Discussion: The Biological Business Case: What we Know About Critical Health Stages - The Latest Research
About
In this informative session, Professor Dame Lesley Regan DBE, Women's Health Ambassador for England, and chair of the Wellbeing of Women charity, and Marissa Thomas, PwC’s UK managing partner, and Chief Operating Officer, discussed the predictability of a female's critical health stages, the need to focus on prevention, and the criticality of workplace support.
Regan highlighted some of the work that Wellbeing of Women have done over the years and the significance of their next campaign “Just a Period”. The campaign shines a spotlight on the millions of women, girls and people who menstruate and suffer with severe period pain, heavy bleeding or irregular cycles that disrupt their lives. Instead of getting the treatment and support they desperately need, they’re often dismissed and told it’s “just a period”.
The talk focused on the idea that no-one suffering from period symptoms should feel that it is taboo at work or damaging their career prospects. Regan said: “if a woman leaves your business aged 45-65 you can replace them with another body. But you can’t replace their wisdom, talent, or their role modelling”.
Speakers
Lesley Regan
Dame
Dame Lesley Regan is Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Imperial College London at St Mary's Hospital Campus where she continues her clinical practice in Reproductive Medicine. As Past President RCOG, she led the "Better for Women" report, published in December 2019, which shone a spotlight on taboo topics such as poor access to contraception, abortion, period problems, menopause and domestic violence and abuse. The key recommendation of this hard hitting report was the urgent need for an NHS-led Women's Health Strategy.
In 2020, Lesley was awarded a DBE for her services to Women’s health in the late Queen's New Years Honours list. In June 2022 she was appointed Women's health Ambassador for England to help implementation of the DHSC's Women's Health Strategy.
Marissa Thomas
Ms
Marissa is PwC’s UK Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer. Marissa has been a member of PwC’s Management Board for over 6 years. Marissa joined the UK Management Board in May 2017 as the Head of UK Deals, and subsequently moved on 1 July 2019 to be the Head of UK Tax. In January 2022, she was appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer, and from 1 July 2022 to Managing Partner. In addition to her COO responsibilities, Marissa holds executive responsibility for the firm’s Sustainability strategy. Marissa also chairs the firm’s International Committee and its Investment Committee.
Marissa has been with the firm for 30 years. For the last 27 years she has been advising private equity, sovereign investors and large corporate clients on tax related matters on transactions. Marissa is a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW.
