The Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) recently brought together a group of outstanding female collaborative leaders for a business lunch at the House of Lords. The event was hosted by ICW Chairman Lord John Hannett of Everton, along with ICW CEO Frank Lee.
The lunch formed part of ICW's ongoing commitment to collaborative leadership, inclusive partnerships and cross-sector engagement. Bringing together senior women from across sectors and our executive network, the session provided a valuable opportunity for open dialogue, insight sharing and the exchange of perspectives on strengthening collaboration and delivering lasting value.
Supporting Collaborative Leadership and Inclusive Participation
ICW has long championed diverse perspectives and inclusive collaboration as essential elements of successful partnership working. The lunch provided an opportunity to explore how ICW can continue strengthening its collaborative and inclusive culture, ensuring that talented professionals from a wide range of backgrounds feel welcome and represented within our collaborative community.
Key themes included:
- Encouraging member organisations to put forward talented female leaders to participate in ICW events, programmes and leadership initiatives.
- Strengthening the participation of women in collaborative leadership roles across sectors.
- Exploring opportunities to form an ongoing informal advisory group that ICW can consult as it continues to develop initiatives that support inclusive collaboration.
- The Value of Diverse Perspectives in Collaboration
A central theme of the discussion was the importance of collaborative leadership that draws on a broad range of experiences and viewpoints. Participants highlighted how organisations that actively engage diverse perspectives are better positioned to foster innovation, improve decision-making and deliver stronger outcomes across complex collaborations.
ICW is grateful for the leadership, candour and expertise shared during the lunch. These perspectives will help inform the continued development of ICW's inclusive and impactful collaborative community.
Building on Strong Foundations
The discussion also reinforced the strength of the existing ICW network and the organisation's ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for collaboration, leadership development and knowledge sharing.
ICW looks forward to continuing these discussions with its members and partners, building on strong foundations to support inclusive collaboration and strengthen partnerships across sectors.
