Unlocking the Potential of Working Mums

Joeli Brearley MBE is a prominent British activist, author, and public speaker, best known as the founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, a charity dedicated to addressing workplace discrimination and the motherhood penalty. Her work has inspired changes at both societal and legislative levels. She is credited with influencing the recent £5.2 billion investment in childcare, as well changing laws on flexible working, tribunal time limits, and redundancy protections. In 2021 she took the Government to court for indirect sex discrimination and won her claim. Joeli spearheaded the biggest protest of mothers the UK has ever seen - March of the Mummies saw 15,000 parents march across 10 UK cities garnering nationwide attention for demanding workplace equality and better policies for parents.

Joeli has been recognised for her influence in activism and gender equality. She was listed among British Vogue’s “25 Most Influential Women,’’ was PR week’s 8th most prominent British communicator in 2023, and was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours. She frequently contributes to high-profile publications, raising awareness about the systemic challenges faced by working mothers. Her book, Pregnant Then Screwed: The Truth About the Motherhood Penalty, has been lauded for its candid exploration of these issues and for empowering women to fight back against discrimination. Joeli remains a tireless advocate for creating a fairer and more inclusive workplace for women everywhere.

Joeli will share her personal story of pregnancy discrimination, and how the motherhood penalty impacts working mums. She will explain how we can prevent the penalty, and how to unlock the potential of working mums - both from the perspective of what the employer should do and also what the working mum can do.