An idea from the 20/20 Leadership Commission to appoint an organisation as equalities champion for the sector got short shrift from a panel of women leaders yesterday.

The panel was debating the issue of how to ensure women in the sector achieve parity with men on representation in big leadership roles and on pay. Richard Doughty (pictured), chair of the 20/20 Commission, told them the Commission had “made a recommendation about addressing inequalities through opening up pathways, and is going to appoint a champion organisation to lead on this issue”.

He went on: “My question for the panel is, who should that organisation be and what should its first course of action be?”

First to respond was Acevo chair Lesley-Anne Alexander.  She said she was “worried” about the concept of a champion organisation, having been “burned” by her experience of the equalities agenda in local government.

“The only way we are going to crack the equality agenda is by continuing to push mainstream,” she said.

Beatbullying CEO Emma-Jane Cross added: “For me there should not be an organisation that leads the way, it should be a group of women from across all charities that should make some sort of pledge, carry a card or something!  I really think there is potential to got something going here.”

Dame Mary Marsh said Doughty’s concept of a champion of pathways was worrying.  Her experience as director of the Clore Social Leadership Programme, which has so far taken on and supported 47 aspiring leaders, has proved to her that everybody is different, with different needs, aspirations, interests and potential.

“You have to give them an opportunity to find their own way, there are no routes or pathways that are obvious,” she said.  “There is no single solution.”

Therefore, she said, the responsibility for championing pathways to success must lie with everybody in the sector, “with anybody who is around anyone that has got potential”.

Jennifer Ogole, CEO of Bang Edutainment, added that she would want to know what the champion organisation’s criteria, responsibility and role would be before making any judgment.

Rowena Lewis, whose report on women leaders in the sector sparked the debate, said she didn’t think any of the umbrella bodies were in a position to take on such a role at present.

However, earlier in the debate, Beatbullying CEO Emma-Jane Cross had said that “Acevo and NCVO should have had diversity champions five years ago.”

20/20 Commission will appoint champion anyway

This morning, the 20/20 Commission told civilsociety.co.uk that it would press ahead with the idea regardless of the panel's comments. 

Doughty said: "The Commission's findings clearly lay out what emerging leaders in our sector are calling for. We will be appointing a champion organisation to lead on addressing inequalities in civil society leadership through opening up pathways. This is an opportunity for one of our sector's organisations to lead and inspire our sector to do better. Without a leader on this issue the status quo will just continue.

"Both the Commission's recommendations and Lewis's research clearly state that inaction is not an option. We will appoint a strong champion to begin making headway on this crucial issue."