JaneO'Riordan

Chairman

Jane is the chair of Caravan Restaurants, the chair of Red Engine (Flightclub Darts and Electric Shuffle), and the Chair of Turtle Bay Hospitality.

Jane is also an NED of Octopus Titan VCT PLC, the UK’s largest venture capital trust and has a number of other investment advisory roles.

She is on the Hospitality Sector Council working together with industry and government, where she currently chairs the Innovation Working Group.

Jane has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality and leisure sector, including an executive career with Nando’s, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Pizza Express, among others.

AngelaMcConville Chief Executive

Angela McConville is CEO of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), the UK’s largest charity for pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

She joined NCT in January 2020, having been Chief Executive of a number of charities working in community development, social and economic regeneration and heritage management.

Angela has served on a number of not-for-profit Boards as a trustee and/or non-executive Director, including The London Apprenticeship Company, London’s first group apprenticeship company, City of Westminster College and the London Transport Museum, where she served as a volunteer trustee and Trading Board Director for six years.

Angela lives in Oxfordshire and has two children aged 12 and 9.

AngelaMcConville Chief Executive

What does International Women's Day mean to me:

At NCT, we believe that the foundations of the future are built by parents and that everyone becoming a parent should feel confident, connected, and safe. That’s why NCT is the charity with a clear and singular mission - we support people as they become parents. We’re here for them through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

We have a proud 65-year history of creating transformative change in the lives of women, new parents, babies, and families in the UK. For millions of parents, we have been a trusted voice, a reassuring presence and a strong advocate, raising the profile of the issues that matter most and securing major advances in professional practice and public policy.

As the theme this year for International Women’s Day (IWD) is #EmbraceEquity, this IWD, we want to highlight the inequality and inequity in maternity services. It's devastating that where you live, the colour of your skin, your accent or your faith, can influence the quality of care that women receive and the outcomes for women and babies. Every woman has the right to be listened to and put at the centre of their care throughout pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Achieving this requires care givers, employers and society to understand and respect each woman’s unique circumstances.

On IWD, I’m renewing my call for maternity and postnatal support and services to be safe and personalised, to meet the needs of every woman, whatever their role, context or circumstances, on their pregnancy and parenting journey.

8 March 2023