Equality Conference 2010: Ensuring Equality, Diversity and Fairness for All
Date: Wednesday, 1st December 2010 
Time: 9.50am-4.15pm (including networking lunch)
Venue: Westminster, London
Cost: £225-£395 for one place, dependent on sector (discounts for more than one place).
Please click here to view an agenda
“These are certainly anything but typical times in the world of politics. And I am not just talking about the coalition. We are in an economic crisis that limits our resources and breeds uncertainty….But let me be clear: there will be no rollback on equality – certainly not on our watch….Building a fairer society is at the heart of the coalition government’s programme for change. We believe there are too many barriers to social mobility and equal opportunities in Britain today”.
- Lynne Featherstone MP, Minister for Equalities, May 2010
The Context
Under the new coalition Government the Equality Act will be rolled out, delivering improved and strengthened equality protections as well as harmonised discrimination legislation. The Government maintains that there will be no regression on promoting and extending equality, diversity and fairness for individuals and wider society. However, with tightening financial budgets and the need to get Britain working again, questions remain if all the provisions within the Act will be fully implemented and how the continuing challenges of equality and diversity will be met, now and in the future.
Confirmed Speakers Include:
- Jonathan Rees, Director General, Government Equalities Office
- Nick Johnson, Principal Associate, Institute of Community Cohesion
- Andrew Copson, Chief Executive, British Humanist Association
- Sarah Veale, Head of Equality and Employment Rights, TUC
- Dr. Carole Thornley, Senior Lecturer, Keele Management School
- Jonathan Finney, Head of External Affairs, Stonewall
- Sarah McDonnell, Senior Researcher & Iain Ryrie, Fellow, OPM
- Katie Ghose, Director, BIHR
- Professor Francesca Klug OBE, Professorial Research Fellow, LSE
- Chris Ball, Chief Executive, TAEN
The Event & Issues
This Westminster Briefing Conference will provide delegates with a timely update on the provisions within the Act and what it means for all practitioners across the equality spectrum. In addition, delegates will gain insights into the current and future challenges for all the equality strands and how to ensure that wider society becomes more equal, diverse and fairer for all. Participants will engage with the panel, examining a number of important issues, including:
- The view from the coalition Government on its equality agenda and what the deficit reduction programme will mean for implementation of the new legislation;
- Going beyond Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society and considering new approaches to addressing race inequalities;
- Delivering equality for an ageing society and how the extensions of age discrimination legalisation will affect practitioners;
- Strengthening the DDA and making reasonable adjustments for disabled people;
- Equality of opportunity and tackling tensions between faith groups and other equality strands;
- Delivering greater gender pay gap transparency and identification;
- Meeting the needs of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community;
- Raising awareness of transgender issues and challenges; and
- A Human Rights Act or a British Bill of Rights?
Who should Attend?
Delegates will be drawn from a wide range of stakeholders, including all equality and diversity practitioners and professionals from public, private and third sector organisations; the police and emergency services; trade unions and associations; central government departments and relevant bodies; academia; the voluntary sector, NGOs and community groups; and all stakeholders that have an interest in equality & diversity and making society a fairer one.
Registration Options
