Deeds not Words. A conversation with Helen Pankhurst. Insights from a leading women's rights activist

Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend

Deeds not words from International leading women's rights activist Helen Pankhurst

In this episode I am in conversation with Helen Pankhurst an international leading women’s rights activist, an experienced advocate and passionate collaborative campaigner for social justice.

We delve into how Deeds not Words matter, why we must choose to challenge, to connect and dialogue with each other – locally and globally. We talk about what it means to live and lead a portfolio life, and how fun and purpose go hand in hand, and how shoulder to shoulder we can make a difference together.

ABOUT HELEN

Helen is a senior adviser to CARE International UK working in the UK and in Ethiopia, and a convenor for the charity GM4Women2028 and of the Centenary Action Group (CAG).

She is a part-time professor at Manchester Metropolitan University, and the first chancellor at the University of Suffolk. She has an honorary PhD from Edge Hill University and from the University of Manchester.

She is the author of ‘Deeds not Words – the story of women’s rights then and now’ published in 2018.

She is the proud mother of a son and daughter, and together with her daughter they promoted, advised on and had a cameo role in the 2015 film Suffragette.

In 2019 Helen was awarded a CBE for her services to gender equality.

To connect with Helen follow her on Twitter, or via the Universities or the charities with which she is connected.

CARE puts women and girls at the centre of overcoming poverty and social injustice, because without equal rights and opportunities we will never overcome poverty in the world. CARE is a charity registered in England and Wales, founded in 1945 and working in 45 countries around the world, saving lives in emergencies and finding long-term solutions to poverty for millions of people.

Helen established the Centenary Action Group (CAG) in 2018, to mark the century of some women getting the right to vote by campaigning for greater representation of women, in all their diversity, addressing the barriers that prevent women from taking part in politics, through collaboration, joint action and campaigning.

Helen also leads the charity GM4Women2028, a coalition of change makers committed to making Greater Manchester a better place for women and girls, in all their diversity to live, work and prosper.

She is a mother of two children and the great granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst who herself was an alumni of Manchester School of Art. Emmeline and Sylvia were both leaders in the British suffragette movement.

If you would like to find out more about the work of CARE International, to join GM4Women2028 and to take action with the Centenary Action Group do visit their websites.

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