It’s been roughly ten years since I convened what became The Equilibrium Network’s very first roundtable, at which a group of interdisciplinary, senior and influential women gathered around a glass or two of wine to discuss the question:
“Does it matter that women are not involved in decision making at the top of our industry?”
Since then, EQN has grown to become an international not-for-profit organisation with over 2000 members across the globe, with a powerful aim: to ensure that women have equal influence in the design and delivery of the built environment.
Importantly, EQN's membership includes both men and women from across the industry: architects, engineers, landscape architects, contractors, surveyors, planners, policy makers and urbanists; also those commissioning the design of the built environment in the public and private sectors, NGOs and charities; also academics and industry based institutes.
I am now stepping aside as Chair of EQN and I am delighted to announce that Yasmin Al-Ani Spence, Director at Wilkinson Eyre, is taking over.
To mark this handover, we are running a hybrid, in-person and virtual event on Wednesday 19th November at 5.45pm (UK time). At this event, we will reflect on how things have changed (or not), over the last ten years, and explore an evolution of the original question:
“Presence without Power – moving from representation to true inclusion.”
The event will be debate/discussion, a provocation, skilfully facilitated by Emily Wright (The Times, Wallpaper), with a fantastic multi-disciplinary panel:
Emma Cariaga (British Land)
Jess Glynn (Atelier Ten)
Lloyd Preston-Allen (Landsec)
Anita Suji (Aecom)
Tom Ravenscroft (Dezeen)
Audience participation will be obligatory!
As with all EQN events, this will be honest, solutions-focused, and explore both the progress made and the work still to be done. The guests will be multidisciplinary from across the built environment, comprising men and women.
The venue is Aecom’s office in Aldgate Tower, although if it suits you better, you would be hugely welcomed online instead.
If you would like to attend, and we would love to have you join us please contact adele@equilibrium-network.com
You can read about the work of EQN here - https://lnkd.in/eq7iBakf
