Bartlett-led initiative wins UCL Empowered Award

An initiative to support and empower women in professional services has been recognised at the UCL Professional Services Values Awards, held on Monday 16 June 2014 at the Bloomsbury Theatre.

Astrea is a network co-founded by Alice Chilver, Business Development Manager and Emma Todd, Strategic Communications Manager at The Bartlett, and has been supported by Alan Penn, Dean of the faculty. It aims to boost the ambition, confidence and courage amongst professional services women at UCL. 

Emma Todd explains the ethos behind Astrea: “To get women into the top jobs we need to change organisational culture. Having the right policies in place isn’t enough, it’s only part of the picture. If we want to make meaningful and lasting change we have to transform the way women in professional services roles are viewed, by others, and just as importantly, by themselves.” 

Astrea has grown quickly, recruiting 300+ members by word of mouth alone in the past eight months, and its members say the network’s workshops and events have had a measurable impact on their confidence and skills, along with providing them with the opportunity to meet and learn from other women in professional services. 

One member has said: “Astrea is a very inclusive and friendly initiative. I think it appeals to all female professional services staff, both confident and lacking in confidence and helps to build a network of support in what can appear to be a big, faceless institution. The organisers are very approachable and friendly and the group is very inclusive. Subjects covered are interesting, informative and interactive. They seem to make you feel more able!”

For more information on Astrea’s activities, and details of how to get involved visit the website: www.ucl.ac.uk/astrea