International Women’s Day 2025: Celebrating our GEN Network
International Women's Day (IWD) is about promoting a gender equal world and inclusion for all women. On this day we celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
The 2025 IWD theme is #AccelerateAction. This year, we're focusing on the actions we can take all year round to progress gender equality across our work and personal lives. In honour of IWD, our Gender Empowerment Network (GEN) took the opportunity to shine a spotlight on two inspiring women.
We believe in promoting equality, valuing diversity, and working inclusively
Action for Children’s Gender Empowerment Network (GEN) promotes gender equality across every level of the charity.
Representing all genders, the network is a key voice in making positive organisational change - influencing policy and practices as well has creating space for discussions on topics where gender plays a part in our experiences.
Any member of staff can join the network and come to their monthly, friendly calls. The network is there to answer questions and be a safe place for support.
GEN is looking forward to the possibility of working with other networks to talk about issues where gender insects with other identities as well as focusing on positive changes we’d love to implement at Action for Children.
To celebrate IWD, Action for Children hosted a panel discussion with two incredible women:
- Elaine Gray, Corporate Partnerships Executive
- Shazia Mehboob, Senior Legacy Officer
Each of them spoke about their different experiences on being a woman in the workplace and how they hope to #AccelerateAction.
Elaine is a Corporate Partnerships Executive within the Partnerships Management team. Prior to this, Elle worked as a Management Consultant in the Asset Management industry, before pivoting into the world of ESG consulting. She also took a career break in 2022/23 to travel in Southern Africa, Australia and Europe.
Elaine believes everyone deserves the right to an equitable society, and that feminism and pushing for gender equality fundamentally benefits all genders. With progress in gender equality being so slow, she believes that:
Collective action and raising up under-represented voices is vital to speeding this up.
Shazia is a Senior Legacy Officer working within the legal department and dealing with all legacy administration and currently supporting the legal team. She’s been at Action for Children for 14 years having worked previously as a Solicitor in private practice. She’s also a super mum to four girls aged 20,18, seven and two.
Shazia believes empowering women is essential for creating a more equitable and prosperous society.
We're always looking for talented people
- Celebrate women's achievements
- Educate and raise awareness for women's equality
- Call for positive change, advancing women and marginalised genders
- Lobby for accelerated gender parity
- Fundraise for female-focused charities
