Our guest speaker this month is Caroline Nokes, the Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Romsey and Southampton North since 2010 and who is currently Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. Ms Nokes has held numerous parliamentary positions including Minister of State for Immigration, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Delivery. Known for her diversity intiatives in Parliament, Ms Nokes believes in celebrating women’s achievements, but perhaps it is her work as Chair of the influential Women and Equalities Committee of the House of Commons for which she is best known. This includes the seminal work relating to investigation and reporting of sexual harassment of and violence against women and the reform of practices relating to non-disclosure agreements in response to the MeToo movement. Prior to her election to Parliament, Ms Nokes was the Chief Executive of the National Pony Society, an organisation dedicated to the welfare of native breeds of British ponies including the much loved New Forest ponies many of which roam free in the south west corner of her constituency.

Tentative schedule of the day:

9:30am – 10:30am: Registration, tea/coffee, Activity Leader tables;

10:30am: Introductions followed by Guest Speaker;

11:30pm: President’s announcements;

12:00pm: Meeting conclusion;

12:45pm: Hospitality lunch.