Shining the spotlight on Active Together team members for International Women's Day

In celebration of International Women's Day 2023 we have asked some of our officers and board members to share their thoughts on what International Women's Day means to them and describe a woman that inspires them in their day to day lives.

Leanne Plummer- Sports Development Officer (Pre and Post Natal) - Active Together

For me, International Women's Day is about women inspiring other women and girls to push boundaries and think beyond what is possible.

There are so many local and national examples of women who have inspired me throughout my life, however one in particular continues to hold my attention. As a former rugby player, a big inspiration to me is England World Cup Winning Captain, Maggie Alphonsi. On the pitch Maggie was an incredible player with a great back story to tell, and has continued to inspire during her retirement years. Maggie has been one of the women who has 'normalised' seeing women pundits on televised games at domestic and international level matches. Her intelligent analysis and insightful knowledge has earned her the respect she fully deserves, and uses her platform to continue to inspire women and girls in all aspects of the game. She truly is the best person for the job.

In 2016, Maggie was a guest speaker at Active Together conference, and she was brilliant to have a few words with. An absolute highlight! (Image top right)

Parie Patel - Sports Development Assistant - Active Together (Image bottom right)

International women's day for me, means an opportunity to reflect and appreciate the challenges and achievements that women all over the world have experienced as well as my own. It reminds me to challenge myself, my views and actions, filling me with hope for a gender equal world in my lifetime.

A woman that inspires me is my grandma, she is 81, extremely independent and finds joy and spirit for life from her family. She has never stopped learning and exploring, always trying to better herself and not letting anything stop her living life to its fullest!

Tracy Bingham - Strategic Director & Chief Financial Officer at Oadby and Wigston Borough Council and Active Together Board Member

To me, International Women's Day is about celebrating the achievements of women and a great reminder that much more is needed to reduce discrimination and bias. As a working mother in senior leadership, this years "Embrace Equity" theme really speaks to me - without equity, I wouldn't be able to do the juggling act and fulfil the (often competing!) work-related and caring roles I have!

I'm surrounded by many inspirational women, but someone I really admire is Joeli Brearley who founded "Pregnant then screwed", a charity dedicated to ending "the motherhood penalty" and supporting women in challenging maternity discrimination.

Aysha Rahman, Assistant Director, Customer and Communities at Melton Borough Council and Active Together Board Member

I am a first generation immigrant but being much younger when I came to settle in the UK, my main childhood challenge was belonging neither here in the UK nor back in Bangladesh. For me, International Women's Day is therefore about belonging. But also an opportunity to reflect on my personal journey of adversity and achievements whilst remaining true to my values. For this, I have my mum to thank – she was and continues to be my inspiration. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the incredible achievements of women who have fought against discrimination and inequalities for the generations to come.

Dr Mary Hardwick, Senior Independent Board Member, Coach & Founding Director for Inspire2tri and Active Together Board Member

My inspirational female: Enid Bakewell MBE who I was lucky enough to play cricket with as a girl and who captured my enthusiasm. Edit is still playing cricket in her 80's and even toured Australia last year playing with the East Anglian Veteran Ladies team. The best all rounder that the English Women's came has produced (in my books) and a really fun person who has "never given up" and recently stated to the newspapers that "she intends to live to at least 100.