Joeli Brearley MBE Keynote Speaker

Named by Vogue as one of the 25 most influential British women
Recognized by the New Statesman as one of the 50 most influential people shaping Britain's progressive politics
Awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours

Joeli Brearley MBE's Biography

Joeli Brearley MBE is a prominent British activist, author, and public speaker, best known as the founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, a charity dedicated to addressing workplace discrimination and the motherhood penalty. Her work has inspired changes at both societal and legislative levels, including influencing a £5.2 billion investment in childcare, as well as reforms in flexible working laws and redundancy protections. In 2021, she successfully sued the UK government for indirect sex discrimination, marking a pivotal moment in her campaign for gender equality.

Joeli also organized March of the Mummies, the largest protest of mothers in UK history, which saw 15,000 parents rally across 10 cities to demand workplace equality and improved parenting policies. Her groundbreaking work has earned her widespread recognition; British Vogue named her one of the “25 Most Influential Women” in 2021, and in 2023, PR Week ranked her as the 8th most prominent British communicator. She frequently contributes to major publications, using her platform to shed light on the systemic obstacles faced by working mothers and advocating for a cultural shift in how workplaces support parents. Her book, Pregnant Then Screwed: The Truth About the Motherhood Penalty, has been celebrated for its candid exploration of the challenges women face and its empowering message for fighting workplace discrimination.

How to tackle gender discrimination and bias in the workplace, reduce your gender pay gap and retain female talent

80% of the gender pay gap is caused by the motherhood penalty - the systemic and systematic disadvantages that women encounter in the workplace from the point they get pregnant. This talk sets out what the motherhood penalty is, why it matters and how to reduce this penalty experienced by women in your workplace.

How to create a social media campaign with genuine influence and build your following

Social media is saturated with companies and people vying for attention. This talk will help you to cut through the noise, build your following and generate genuine trust and engagement with your audience

The Future of Work - How to secure top talent

Offering flexible hours and remote working opportunities is not enough. Businesses need to reduce the stigma of working parents, celebrate female role models and promote a culture of inclusivity. In this talk Joeli explains the policies and practices to help you attract the best talent.