International Women's Day 2023: Six inspiring and trailblazing women from Dame Allan's Girls' School

International Women’s Day on March 8 shines a global spotlight on the achievements of women, while highlighting the challenges they still face as they strive for a gender-equal world. To tie in with National Careers Week, six inspirational and trailblazing women – brought up in the North East and educated at Dame Allan’s Schools – share their views on equity and equality.  

Jane Hanna OBE

Jane attended Dame Allan’s Schools between 1974 and 81, studied Law at Cambridge then took a postgraduate degree at Oxford and qualified as a barrister. She was the first woman fellow at Keble College researching and teaching human rights. The loss of her partner to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) led her to set up charity SUDEP Action over 30 years ago to help prevent epilepsy-related deaths and support those bereaved by the condition. 

 What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s so important now that women and men stand up for women’s rights; we can all contribute something to this cause. I am currently leading a national campaign to stop new plans to prevent women with epilepsy accessing the most effective medicine to protect them from SUDEP (sudden death in epilepsy) and to let them get on with their lives. 

 How do you embrace equity in your daily life?

I think by being aware of diversity and challenging my own prejudices as we all have them. It is mostly important to listen first. Sometimes one person’s human rights come into tension with another person’s human rights. In this space there may not be a right answer and that is the space for communication.  I try to avoid spaces which are dominated by one voice. 

Which women inspire you the most? 

The ordinary extraordinary women, the unsung heroines of the everyday who make good things happen, the women who survive and rise above the most difficult situations and are role models for empathy and resilience.  So many of my female teachers at Dame Allan’s were ordinary extraordinary women.

Have you experienced any barriers in the workplace due to being a woman? 

In the ‘70s and ‘80s I did experience a fair amount of patriarchy. I was the first woman to be on the governing body of an Oxford College and I still have several notes that were left for me explaining why my card was marked and why women should not have been admitted. It all really helped me in the end because if I hadn’t learnt resilience, I would not have been able to successfully take on global misinformation in the medical community in the 1990s. 

 What advice do you have for women starting out in their careers?

 Believe in yourself, work hard, and make sure you do something that you enjoy. 

Sofia Barton

Sofia Barton was at Dame Allan’s between 1996 and 2003. She is a cultural activist and multidisciplinary artist from the North East who creates contemporary artwork inspired by nature and her Punjabi heritage. Last year, her artwork Blazing Trails was displayed on the Tyne & Wear Metro.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It’s a good time to reflect on how far women’s rights have come but highlights how far we still need to go in terms of equality, representation and change. It also reminds us that present issues such as violence and abuse against women still exist.

How do you embrace equity in your daily life?

I avoid assumptions about people. This can include their gender, so I use gender inclusive language. I think it’s important to avoid assuming someone’s identity marks such as ethnic origin or religious affiliation. The best way is to listen and be proactive in educating myself on the topic.

Who inspires you? 

I’m inspired by stories of my grandmother who survived the partition of India, where 10 million people became refugees during the ethnic violence, that still has a bitter legacy to this day. Tales of her strength, resilience and survivalism during that time still resonate with me today.

Did your schooling influence your career choices?

My education at Dame Allan’s enriched my knowledge and gave me the spark to pursue my arts career. It was a sharp contrast to my familial and patriarchal background. When I was doing my art GCSE my teacher, Mrs Heatherington, realised I was embarking on a very eccentric project. Instead of stopping me, she brought more art supplies so I could finish my work. I think the difference was she believed I could do it, so that belief stayed with me. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
‘Shy Bairns Get Nowt’ It’s a common Geordie saying but it rings true. It’s a good reminder to have confidence and not be discouraged. 

Mary Stiasny OBE

Professor Mary Stiasny OBE is Pro Vice Chancellor International, Learning and Teaching at the University of London. Throughout her career she has held various roles in education including a secondary school teacher, university lecturer and Director of Education for the British Council. She attended DAS in 1959 – 1966. 

Why is International Women’s Day important? 

It gives us a moment, every year, to celebrate the progress we have made towards gender equity and women’s empowerment. It’s also a time when we can reflect on the issues where we have not yet reached real equity. There are still issues such as violence and abuse against women which are all too prevalent, in our own country as well as elsewhere. 

This year I shall be reflecting on the situation of women in Afghanistan who are now banned from higher education, much of secondary education and primary schooling, and in the USA where women’s reproductive rights have come under increasing threat. 

How have your school days influenced you?

I was at Dame Allan’s School in the 1960’s when society’s attitudes to girls and education were very different to now. Yet, at Dame Allan’s we were taught that we could do anything we set our minds to; and that as girls we had a responsibility to make something of ourselves and contribute to society. School gave us space to have aspirations, and the courage and strength to realise them. 

Have you experienced any barriers in the workplace due to being a woman? 

Yes, there were quiet and therefore insidious barriers, as well as louder and obvious ones. I was disappointed and wearied that there was a world out there that didn’t empower women or believe in us. Sometimes I know I missed out on posts or positions I wanted because I am a woman, but I didn’t let that define me. So often over the intervening years I have been the only woman on a panel or in a team – the token woman – but gradually those micro-aggressions and prejudices have faded, even, dare I say, disappeared.

What advice do you have for women starting out in their careers?

Take the opportunities as they come; believe in yourself; don’t be deterred by others; be true to yourself; and above all, be kind.

Natalie Turner

Chartered Wealth Manager Natalie Turner set up her own company - Natalie Turner Wealth Management - in Newcastle after working in a male-dominated industry as an investment banker in the City of London. 

How have you embraced equity and equality? 

At work I was often the only female, but I never felt I had to try and act like a man; I naturally enjoyed the competitive nature of finance. I never assume I am not welcome or invited, I always assume I am! Maybe I have been included because people have been too embarrassed to say no to me, but I would say this is how to embrace equity. 

What advice do you have for women starting out in their careers? 

Be firm on what you want out of your career but do not be precious. If you want to get on, most companies are looking for dedicated, hardworking team players not princesses. Build a network and support other women around you, do not cut each other’s throats. Together you are stronger. 

Áine O'Brien

Áine O'Brien is an Environmental Scientist at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre/University of Glasgow. She has a PhD in Planetary Science and spent three years teaching Physics and Astronomy. She attended DAS in 2003 – 2010. 

What are your thoughts on International Women’s Day?

I think the increased awareness and acceptance of feminism, thanks to the visibility of days like IWD, are great, but the level of lip service paid by some organisations to IWD worries me. We have a long way to go - the awareness is there but the action is not.

How do you embrace equity in your daily life?

Equity is something I’ve worked on a lot throughout my career. I’ve become an infinitely more outspoken advocate for equity, be that disability, race, gender, socio-economic background, or religion. I try to remove barriers for others into STEM through outreach and public engagement, as well as pushing those in power to make a change. 

I recently did some analysis to show women and minorities in Astronomy were much more likely to experience bullying and harassment in the workplace. This really needs to change. I don’t like to tell people how great it is to work in science knowing full well that if they are from an underserved background, they won’t have the same chances as some of their peers.

Have you experienced any barriers in the workplace due to being a woman?

When I did some engineering work experience aged 16 I was told by one of the engineers I was shadowing that as a woman ‘I shouldn’t be an engineer, I should be a nurse’. I’m glad that I now have the confidence to speak up when I hear things like that, and I’d like to think the world has moved on at least a little since then.

Ruth Gregory

Ruth Gregory, who attended DAS in 1974 - 1981, is the Head of the Department of Physics and Professor of Theoretical Physics at King’s College, London. She specialises in the field of cosmology.
 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me, it represents a time when we can showcase women's achievements in science. So often, you go into an institution and there are a bunch of photos of old white men on the wall, so it's great to shake that up and to put the spotlight on the achievements of wonderful women.

Who inspires you? 

J K Rowling, as she has the courage to state the obvious and to stand her ground against intolerance and dogma. 

Have you experienced any barriers in the workplace due to being a woman? 

There were obvious underlying biases, but if I detected something I would meet it head on and dance with it. In my generation, you could not moan, you had to challenge. 

See our fantastic female Allanians featured in The Chronicle here: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/international-womens-day-2023-six-26401370