Over 350 people gathered at Newcastle Civic Centre as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations in the city. The event was special in many respects. It was an opportunity to recognise some amazing ‘firsts’, to celebrate some of the inspirational women in the city who make a difference, as well as reflecting on how much further we have to go to reach equity for all.
It was also an opportunity to be challenged, in particular by Justine King (Show Racism the Red Card), who said that we need to recognise our own unconscious biases, to continuously unlearn and relearn and educate ourselves. She stressed that we all should be using our own power and privilege, wherever that may lie, to act as active and consistent allies and to give platforms to those whose voices need to be heard, to listen and understand the challenges and to continue to advocate for change together.
We have strong and influential women in a variety of prominent positions, from our own Chief Executive here at the council, the North East Mayor and many MPs in the North East, to women at the helm of a range of important businesses, sectors and community positions all around us. That doesn’t mean, however, that we live in an equal society, and there is still significant progress to be made, such as the gender pay gap as one example. That’s why I’m committed to breaking down the barriers people face with protected characteristics, of which sex is just one.
This International Women’s Day we are incredibly excited to be holding this celebration of influential women from Newcastle and the wider region. Their stories are truly remarkable, and I have no doubt they will inspire others to go on and achieve their own successes.
Cllr Karen Kilgour – Leader of Newcastle City Council and the first woman to ever hold the position
Host, broadcaster Charlie Charlton, announced that the Leader of Newcastle City Council would be soon establishing the first Women of Newcastle Policy Network to enable women and their allies to create a supportive environment for learning, development, and collaboration for positive change locally. This will be underpinned by new research and a place-based study.
The first ever Blue Plaque for a Black woman in Newcastle was announced at the event, honouring Dr Irene Ighodaro. Her achievements were significant:
- First Sierra Leonean woman to qualify as a medical doctor and first West African-born female doctor in Britain in 1944
- Trained in Newcastle and worked at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary during the war and as a GP in the city
- Co-founded the Newcastle-based Society for the Cultural Advancement of Africa, uniting the African diaspora in the city
- Founded the West African Women’s Association in England in 1946 and supported both Black people in England and advocated for health and education in Africa, eventually founding Nigeria’s first teaching hospital
- She was Vice President of the YWCA and received an MBE in 1958
Beverley Prevatt Goldstein accepted the honour on her behalf to a standing ovation. Beverley and partners in the city and region have continued to advocate and raise awareness of the incredible contribution of people of African descent to the North East, including Dr Ighodaro (see African Lives in Northern England).
The event also included stirring performances from 18-year old singer songwriter Isabel Maria, poet Tahmina Ali and 40 students from Newcastle College Performance Academy, who were also filming the event and doing vox pops. Other speakers included Sophie Milliken (Smartworks Newcastle), Amanda Staveley (Business leader and former co-owner of Newcastle United Football Club) and Sir Nigel Wilson (Legal and General).
Celebrating the Inspirational Women of Newcastle book
Newcastle City Council produced a book of 100 inspirational women who had been nominated by others for inclusion because of their passion, work and achievements in the city. It includes women from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life from the public, private and voluntary and community sectors. It is an inspiring read, but these are just a fraction of the thousands of women in Newcastle who advocate for others, provide support and opportunities and help advance our society.
Sajda Nawaz-Bhatti (pictured) helped develop the book and the event. She is the first Asian woman to be on the Corporate Leadership Team for the City Council and leads on policy and performance.
Newcastle City Council and its partners Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Newcastle College, Newcastle Hospital Trust, Northumbria Police and the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board joined forces to bring together over 350 key representatives from across the city for the celebration.
The event was also made possible by the generous support of its sponsors—Ward Hadaway, Newcastle International Airport, Pegasus Group, Knight Frank and Castle Peak Group.
International Women’s Day in Newcastle
Find out about International Women’s Day 2025 (IWD2025) and some of the many events and activities taking place in Newcastle before, during and after 8th March, as well as the resources available for everyone to be able to join in and support action that promotes gender equality. Click here for article and listings
Many achievements, but barriers remain – next steps
In the book and in its press release about the event, Newcastle City Council highlighted achievements to date, the challenges that remain and the steps it will take to lead a partnership to tackle these:
The 2025 International Women’s Day theme, set by the United Nations, calls for ‘action that can unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all.’ In support of this, Newcastle is committed to becoming a Real Living Wage City, a crucial step toward building an inclusive economy that benefits everyone, especially women. Currently, women represent six out of ten of the lowest-paid workers, making this initiative particularly impactful.
Over 100 Newcastle businesses have already signed on as Real Living Wage Employers, with further expansion planned to grow this vital network.
While significant progress has been made, much work remains. Women continue to contribute immense unpaid labour through caregiving and family support, and women in the North East earn, on average, £3,949 less than their male counterparts. The Council is calling for continued collective action to promote real living wage employment, reduce insecure and low-paid work, and foster inclusive workplace cultures that support all employees.
The overwhelming support for this event highlighted the vital role women play across Newcastle’s economy and society. Moving forward, the Council is committed to building on this momentum to ensure a future where equality, opportunity, and empowerment are available to all. Following the International Women’s Day celebration, partners will asked to come together in the Women of Newcastle Policy Network to identify the barriers holding women back in Newcastle with recommendations on how to tackle them.