An evening of inspiration, conversation and celebration on IWD 2024

Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, Kateryna Musienko, Leah Duncan-Karrim and Professor Kezia Dugdale

THE NEED for changes to the current discourse to ensure every woman always had a seat at the table was the core message that emerged at an event held on International Women’s Day in Edinburgh.  

The Faculty of Advocates, together with the John Smith Centre and John Smith Trust, hosted the event in Parliament Hall to recognise the work of women in public life and mark 30 years of the legacy of John Smith KC MP.   

Billed as an evening of inspiration, conversation, and celebration the event featured a panel of four high-profile women. Professor Kezia Dugdale, former leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Director of the John Smith Centre, was joined in conversation by Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, Ukrainian Council Member and former John Smith Fellow Kateryna Musienko and Barnardo’s Public Affairs Officer Leah Duncan-Karrim. Ms Duncan-Karrim is a former participant in the John Smith Centre’s Minority Ethnic Emerging Leaders Programme.   

While all four panellists praised the advancements that women have made, they also acknowledged that women – in all areas of life – continue to face immense challenges.   

“I think as a woman, and particularly as a woman from a minority ethnic background, that it is quite common to walk into workspaces and think I don’t feel represented here,” said Ms Duncan-Karrim. 

Professor Dugdale added that International Women’s Day created a space to “reflect and remind ourselves of the vital work ahead of us” and decipher how change could happen. “What’s the next battleground that will break through – make more progress for women?” she asked. 

Each speaker reflected on the powerful impact left by John Smith KC MP, a former member of the Faculty of Advocates who was an early champion of women’s rights. He introduced all-female shortlists in the Labour Party in 1993 and paved the way for a record number of female MPs returning in the 1997 General Election.  

Baroness Kennedy recounted how she had met him when she was a young lawyer. “He always was an encourager of women and so he’d be rather happy that we’re all here on International Women’s Day, ” she said. 

During the evening it was announced that the John Smith Trust, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh Business School, would start a new leadership programme in June for Ukrainian women displaced by the current conflict who were living in the UK.   

Ms Musienko said programmes such as these reflected the values shared by John Smith KC MP.  

“We are all united by these values. We can feel the practical dimension of these values and how they can change the world.” 

In her closing remarks Baroness Kennedy said: “We must be making sure that women are at the table, that women are in the cabinets, that women are everywhere so that we can have a different kind of discussion. Eternal vigilance is one of the ways towards progress.”