QGI was established following the initial Women’s Forum in 2000 and we were delighted and privileged to welcome our former Directors and Founders back to Queen's this summer to celebrate our 21^st Anniversary.  

In the following series of recorded interviews, you can listen to the story behind QGI’s beginnings and pioneering work.  Hear about the Women’s Forum, the Listening Exercises, the first gender equality Action Plan and the external recognition through awards and accreditation. 

Lady Brenda, Margaret and Yvonne all gave a piece of advice from a personal perspective - ‘what they wish they had known back then’ - it is very enlightening!

The First Chair of the QGI Executive Committee, Lady Brenda McLaughlin in conversation with our current QGI Director, Professor Karen McCloskey reflects on the early days of the Women’s Forum and QGI.  In her own words, Brenda tells us how she challenged the Vice-Chancellor to address gender inequality which resulted in him making this a priority at Queen's.

The first QGI Director, Professor Margaret Mullett (2000-2009) tells us about those famous listening exercises that informed the first QGI strategy.  You will learn how barriers to women’s progression in Queen’s were identified and dismantled by a group of committed women who spent long hours working for equality in addition to their full-time academic roles.

Professor Yvonne Galligan, our second QGI Director (2009-2018) was asked about the challenges that remained for the then-established QGI at when she was appointed as Director. 

In the interview, Yvonne talks about the new generation of women in Queen’s that are making a difference to the working culture and lives of women and men across the university.  She also reflects on 18 years of Athena SWAN programmes in the University and in our Schools; highlighting challenges of consolidating gender equality work in the complexity of higher education settings.