Today, the Fawcett Society announces that Baroness Harriet Harman is stepping down as Chair.

Baroness Harman provided clear and principled leadership to Fawcett at a time where women’s rights are increasingly under threat. She will continue to support the charity and the wider women’s rights movement, as she has done throughout her career.

Baroness Harman said:

“Serving as Chair of the Fawcett Society has been an honour. I step away after serving my term as Chair; my role as UK Special Envoy on Women and Girls takes me overseas, meaning that now is the right time to pass the baton.

As we face the rise of the far right and growing misogyny online, Fawcett must be at the forefront of the fight back, standing with campaigners, parliamentarians and partners to prevent our rights being rolled back, and to further our progress.

We have made remarkable advances in recent years thanks to the determination of many women and our male allies. We cannot allow that progress to be unravelled.

I step down with complete confidence in Fawcett's leadership and, just as I have done over the past 50 years, I will continue to support Fawcett and the broader women’s rights movement in the UK.”

Penny East, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, said:

“Harriet has been an exceptional Chair and a tireless champion for women’s rights. We are hugely grateful for her leadership and the strength and clarity she has brought to Fawcett’s work.

We are very pleased that she will continue to support Fawcett and the wider movement, and we look forward to continuing to work together to advance gender equality in the UK.”

The charity will begin to recruit for Harriet’s successor immediately. For more information, please go to our recruitment partner website https://www.peridotpartners.co.uk/jobs/chair-fawcett-society/