The Pipeline at The Labour Party Conference 2025

The Pipeline at the Labour Party Conference: Driving the Conversation on Women’s Leadership

The Pipeline joined the important conversations happening at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, a pivotal moment in the Labour Party’s annual calendar. The conference brings together party members, trade union representatives, MPs, councillors, and organisations to discuss critical issues, shape policy, and inspire collective action.

Dozens of side events (fringe events) are run by think tanks, unions, charities, and businesses as a key part of political networking and pushing forward policy.

Championing Equality and Representation

Having The Pipeline’s voice at the conference was crucial in keeping gender representation and workplace diversity firmly on the agenda. Our presence ensured that women’s equality and the advancement of underrepresented groups remained central to discussions on the future of work and leadership.

Our fringe event on Monday 29^th -  Women in Leadership -  was exactly the conversation needed right now to drive equality forward, especially in a climate of anti-DEI pressure. We led a panel of brilliant speakers, sharing findings from our recent landmark report, Women in Work, and gaining their key insights on current issues and how we can reach equality.

A Powerful Panel

Our Chair, Professor Geeta Nargund, chaired the event and was joined by Programme Director Lisa de Jong, who facilitated a thought-provoking discussion. Together, they explored vital questions, such as:

• What does the future of allyship look like?
• How should employers respond to anti-DEI rhetoric?
• How can schools prepare the next generation to thrive in inclusive workplaces?

We were joined by some fantastic women leaders:

• Baroness Harriet Harman - UK Special Envoy for Women & Girls, trailblazer in politics, and Top Flight facilitator
• Georgia Gould MP - Minister for Education and MP for Queen's Park and Maida Vale
• Professor Sherria Hoskins - Provost of the University of Portsmouth

Highlights from the Conversation

Harriet Harman: Staying Anchored to Equality

Harriet Harman spoke passionately about the “anti-wokeness” rhetoric coming from the US - a push to “make Britain great again” by turning back the clock - and emphasised how our recent report makes clear that women in the UK do not want to see that tide turn here. Harriet urged Labour to stay anchored to this - to equality and progress as a core part of its vision for Britain.

She also reflected on what it means to be an ally in 2026 and beyond, citing the example of no Labour members putting themselves forward for deputy leader in order to keep the position open for a woman, a deliberate act of allyship. Creating space for and actively supporting women’s leadership, she argued, is where true allyship begins.

Georgia Gould MP: Authentic Leadership and Collaboration

Georgia Gould MP reflected on the women who have personally inspired her, paying tribute to her mentor, the late Margaret MacDonagh - co-founder of The Pipeline and a trailblazer within the Labour Party who helped secure Labour’s 1997 election victory. Georgia shared how Margaret’s “get back out there” and “push yourself further” ethos continues to drive her forward today.

Georgia also spoke about her mother, who broke glass ceilings in the publishing world and inspired her through a collaborative and authentic leadership style, one that embraced her identity as a woman rather than conforming to a male perception of leadership. For Georgia, this is what true, strong leadership looks like.

Collaboration is central to Georgia’s approach to policy change, particularly in addressing the challenges faced by young women – from harassment to body image pressures. Drawing on her conversations with schoolgirls as Education Minister, she highlighted the importance of involving boys in discussions about equality. She noted that young men often raise mental health as a major concern, emphasising the need to tackle both sides of sexism and inequality together.

Sherria Hoskins: Closing the Gap in Higher Education

Sherria Hoskins shared shocking statistics about higher education: while 54% of the university workforce are women, only 28% of senior leaders are women, 20% are professors, and just 17% lead universities. She pointed out the irony that universities are often labelled as being “too woke,” yet even there women remain underrepresented at the top. Sherria also drew from her expertise in psychology, highlighting that we need to grow a growth mindset in young girls from the start of education, in order to overcome stereotype threat and tackle unconscious bias.

Drawing on her background in psychology, Sherria emphasised the importance of fostering a growth mindset in girls from an early age to help counter stereotype threat and unconscious bias. By nurturing the belief that ability can always be developed – and that no group is inherently superior – we can begin to challenge the structures that limit women’s progression.

Vision with Action

“Action without vision is only passing time … vision without action is merely daydreaming … but vision with action can change the world.”  - Nelson Mandela

This sentiment perfectly captures The Pipeline’s mission: combining a bold vision for gender equality with practical steps to make it reality.

Join Us in Driving Change

The conversations at The Labour Party Conference were only the beginning. At The Pipeline, we’re committed to turning these insights into measurable impact by continuing to develop women leaders, engaging allies, and transforming workplaces across the UK.

Join us in shaping a future where leadership truly represents the world we live in.