Catherine Mayer is an author, journalist, commentator, and political activist. She is the co-founder and President of the Women's Equality Party, where she advocates for increased representation of women in politics. Catherine also co-founded the Primadonna Festival, which celebrates writing, music, and ideas, focusing on women's contributions.
Her books include "Amortality: The Pleasures and Perils of Living Agelessly," "Charles: The Heart of a King," and "Attack of the Fifty Foot Women: How Gender Equality Can Save the World!" These works have received critical acclaim and explore themes ranging from changing attitudes towards ageing to the benefits of gender equality.
As a speaker, Catherine is known for her ability to foster a better understanding of female representation. Her TED Talk, "We Should All Be Hags," challenges the stigma surrounding female ageing and encourages society to celebrate women at every stage of life. This talk has gained significant attention, amassing over a thousand views.
Catherine's extensive experience as a journalist and as the founder of the think tank Datum Future brings a seasoned professionalism to her engagements. Her after-dinner speeches aim to empower individuals to take control of their societal purpose.
In addition to her activism and writing, Catherine has authored a memoir about being widowed during the pandemic and learning to embrace life amidst loss. Her work consistently highlights her passion for celebrating women and their achievements, making her a prominent figure in the fight for gender equality.
Discover the profound influence of gender equality alongside Catherine Mayer, the co-founder of the Women's Equality Party. Embark on her remarkable journey as an activist and author, unveiling the profound effects of female representation in both politics and society. Catherine's invaluable perspectives defy stereotypes and ignite a call to action for a fairer and more balanced world.
During a 30-year career, Catherine Mayer saw first-hand how digital technologies initially enabled news organisations to flourish and then destroyed the economic models supporting them. Catherine discusses and assesses the repercussions not just within the industry but for democracy and our understanding of the world, as well as forecasting developments in new media.
We are more divided than ever before, and not just on subjects that directly touch on our lives. How can we hope to reach a consensus in the workplace if we’re passionately polarised on Meghan and Harry or whether cancel culture even exists? Catherine Mayer looks at the drivers of such polarisation, unpicks the way that these arguments are often proxies for other issues such as race and inequality, and looks at what works and what definitely doesn’t to defuse potential hostilities and bring people together.
Organisations know they need to improve the diversity of their workforces - but they often don’t know why. Catherine Mayer unravels the confusion surrounding diversity and diversity programmes, highlights the dangers of creating echo chambers or cultures that suppress dissident opinions and demonstrates the value of more inclusive cultures.
There is something much more damaging than saying the wrong thing to the newly bereaved - saying nothing at all. Not that there’s much value to mumbled platitudes or ill-timed expressions of sympathy. Luckily, such mistakes are easy to avoid. Catherine Mayer talks about what she’s learned from dealing with the bereaved and from her own widowhood and other losses.
Catherine Mayer spent two years researching her biography of King Charles III and many more years behind the scenes covering the Royals. She gives insights and tells anecdotes from the strange world she dubs “Planet Windsor” and highlights the surprisingly pervasive influence of the Royals on public life.
In this session, Catherine Mayer looks in more detail at the subject of female participation in the economy and the workplace. Why is it that organisations struggle to retain women and how can they improve that record? And, why the rewards of doing so are huge.
