International Women's Day 2025
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The theme for International Women's Day 2025, is #AccelerateAction for women worldwide. It emphasises the urgency of making faster, more effective strides toward gender equality.
Significant barriers to women’s equality remain, yet with the right action and support, positive progress can be made for women everywhere. We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out positive action. Collective activism is what drives change. From grassroots action to wide-scale momentum, we can all #AccelerateAction.
The University of Surrey is proud of its whole community. Celebrating International Women’s Day is a reminder of the importance of women's inclusion, and the sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment it brings.
Across the coming weeks this celebration will be marked by a range of events and activities across our community, more details of which you’ll find below, where there is also information about opportunities and networks available to women.
A message from Annika Bautz, Executive Board Sponsor for the Women's Network
"At the University of Surrey we believe that gender equality is not just a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for an inclusive learning and working environment. We respect and value individuals of all gender identities, encourage everyone to contribute their unique perspectives and empower every member of our community to succeed academically, professionally, and personally.
We embrace the Athena Swan Charter as a way to help us realise change and continue to promote and achieve gender equality. We hold an institutional Silver Athena Swan charter mark and are very proud that all of our Schools now hold an Athena Swan Award.
For our staff, we offer opportunities for leadership development through programmes such as Springboard and our suite of management training to help enable female staff to achieve their ambitions in leadership.
International Women’s Day is an annual celebration of the history and achievements of women as well as an important reminder of the need to take action to progress gender equality. This year, the theme is #AccelerateAction, recognising the need to speed up women's equality and reminding us that everyone everywhere can play a part in helping to forge gender equality.
I am proud of the continued progress the University of Surrey is making towards becoming a more inclusive university and am looking forward to the exciting programme of events and activities taking place across the University this year to celebrate International Women's Day.
I encourage you to engage in our events and activities; International Women’s Day is for everyone – get involved!"
Events and opportunities
Celebrating International Women's Day 2025 with some of our Senior Leaders
Tuesday 4 March 2025
12:00pm - 2:00pm
5G Seminar Room
The Women's Network invite you to join a lunchtime panel event to explore how we are 'Accelerating Action' on the issues that matter most to women.
Confirmed speakers include - Prof Annika Bautz, Prof Iis Tussyadiah, Prof Lisa Collins, Prof Anne Skeldon, Dynatra Subasinghe and Hollie Baker.
Tea and coffee will be provided - and please feel free to bring your lunch with you.
Women in Tech Panel
Tuesday 4 March 2025
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Online
Our Women in Tech Panel will be focused on inspiring female students from a range of disciplines to explore careers in the technology sector. Female leaders from Dell, Deloitte and Microsoft will join us to share their inspiring career experiences and journeys, giving you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
Any staff wanting to attend, please email careers@surrey.ac.uk
Empowering Women in STEM: Exploring Innovation, Diversity, and Career Pathways
Wednesday 5 March 2025
2:00pm - 4:00pm
01CIILG in 6GIC (6G Building)
This event is open to all students and focuses on exploring innovation, diversity and career opportunities in STEM, with an emphasis on supporting women.
Free refreshments will be provided.
Places are limited, please sign up here by Sunday 2 March.
Endometriosis: It's not just 'a woman's issue', it's a workplace issue
Friday 7 March 2025
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Online
In this lunch and learn, Vickie Williams, a research fellow from the School of Health Sciences, will share some key findings from her PhD thesis exploring endometriosis and employment. Highlights will include; lived experiences of working with the condition, workplace challenges and developing supportive practices and policies for a range of menstrual health challenges at work.
Centre for Britain and Europe (CBE): Gender and Representation in Europe
Wednesday 19 March 2025
1:00pm - 2:30pm
72 MS 03 (Rik Medlik building)
All staff are welcome to attend this International Women's Day roundtable event, which will be chaired by Dr Nathalie Weidhase.
Speakers:
Prof Daniele Albertazzi and Dr Roula Nezi - Gender and the Populist Radical Right in Western Europe: All Change?
Dr Simona Guerra - Women and Leadership in the Early Years of European Integration
Dr Laura Chappell and Prof Roberta Guerrina (University of Bristol) - Symbols, Mythology and Gendered Agency in EU external affairs
Research Showcase: SGS Intersectional Feminist Research
Wednesday 19 March 2025
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Online
Join this thought-provoking panel discussing research by members of the University's SGS: the Sex, Gender and Sexualities research centre.
Panellists will give short presentations on their current work - the line-up includes:
* Saher Bano
* Anthea Benjamin
* Chigozirim Miracle Nwaosu
* Beth Roberts
* Sarah Wingrove
Please register
Treat yourself to a refreshing, International Women's Day 'special' drink from Hillside Coffee.
Head over with colleagues to try the special ‘Raspberry Iced Feminini-Tea'.
Enjoy!
Networks & support
Join the Women's Network
The Surrey Women's Network advocates for women's interests, supports and develops the ambitions of women, and engages the University community in its agenda. Request to join Microsoft Teams' Women's Network team.
Menopause - guidance and support
Every woman's menopause journey is unique. Find out more about guidance and support at the University, including a toolkit, Menopause Advocates and free access to Adora - a personalised digital companion.
Surrey Women's Entrepreneurship Network
SWEN fosters innovation and investment-readiness through mentoring programmes, expert business support and links with the local ecosystem of funders, policy makers, investors and other stakeholders.
Carers Network Project
We recognise the vital role that unpaid carers play in our community. Whether you’re caring for a family member, a friend, or a neighbour, we understand the challenges you face and are committed to providing support to ensure that you can balance your caring responsibilities with your work and personal life. Explore our resources.
Parent Returner Project
We are committed to supporting colleagues throughout key life events including the time before, during and after parental leave. As part of this commitment, our Parental Leave Toolkit, has been created to outline the benefits and support available to you throughout parental leave and to answer some of the questions you may have in relation to your leave. Discover more.
Gender parity in research
This International Women’s Day, the University of Surrey-based Daphne Jackson Trust is working harder than ever to bring more women back to research.
Springboard
Springboard is the award-winning, globally-recognised personal development programme for staff who identify as women. The aim of the programme is to enable women to develop, both on a personal and professional level by learning more about their skills, values, environment, assertiveness, networking ability and how to put themselves across positively, build on personal image and set achievable goals.
If would like any further information, please email Jo McCarthy-Holland.
Further reading
Women of Surrey Research Park
Inspired by the ground-breaking Women of Tech Park Arizona initiative, the Women of Surrey Research Park campaign aims to celebrate the incredible women who are driving innovation, shaping industries, and creating impact within its thriving community.
Aligned with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, "For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment," the campaign highlights the stories of women making strides across a range of sectors, including engineering and manufacturing, health and medical, space, big data and more.
If you are planning to run an event or activity in support of International Women's Day, please let us know via news@surrey.ac.uk so that we can build it into our promotional programme.
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