Supporting your workforce : Managing the menopause and menstruation at work

Maria’s research examines how journalists, NGOs, and advocates, communicate with the public about gender, health, and social inequalities. Her published work includes the monograph, From Menstruation to the Menopause: The Female Fertility Cycle in Contemporary Women's Writing in French (Liverpool University Press). Her current Leverhulme funded project examines the impact of the menstrual movement on young people's knowledge and perceptions of menstruation as well as related health and social issues (such as period poverty and endometriosis). Based on these findings, Maria has worked with menstrual advocacy specialist, Acushla Young, to create guidance for communicating effectively with young people about menstruation.

Helen is the UK’s first-ever Menopause Champion. Working alongside the Department for Work and Pensions, Helen helps employers develop policies that empower women experiencing menopause to stay and progress in work.

Advocating for gender equity is the common thread throughout Helen’s 30-year career in the recruitment and employability sectors. In addition to her voluntary Menopause Champion role, Helen is Head of Talent (UK and Ireland) for the Adecco Group, the global leader in HR solutions. Her pioneering podcast on menopause and work inspired the Adecco Group to design and implement one of the UK’s first corporate menopause policies.

Nele has worked in standards development for the British Standards Institution (BSI) since 2015. BSI work across many industries, businesses, governments and consumers to develop standards which offers a wide range of benefits to businesses. During 2022 an 2023 she was the project manager for the development of BS 30416 menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace. This world first standard is currently freely available and guides organizations with practical examples how to become a better place to work.

Sheila's career spanned the corporate world, where she specialised in supply chain management, operations, and quality management systems. She now brings her corporate knowledge to the forefront when it comes to identifying and assessing partners and suppliers. Like many others committed to leading change in this arena, Sheila soon realised that the problem is often multifaceted. As a result in her work with BMR she collaborates with esteemed providers in the field of wellbeing to offer a tailored service delivered by subject matter experts.