International Women's Day at No. 10

To mark International Women's Day (Monday 8 March 2010) the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, invited local businesswoman Jane Barnes FRSA, (CEO of Yakkety-Yak Multimedia Company) to a breakfast and roundtable discussion for leading women in business, to discuss opportunities and challenges facing women's leadership in business and enterprise.

The former Prime Minister met Jane and other leading female executives at the breakfast meeting to mark International Women's Day. Gordon Brown congratulated the attending women on the "huge contribution" they have made to bringing about change.

At the meeting, Gordon Brown said politicians and businesses need to work together to ensure the talent and skills of women are properly represented in the boardroom and has called for more women in Britain's boardrooms.

In a podcast released earlier in the day, the former PM said: "We all recognise the value of strong role models for women in all walks of life - and there are many in politics, the arts, public services, sport and the third sector, but there are too few in Britain's boardrooms. When more than half of graduates are women, it is completely unacceptable that some of our top 100 public companies have not a single woman on their boards, and that none at all have a majority of women on their boards."

But he said more needed to be done after a survey of more than 1,000 adults showed that almost two out of three believed there were not enough female directors in big business.

The meeting was also attended by Women and Equalities Minister Harriet Harman, Business, Innovation and Skills Secretary Peter Mandleson and Trade Minister Lord Davies.

Jane is featured on the No. 10 website podcast as well as Twitter and You Tube.

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page22718

Jane with former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other leading women in business

The former Prime Minister conversing with Jane

GLOBAL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE - LONDON 2010

The Prime Minister & Lord Davies of Abersoch, Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Small Business, extended an invitation to Jane Barnes FRSA of Yakkety-Yak Multimedia Company, to attend the Global Investment Conference, held at the Saachi Gallery in London on 22nd February 2010, followed by an invitation to the evening reception hosted by HRH Duke of York at St James Palace.

Jane was honoured to be invited and had an amazing time, speaking to influential International business people about key issues in business.

Jane was introduced by Lord Davies to Lord Sebastian Coe and is in contact with his team, regarding opportunities within the Creative Industries for the Olympics.

Jane said "I was delighted to attend BOTH THE GLOBAL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE AT THE SAACHI GALLERY IN LONDON AND the EVENING reception given by HRH The Duke of York at St James Palace, where, from the warm reception, the opportunity to view some of the wonderful heritage on display, finalising in the excellent networking opportunities with Globally based companies, made this a truly memorable occasion."

About the conference
The Global Investment Conference, provided delegates the opportunity to consider global business issues and challenges for the future and was attended by senior global executives, leading academics and influential heads of business as well as senior members of the UK Government.

The conference was extremely timely. As the global economy emerges from recession, the Conference provided an opportunity to share with the world's leading businesses the UK's vision for economic growth and international opportunity.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

The Corporate Diversity team invited Jane Barnes FRSA, CEO of local company Yakkety-Yak Multimedia Company, to the launch of the first House Equality Scheme on Thursday 28 January 2010, in the Attlee Suite at Portcullis House at the House of Commons.

Jane previously worked with the Focus Group at the House of Commons advising on their Equalities & Disabilities processes (and at the Bank of England, EEDA and the BBC). The scheme was ratified by the House of Commons Commission and the event was an opportunity to thank Jane and the Focus Group and to explain how the scheme will be taken forward.

The event was opened by Mr Speaker and the guest speaker was Susan Scott-Parker, CEO of the Employers' Forum on Disability. There was an exhibition to discover more about some of the key areas in the action plan and Jane enjoyed a great reception for the House Equalities launch at the House of Commons.

Jane with Mr Speaker, from the House of Commons