Ahead of International Women’s Day, Claire Tymon joined leaders from across the region at the EMCCA event at Pride Park to take part in a conversation about women leading change.
A Regional Conversation on Women Leading Change
Drawing on reflections from Derbyshire Makes: Women Who Make, Claire spoke about the extraordinary women shaping Derbyshire’s creative and making heritage today – and the importance of making their work visible, valued and invested in.
Making Women’s Work Visible, Valued and Invested In
So often undervalued. So often unseen. Yet absolutely central to our communities, our local economy and our collective future.
During the discussion, Claire challenged the idea of “unconscious bias” as something we simply acknowledge and move on from. Instead, she invited the room to consider what it might mean to switch that unconscious bias into something intentional, a conscious, pro-women bias. To actively choose to back women. To commission women. To fund women. To promote women. To notice who isn’t in the room and do something about it.
What Women Who Make Has Shown Us
Through Women Who Make, Local has explored the value and visibility of women’s work – from textile heritage and repair culture to entrepreneurship, storytelling, care, resilience and creative risk. The programme has shown how creativity builds confidence, how enterprise creates independence, and how connection creates belonging.
International Women’s Day: A Call to Action
International Women’s Day is not just a celebration. It is a call to action.
To recognise worth.
To amplify voices.
To invest in women’s ideas.
To make space – and to step forward.
To every woman building something - a business, a community, a creative practice, a family, a movement - we see you.
Let’s continue to MAKE change. MAKE space. MAKE opportunity.
