The new President of Lucy Cavendish College is to commence her tenure by holding a conference to “evaluate the current experiences of women”, and will include an “outstanding” panel of women such as former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman.

Jackie Ashley, a former journalist for ITN, Channel 4 News, the BBC, the New Statesman and the Guardian and the incoming eigth president of the college, said that the achievements of Lucy Cavendish students she’s met are “inspiring”.

“These women are aiming high and I have no doubt that they’ll succeed. They highlight just how far women have come in a generation – but I do wonder if it’s far enough.”
Lucy Cavendish – the only women’s college in the UK for students aged 21 and over – is also using this event to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The distinguished guests scheduled to appear at the event are women at the frontline of politics, journalism, business and public life.

Alongside Harman, this includes Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee, Carers UK CEO Heléna Herklots and, and author Jane Hawking who will discuss women’s experiences “in the workplace and at home” alongside former Culture Secretary Maria Miller and deputy chair of UKIP Suzanne Evans.

Feminist activist and journalist Caroline Criado-Perez OBE, who was previously accused of “persistently attack[ing] trans people and other feminists online” by members of CUSU’s Women’s Campaign, has also been invited.

Criado-Perez’s invitation to a Women of the World event in 2014 was labelled “totally inappropriate and offensive” by the group, though her attendance was undisrupted.

The Lucy Cavendish conference, entitled ‘Where are the women?’, will consider the “choices and challenges” professional women face and how these can be overcome, including discussions on issues at work and on social media, before concluding with a debate on how gender equality can be achieved.

The former culture secretary, Maria Miller, is also expected to appear at the conference, despite having previously come under fire for her approach to abortion legislation.

The event is due to take place on 15th November at the Cambridge Union. Tickets can be purchased from the ADC Theatre online.