International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated each year on 8 March and recognises the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the globe. It is also an important opportunity to raise awareness of gender equality and to continue advocating for the rights of women and girls everywhere.
This year Positive About Inclusion marked International Women’s Day a little early, celebrating on Friday 6 March alongside our friends at WISH North East.
WISH North East hosted a fantastic celebration event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Newcastle, bringing people together to reflect, connect and inspire. The event also incorporated fundraising in support of Feeding Families (UK), adding a powerful community focus to the celebrations.
Attendees heard from a range of inspiring speakers, each sharing their own experiences and insights. Jude Comber, Account Director at Alscient delivered an engaging and relatable talk titled ‘How the Heck Did I End Up in Tech?’, reflecting on her career journey and the unexpected paths that can lead women into the technology sector. This was followed by a thoughtful and motivating presentation from Dame Irene Hays, Chief Executive of Hays Travel, who spoke on ‘Leading with Purpose’, offering reflections on values-led leadership and the importance of staying true to your principles.
The event concluded with a lively and insightful panel discussion focused on WISH and gender equality. The panel included Positive About Inclusion’s Director, Lucy Malarkey, alongside Judith Common, Caroline Gitsham and Crystal Hicks, who shared perspectives on progress, challenges and the role organisations and individuals can play in driving meaningful change.
Altogether, the event felt like a perfect reflection of the International Women’s Day 2026 theme, #GiveToGain – highlighting the power of collaboration, shared learning and collective action in creating more inclusive workplaces and communities.
