Top female legal eagles visit Senedd as Presiding Officer welcomes more women role models to National Assembly

17 May 2013

The National Assembly for Wales’s Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM, has welcomed the UK’s most senior women judges to the Senedd, including UK Supreme Court Justice Baroness Brenda Hale.

For the first time in their ten year history they (United Kingdom Association of Women Judges) are holding their Day Conference and AGM in Wales, and a meeting with the Presiding Officer at the prestigious Senedd building was an essential feature in their programme. The Presiding Officer was equally pleased to welcome such prominent role models to the Senedd as she continues with her campaign to encourage women to enter public life. #POWiPL

“It is important that women have senior role models in public life to demonstrate that they too can achieve,” said the Presiding Officer.

“Providing strong female role models is a key part of the National Assembly’s ‘Women in Public Life’ campaign.

“We have held events in the Pierhead which have been addressed by women who are leaders in fields that have in the past been dominated by men.

“They have included scientist Baroness Susan Greenfield, and Professor Laura McAllister, who is chair of Sport Wales.

“Law is one area which is why it was an honour to welcome Baroness Hale and her colleagues to the Senedd. Our chief legal adviser is a woman but law is certainly one area of public life where we need to see more women in leadership roles.”

The Women in Public Life programme will also see civil liberties campaigner Shami Chakrabarti speak at the Pierhead on 2 July, and broadcaster and journalist Janet Street Porter on 10 October.

Tickets to hear Shami Chakrabarti are available by ringing the Assembly’s booking line on 0845 010 5500 or email assembly.bookings@wales.gov.uk.