About Women’s Leadership Group (WLG CIC)

The Women’s Leadership Group (WLG) is a mission-driven, UK-wide community of female leaders and male allies united to tackle bias in female leadership representation. We are breaking silos between sectors and pushing for better board representation through research, advocacy, and action.

Our Purpose

To create a purposeful space for women to connect, support, and empower one another in their leadership journeys. Accelerating progress by fostering authentic dialogue where women can thrive, influence with confidence, and lead with impact.

Who We Are

We represent all sectors—corporate, public, and the third sector—with one shared goal: to see women thrive at every leadership level, especially in boardrooms where they remain underrepresented.

Our Mission

We believe women deserve a seat at every decision-making table. We support this by eliminating bias, offering thought leadership, and building networks that influence real-world outcomes.

Our Women’s Leadership Team

WLG CIC is led by a dedicated team that ensures strategic focus, equity, and community reach:

Vicky Brook

Read bio

Chair, Women’s Leadership Group

Vicky Brook is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD with extensive executive experience across Modern Methods of Construction, Consulting and Receivables Management. She is recognised as an expert in organisational development, leadership, and culture, and has authored a research paper, “The Origins of a female leader”, alongside white papers addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the built environment and the need to make the construction site phase more family-friendly. Throughout her career, Vicky has focused on shaping progressive people strategies that strengthen resilience, drive transformation, and future-proof organisations in complex and competitive industries.

As Chair and Founder of the Women’s Leadership Group, Vicky is committed to advancing women into senior leadership and boardroom roles. Having achieved early board-level success herself in a traditionally male-dominated sector, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her advocacy. Under her leadership, the WLG provides a platform to challenge bias, inspire confidence, and enable credible female leaders to achieve the recognition and opportunities they deserve.

Charlotte Meekin

Read bio

Fractional Business Manager

I have been part of the Women’s Leadership Group since its inception, and I am incredibly proud of the achievements, growth, and impact it has made so far. With over 25 years of experience in HR and Finance, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a strategic perspective to my role as Business Manager, where I am responsible for ensuring the smooth and effective running of our operations.

Beyond my professional career, I am a mother to two daughters, which fuels my passion for supporting women in leadership. Being part of a cause that champions equality and creates opportunities is deeply important to me, and I hope my involvement will inspire my daughters to feel proud and empowered in their own futures

Pippa Shirley

Read bio

Our Regional Ambassadors

Our Regional Ambassadors amplify our voice across the UK:

Isobel Crosse

Read bio

Central Regional Ambassador

Isobel is a leader in financial services, currently serving as Head of Financial Care at Santander. A passionate advocate for women, Isobel champions work on domestic, economic, and financial abuse within Santander and leads broader change as Chair of Trustees at Sirona Homes, a charity providing housing for women and children survivors of domestic abuse.

As a Regional Ambassador for the Women’s Leadership Group, Isobel supports our cross-industry research and campaigns that shine a light on the key moments shaping women’s careers. She is also a regular speaker at industry events and on podcasts, sharing her insights on leadership, vulnerability, and creating lasting impact.

Beth Whelan

Read bio

Central Regional Ambassador

As a single mum of 2 young children and with over 20 years in the financial sector holding senior strategy & transformational change roles in both Private Equity and FTSE 250 companies, Beth brings an understanding of the challenges of navigating life events, juggling a career and family and working up to a seat at the table in a male-dominated industry.

Purpose-driven and passionate about enacting real change, Beth wanted to take on the regional ambassador role for the WLG, working with Vicky and the rest of the team of game changers to reach a bigger community with more local initiatives and collectively create real impact through support, materials and research – Beth Whelan – Central Regional Ambassador

Sarah Cook

Read bio

Northern Regional Ambassador

Having worked my whole career in construction, holding various positions from on-site technical roles to senior leadership, I now run the consultancy, Rebha. We offer all sorts of consultancy support to main contractors, SMEs and clients, and it’s the variety that I love. Building relationships has always been my forte, and I’ve built my consultancy on strong client relationships, fostered by always doing what we say we will do, as best as we can. On the side (!) I run a CIC called The Net Gain Network, which creates networks between local authorities, developers, and communities, to provide urban BNG offsetting and direct social impact. I’m also a Trustee of the CPRE Staffordshire branch. My charity work builds on my passion for creating an inclusive countryside and safeguarding urban green space, as I’m an advocate of the physical and mental well-being generated by a connection with nature. I also hope to help females who need it. Not everyone has a mentor or a role model, and we try to be just that. Sarah Cook – Northern Regional Ambassador

Rebecca Adams

Read bio

Rebecca Adams is Account Director & EDI lead at Manchester-based B Corp agency Rumpus. In her role, she combines a decade-long career in PR and communications with a deep passion for creating inclusive workplaces.

With 11 years’ experience across B2B sectors including the built environment, technology, social care and professional services, Rebecca has developed and delivered strategies that drive business growth, raise brand awareness, open new markets and strengthen social value initiatives. Over the past five years, she has also specialised in EDI, both through internal programmes and external partnerships. At Rumpus, she created B LONG™, a unique EDI service package designed to help businesses embed inclusivity through collaborative workshops and measurable outcomes.

Rebecca has spearheaded a number of high-profile initiatives, including a sector-first whitepaper on EDI in the built environment with contributions from the Women’s Leadership Group, as well as mental health and disability at work events during her time at Shropshire Council.
A Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (fCMgr), she holds the Level 6 Award in Professional Management & Leadership Practice, specialising in leading EDI.

Having built a career in communications despite being diagnosed with dyslexia, Rebecca is committed to shaping inclusive environments that nurture diverse talent and empower every voice.

Tina Patel

Read bio

With a strong foundation in People & Culture, I’ve built my career around driving meaningful change and growth within organisations. After graduating from Wolverhampton University with a Business Degree focused on HR and business strategy, I’ve gained extensive experience across a variety of industries, supporting diverse teams through transformation and evolution. My current role is Head of People for Abbott Lyon.

I’m passionate about creating people strategies that align with business goals, while fostering inclusive, empowering environments where individuals feel a strong sense of belonging and are inspired to thrive.

Beyond my professional work, I find purpose in mentoring aspiring HR professionals, helping them navigate their career paths with confidence. A passionate traveller, I’m on a personal mission to explore as much of the world as possible, embracing new cultures and perspectives along the way

Sarah Beaumont-Smith

Read bio

Sarah is a Chartered Accountant by background who has become an industry leader in the infrastructure sector with more than 15 years’ experience in financing, developing and delivering a range of public infrastructure, from schools and health centres, to property schemes and transport networks.
As CEO of health investor Fulcrum Infrastructure Group, Sarah has overseen the delivery of a number of NHS neighbourhood health centres and has led Fulcrum’s work to deliver wider Social Value to better support communities and local NHS health priorities.
In 2025, Sarah was named the ‘Leading Woman in Infrastructure’ at an industry awards event in recognition not only of her achievements in delivering vital social infrastructure across the UK, but also her work to create more opportunities for women to enter, thrive and lead in the industry.

Martyna Kielbasa

Read bio

Martyna Kielbasa – Sothern Region Ambassador

Martyna Is an accomplished architect and Senior Design & Technical Manager with 20 years of experience in the construction and design industry. She holds BA(Hons), Dip Arch, ARB, RIBA qualifications and has successfully delivered complex residential and mixed-use projects across all RIBA stages (1-6). Her expertise spans affordable housing delivery, retrofit projects, technical compliance, and design coordination, with a strong focus on Building Safety Regulator (BR) Gateway submissions and modern construction technologies.

Martyna is recognised for her leadership and mentoring capabilities, having managed and developed multidisciplinary teams. She actively supports career progression for junior professionals and apprentices, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Her leadership style combines strategic thinking with hands-on guidance, empowering teams to achieve excellence.

Beyond her technical and managerial expertise, Martyna is deeply passionate about promoting women in construction and advancing leadership development. She was actively involved with NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) until 2018 and has been part of Women’s Leadership initiatives since 2024. Her commitment to mentoring and coaching future professionals reflects her dedication to creating a more inclusive and diverse industry.

Chair & Founder Statement

“At the Women’s Leadership Group, we are committed to creating a multi-sector, silo-free community where women and male allies connect, collaborate, and lead change. Our research shows that visibility, support, and networks are essential to women’s leadership journeys. By providing a platform for mentoring, events, campaigns, and thought leadership, WLG empowers women to support each other, amplify their voices, and drive meaningful, lasting impact across sectors”.

Our Values

Inclusion: Every voice matters
Action: We walk the talk
Impact: We measure what matters
Changemakers: We lead with purpose
Growth: Professional and personal leadership

Community Highlights

Our hybrid programme includes:

Monthly online and in-person events
Guest speakers and DE&I workshops
Mentorship and leadership coaching
Consultancy and active roundtable sessions
Digital collaboration and knowledge-sharing
Guest Podcast Series covering female-centric subjects

Get involved in our mission

Join WLG CIC

Address

Cotswold Cottage, Snowshill, WR12 7JU

Contact

Phone: 078 02933576
Email:
vicky.brook@womensleadershipgroup.co.uk

members@womensleadershipgroup.co.uk

enquiries@womensleadershipgroup.co.uk

About Women’s Leadership Group (WLG CIC)

Our Purpose

Who We Are

Our Mission

Our Women’s Leadership Team

Vicky Brook

Read bio

Charlotte Meekin

Read bio

Pippa Shirley

Read bio

Our Regional Ambassadors

Isobel Crosse

Read bio

Beth Whelan

Read bio

Sarah Cook

Read bio

Rebecca Adams

Read bio

Tina Patel

Read bio

Sarah Beaumont-Smith

Read bio

Martyna Kielbasa

Read bio

Chair & Founder Statement

Our Values

Community Highlights

Our hybrid programme includes:

Get involved in our mission

Address

Contact

More links