Gender Networks, formerly The Network of Networks Gender (TNON), was set up seven years ago as platform to bring together corporate diversity network leaders across multiple industries. The original purpose of the TNON, which remains the same for Gender Networks was to create a networking forum for corporate network leaders to share best practice around running their networks, challenges and opportunities as well as leverage peer-to-peer support to enable network success and growth.
Over the past seven years, TNON Gender has grown substantially to include 330 network chairs, co-chairs and Diversity and Inclusion leaders from over 135 cross sector companies. There were also chapters set up for LGBT and BAME network leads.
In 2016, due to the growth of the gender chapter, the requirements of its members and the desire to expand the group regionally, TNON Gender has become a formal membership organisation under the new brand, Gender Networks.
Vanessa Vallely, founder of TNON, said: “The Networks of Networks has always been an amazing platform for network leaders to share best practice, learn about wider gender initiatives and make connections. We have seen so many successes over the years, such as joint member events, cost savings for our member’s networks, successful sharing of best practice as well as the opportunity to focus on topical issues such as women on boards, Pay Gap and how our networks support the female pipeline. I am delighted to be moving into this new phase under the Gender Network brand and to welcome so many of our previous TNON members.”
Gender Networks offers its member a wide range of resources to support corporate diversity network chairs and D&I leaders. It brings together members on a quarterly basis to:
- Share best practice, particularly relating to the running of a gender network
- Educate our members on gender campaigns and initiatives that affect working women
- Enable our members, through the leverage of best practice, to develop effective growth strategies within their networks
- Provide a cross-company platform and network collaboration
- Facilitate network hacks to help networks grow
- Support and educate network leaders by expanding their knowledge of their peer group’s network campaigns, strategies, events and gender initiatives
- Provide a forum for our members to meet other network leaders
- Provide opportunities for network to network mentoring
The new Gender Networks will offer its members four networking and learning events a year, access to a hotline for network advice, network mentor matching, connections to fellow chairs/co-chairs/D&I leaders as well as access to an exclusive members-only resource centre.
The launch of Gender Networks will be celebrated towards the end of October at Channel 4’s offices in London with guest speaker, Jo Swinson, a Liberal Democrat politician and former MP for East Dunbartonshire constituency.
Founding members of Gender Networks include: Reed Smith, Aon, Lloyd’s, Financial Conduct Authority, Hogan Lovells, Worldfirst, PwC, Bloomberg, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Sky, Credit Agricole, Mastercard, LV, EY, Worldpay, Allied Irish Bank, Allen and Overy, BNP Paribas, BBC, Channel 4, Norton Rose, Shell, Simmons & Simmons and Metrobank.
Through funding provided by our private sector companies, Gender Networks is able to provide free membership to public sector networks. Under this initiative, Gender Networks are pleased to welcome The Bank of England, Transport for London, Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Greater London Authority network leaders.
Gender Networks are also pleased to announce its Advisory Board who will be key to implementing and advising on the groups future strategy.
Advisory board members are:-
- Birgit Neu, HSBC (formerly co-chair of Network of Networks);
- Caroline Graham, Barclays;
- Heather Melville, RBS;
- Harriet Minter, previously Guardian Women in Leadership;
- Tracey Groves, PwC
- Simone Roche, Northern Power Women.
The existing TNON chapters for LGBT and BAME, will retain the TNON brand, if you are interested in these chapters, please get in touch.
If you are corporate network looking to join Gender Networks, please visit www.gendernetworks.com or contact [email protected]
