Features
UK Network Of Women In Live Events Relaunched
The Network of Women in Events (NOWIE), established in 2013, strives to create better opportunities for women within the events industry through networking, community, and fighting for improved representation of women in the workplace, on panels, at awards, and in the media.
NOWIE officially relaunched Oct. 23, donning a complete rebrand, memberships, community, and strategy for the future.
For one, under the leadership of chair and renowned events professional Cat Kevern, NOWIE has transitioned from a non-profit to a so-called Community Interest Company (CIC), meaning staff can now be paid, instead of working solely on a voluntary basis.
Commenting on the transition to a CIC, Kevern said, “After being entirely volunteer-run for over a decade, this feels like one of the most significant changes we have made for NOWIE. We’re now moving towards a model that enables us to pay our team for their time, which we’ve always been deeply passionate and outspoken about!”
NOWIE’s efforts to create accessible, welcoming networking opportunities for women have led to nationwide regional events celebrating International Women’s Day, city-wide scavenger hunts, and their signature ‘Speed Networking’ sessions appearing at various industry events.
The mission is to create a more equitable landscape for women in the events sector, whether by offering affordable mentoring to entry/junior level professionals; advocating for improved gender representation in senior management roles; or creating industry pay guidelines in an effort to increase pay equity.
Going forward, NOWIE will be offering a membership area with new features, with Safe Events Global already confirmed as a sponsor. Mark Breen, director of Safe Events Global, commented, “The work Cat and the team at NOWIE do is both important and inspiring. In Safe Events Global, the majority of our full-time team is female. We’ve seen firsthand over the years the challenges women in the industry can face and we believe those doing great work to address that should be supported. So we are delighted to partner with NOWIE and are very excited to see their plans for the organisation come to fruition in the coming months and years.”
There are different memberships on offer at NOWIE, as Kevern explained, “Our Facebook community group will remain free, we always want there to be an option that is accessible to absolutely everyone,” she said, adding, “We have affordable options for individuals, corporate membership packages, and even ally memberships for those looking to support NOWIE’s mission. This system will enable us to level up our offering, best support our community, and drive significant change in the industry. It will also allow us to invest in our team, ensuring that we can hire and fairly compensate skilled professionals who are dedicated to NOWIE’s success. This will enhance our operational efficiency and provide even greater support for our community. Watch this space – we’ve got big plans.”
Known for its thriving online community, eclectic in-person networking events, and prominent ‘Level Up’ mentoring scheme, NOWIE has already made waves in its efforts to improve the career landscape for women in live events, and Kevern concluded, “NOWIE’s purpose is creating better opportunities for women (by women!) in the events industry, at all career stages. This relaunch has been invaluable, getting us laser-focused on our aims for the future.”.