Organised by Copeland MP Jamie Reed, it will feature talks, activities and question-and-answer sessions with women in leadership roles from across the area.
The audience will be young women from local schools, including St Benedict’s School, West Lakes Academy and Whitehaven Academy.
Mr Reed hopes the September 16 event will become a networking opportunity and help towards addressing gender gaps in business, politics, academia and industry. He has previously spoken out about the gender pay gap after figures last year revealed that men working in Copeland earn on average 28 per cent more than women each week.
The forum will be an apolitical event, says Mr Reed, with speakers including nuclear engineer and scientist Dame Sue Ion; Rebecca Weston, technical director at Sellafield; Kathryn Temple, of the Happiness Foundation; Rachel Holliday, founder of Time to Change West Cumbria; local GP Fiona Ironside; and Liverpool MP Luciana Berger, former shadow minister for mental health.
Mr Reed said: “It is unacceptable that we are living with such a wide gender pay gap in Copeland and I continue to call upon Government to tackle the issue.
"I believe it's important to use my role to support our young people wherever possible, so that they may achieve their full potential.
“I am grateful to all those who are helping to make this important event possible, from Sellafield Ltd, to Virgin Trains, to Aimee Taylor, a St Benedict’s Year 7 pupil, who has designed the event logo."
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