The hour-long panel discussion will feature advice as well as tips on how businesses can best support women experiencing the menopause.
Other speakers include Ami Naru, partner head of employment at Travlaw; Andrea Stafford, head of retail at MSC Cruises; Louise Napier, regional director for TravMedia and Hayley Doyle, personal travel consultant and Hays Travel IG member. TTG Media is the media partner for the initiative.
Travel Talks Menopause was founded by Holiday Extras national retail manager Lindsay Garvey-Jones and Silversea’s regional sales manager Julie Nunes, and was launched last month to raise awareness in the travel industry around women’s health.
“Our industry employs incredibly smart, inspiring, pioneering and empowered women, this is our opportunity to make sure they remain effective decision makers, creative contributors and being at the helm,” said Garvey-Jones.
Travlaw has been announced as professional legal affiliates for Travel Talks Menopause, offering advice and support on how to create a workplace best practice around the menopause.
Ami Naru, partner head of employment at Travlaw said: “Raising awareness of the menopause in the workplace remains an important issue, because more women than ever will transition through the menopause whilst working.
“The figures are shocking around women leaving their jobs due to menopause, typically at the peak of their experience. Employers who fail to recognise or support those going through the transition will lose their skills and expertise. This in itself should be enough motivation for employers to take the subject of menopause seriously, rather than waiting for legislative change.”
Meanwhile the panellists said each has their own personal reason for wanting to take part in the discussion.
Stafford said she believed it is a subject “we should not be shying away from”.
“If you are a woman you are going to go through it at some point and it’s important that you know that others are with you and can empathise. Also our male colleagues and friends want to understand better so they can be equally supportive so let’s get talking,” she added.
Napier said she had faced her own challenges with the menopause and “wanted to share my personal experiences in the hope that it would help others. I feel this initiative is the start we need to make the whole topic less taboo".
Meanwhile Doyle said “the menopause needs to be shouted about and brought to the forefront.
“It’s not just women and transgender people who it affects, it’s also work colleagues, family and our partners that are affected as they bear the brunt of it us going through it. It’s so important that people going through this feel they have a safe and understanding place to chat,” she added.
The panel discussion will take place on 23 November at 10am and is free to attend.
