Balancing acts: a life that changed the way we work

Join Professor Simonetta Manfredi and Joanna Foster CBE for a thought provoking in-person event exploring how ideas of work-life balance and equality in the workplace have evolved over time, and what challenges still remain.

Drawing on Joanna’s remarkable career from chairing the Equal Opportunities Commission to shaping national work-life policies, the discussion will reflect on key moments of change and what they mean for the future of work.

This event offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from Joanna and take part in an open conversation on work, care, leadership, and the ongoing pursuit of equality. As we look to the future, we ask: what does true equality at work look like today? And how can we make it a reality for everyone?

Part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025, celebrating research that helps us better understand the world of work; past, present, and future.