Sexism in the City? ñ Women in Londons Economy

Penny de Valk, pioneer of work/life balance and diversity in the UK business community, and managing director of Ceridian HR Consulting, will be speaking at capitalwoman2005, a conference being held by London Mayor Ken Livingstone to coincide with International Womenís Day (5 March 2005).

Sexism in the City? ñ Women in Londonís Economy is chaired by Diane Abbott MP and looks at some of the key issues women face, including the gender pay gap, work/life balance and the potential for career development.

Penny de Valk will explore these and other related issues including:

- What organisations can do to address womenís advancement, work/life balance and flexible working

- Why women are still under-represented in senior roles and what barriers they face

- Why organisations need to be creative around what part-time work constitutes if we are to stop wasting the skills and experience of senior women

Penny de Valk
Penny de Valk is a recognised pioneer of work/life balance and diversity in the UK business community. She has worked with blue-chip organisations, including LloydsTSB, Shell, B&Q, HSBC and GlaxoSmithKline, to create leading-edge, yet pragmatic and impactful programmes addressing womenís advancement, work/life balance and flexible working.

De Valk currently sits on the UK board of Ceridian Centrefile and heads up Ceridianís consulting business. Prior to that she ran one of the UKís first work/life consultancies, Ceridian Performance Partners, formerly Work Family Directions (WFD).

De Valk has also worked alongside not-for-profit organisations, supporting the development of the Employers for Work/life Balance and the Global Work/life Summit held at Downing Street in 2001.

Capitalwoman2005
Every year, capitalwoman brings London women of all ages and backgrounds together to discuss the issues affecting them. Open and free to all women, the conference coincides with International Womenís Day and is sponsored by Mayor Ken Livingstone.

capitalwoman enables women to question the Mayor, policy makers and womenís representatives directly on issues such as childcare, education, workplace issues and travel safety.

This yearís speakers include: Tessa Jowell MP; Ken Livingstone; Katherine Cowan, Stonewall; Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympic athlete.

For further information or to talk to Penny de Valk, please contact Kat Taylor, Victoria Harris or Nicola Dodd at Colman Getty PR: 020 7631 2666