More than 100 delegates attended the Menopause NI Conference on World Menopause Day with a call for employers in Northern Ireland to recognise that women make up 51% of the workforce and they should develop a meaningful menopause policy.
Guests included representatives from the Royal College of Nurses, Arc Regulatory, Sandvik, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Northern Health Trust and event sponsor BDO.
The event provided valuable insights from speakers, including Michelle McGinley from the Employers Federation who gave the legal perspective and what can happen if employers get menopause support wrong, Adèle Davidson and Gary Kane from Queen’s University Belfast who provided a case study on the proactive support they offer to staff experiencing menopause symptoms, Dr Andrea Latimer and Menopause NI founder Siobhan Kearney.
SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP officially opened the conference, and Marie-Louise Connolly from BBC NI compered the event.
Siobhan Kearney, founder of Menopause NI said “Menopause is a natural stage for most women and all women will experience symptoms to some degree, yet it is frequently misunderstood or neglected in professional environments. The conference was a significant step towards encouraging businesses to foster more inclusive and supportive workplaces, ensuring that women’s contributions are fully recognised even as they go through menopause.”