nurse Consultant with extensive experience working in the field hormone replacement therapy from puberty and cross every decade of a woman's life. The spectrum of complexity ranges from starting HRT in women with hormone sensitivity or intolerance to sever PMS/PMDD as well as complex comorbidities including mental health, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. I am a former senior lecturer at LSBU in addition to being a BMS/FSRH Menopause Trainer and collaborating in ongoing clinical research. I run support groups for staff menopausal women in the workplace and young women with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. "

Dr. Eiman Aleem is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, course director and the head of the Cancer Biology and Therapy lab at the Division of Human Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University. Eiman gained extensive international academic experience in Biomedical education and cancer research. She grew up and finished her University degree in Egypt. In 1995 she was the only woman among several hundred applicants from Egypt to receive a full PhD scholarship in Germany funded by the German academic exchange service. She earned her PhD in Molecular Biology in 2001 from the University of Heidelberg, and her postdoctoral fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, USA. In 2005, she led the development of the first Molecular Biology BSc and MSc programs at the Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt. From 2010-2012 she was a senior researcher in Oncology-Pathology at Karolinska Institute, Sweden funded by a Marie Curie grant. In 2013 she moved back to the USA as a Research Associate Professor and later co-director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix. Dr. Aleem received the NIH fellows award for excellence in biomedical research for 3 consecutive years, and the Egyptian State Prize for Biological Sciences in 2006. Dr. Aleem is the Chair of the Staff Gender Equality Network at LSBU. In 2011, she was invited to represent Alexandria University as a Faculty expert at the International congress “Fifth Global Colloquium of University Presidents: “Empowering Women to Change the World: What Universities and the United Nations Can Do.” Penn University, USA. She is particularly interested in gender equality in the higher education sector, in shedding light on women as role models, in bridging the gender pay gap, and in women’s health and well-being.

Marcelle Moncrieffe-Johnson is the Group Chief People Officer at London South Bank University Group and is a member of the Executive, having joined as Group Executive Director, People and OD in 2019. Marcelle has over 20 years HR experience gained in several sectors. Marcelle was previously Head of HR at the BBC overseeing cultural change, employee relations cases and HR support services for 20,000 staff and delivered major change in BBC News and BBC Television. Marcelle spent several years in London Local Authorities in strategic HR roles including Director of Human Resources and OD. Marcelle is completing a part time doctorate exploring the impact of workplace cultures on the career progression of Black employees and is a Non-Executive Director at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust.