Some of Guernsey’s leading women gathered at Deloitte’s office to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Guests included Jane St Pier and Kerstin Neason, respectively Chair and CEO of the Youth Commission, Start-Up Guernsey’s Jennifer Strachan, Gill Morris of Specsavers, as well as Megan Pullem, Guernsey’s recently appointed Procureur.
Over canapes and Prosecco, the guests talked about all forms diversity, not just gender and Deloitte host Jo Huxtable noted that many of the issues felt by working women were just as commonly felt by men, especially working fathers.
Jo also shared news from within Deloitte, explaining that the firm has the ambition to get to a ratio of 25% female partners by 2020. Last year the UK firm promoted 80 individuals to partner, 30% of whom were women, giving the firm 18% female partners overall.
The need to support men and women who have taken a career break and encourage them back into the workplace was also discussed, and Jo expressed her hope that Deloitte’s Return to Work programme could soon be launched in the Channel Islands.
As well as celebrating women’s success and the Be Bold for Change theme, the evening had a wellbeing theme, massages from Danni Ahne, a beauty therapist; nutrition advice from Sophie Shand and fitness inspiration from Laura Fry of Fry Fit. Alongside this, Jo introduced Deloitte’s chosen charity for the next three years – Guernsey Mind.
The firm will be supporting the charity with various activities to help them in their goal to promote and protect good mental health for the people of Guernsey.
