The theme of International Women's Day 2025 was “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment."
Events and initiatives DWF colleagues took part in for IWD 2025
This year’s International Women's Day (IWD) theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. This aligns firmly with DWF’s commitment to UN GLobal Compact Sustainable Development Goal #5 – Gender Equality.
The initiatives listed below were designed for and open to all colleagues to join and build greater awareness of gender equality.
Key event series
'In conversation with…' interview series: A series of Q&A webinars with diverse women from across the global DWF organisation created by 5 Star Futures including contributions from Sara Rafecas – Director; Jewels Chamberlain – Partner and Menopause Network Senior Lead; Rebecca Hetherington – Associate Legal Counsel and Working Families Network Chair ; Natasha Gunney – Partner and Gender Network Chair; Dipti Gosavi – Assistant Vice President (ALSP).
Watch the Q&A webinars
Sector initiatives
The Breakout Room: DWF relaunched its forum dedicated to empowering women in the construction industry, providing a platform for networking, sharing experiences, and supporting each other’s professional growth. Find out more and receive future updates on events >
Women in Construction Q&A: Women in DWF's Construction and Infrastructure team put their questions to career coach, Nikki Squire, from Strevas.
Infrastructure, Construction and Energy: In acknowledgement of construction being a largely male dominated industry, David McNeice, Global Co-Head of Infrastructure, Construction and Energy, led an initiative to build allyship and connections to accelerate change and empower colleagues. Male colleagues were allocated a female colleague to connect with and understand what motivates them, what barriers they have faced, and what we can do differently to support female colleagues. The findings were collated anonymously and will be used to formulate a forward action plan.
Local events
Manchester: Colleagues in our Manchester office combined some informal networking with a guided walk about the inspiring women who have had an influence on the history, heritage, and culture of not just Manchester, but much further afield too.
Liverpool: Colleagues in our Liverpool office took part in informal networking and a walking tour. The tour, inspired by pioneering women from Liverpool included many locations that played an important role in social, medical, and cultural changes from the 1800s to the modern day.
Belfast: Colleagues in Belfast showcased female talent through a video montage shared on social media.
Pune: The India DE&I team hosted a panel discussion including Assistant Vice Presidents Dipti Gosavi, Sakshi Kalra and Kajal Soni.
Poland: Colleagues were invited to attend a lecture featuring a presentation from a professor specialising in gender equality and the labour market.
Glasgow: Colleagues held a coffee morning and took time to gather feedback on this year's International Women's Day theme of "Accelerate Action". Colleagues were also encouraged to share donations to Dress for Success Scotland.
Edinburgh: Colleagues held a coffee morning and conversation on Accelerating Action. Colleagues were also encouraged to make clothing donations to Smart Works Scotland and Grassroots Clothing.
Dubai: Our Dubai office conducted a questionnaire allowing colleagues to recognise inspirational and motivational women in their office.
Initiatives designed to create better gender balance in 2023/24 include:
- Marking key dates such as Baby Loss Awareness Week and World Menopause Day, and showcasing female role models in our Pride Celebrations.
- Improving DWF Family Friendly policies including additional paid leave for adoption training, fertility treatment and dependants care.
- New mandatory training including information on sexual and gender-based discrimination.
- Public webinar on sexual harassment legislation and actions organisations can take, followed by a series of roundtable events on the topic in London, Newcastle, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Birmingham.
- Internal Domestic Abuse Hub launched containing information on the importance of the topic as a workplace issue, available support, and how to discuss the matter with colleagues.
- Lunch and Learn session with Working Families Network members on promotions including a presentation from a recently promoted colleague with parental responsibilities.
- Listening sessions on topics such as Baby Loss and Miscarriage.
- Female colleagues sharing their personal experiences via webinars, blogs and articles on topics like promotion, parenthood, grief, Ramadan, Chinese New Year, early careers, neurodiversity, mental health etc.
- Men at Work Network's 'Men's Mental Health Listening Sessions' extended to provide more time for member discussions. And events held with male role models for International Men's Day.
- Female development programme pilot extended.
- Regional initiatives such as the 'Women in the Walkie Talkie' networking group operating out of our London Office.
- The DWF Foundation provided grants to charitable projects supporting gender equality such as education, employability, wellbeing and skills programmes targeted specifically at women.
