Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026

Every year on 8 March, International Women’s Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women and recognise the impact they have on our lives, our workplaces and our communities.

This year, we asked members of the It's All About People team, and friends of the programme, to share stories of the women who inspire them. Their reflections highlight women of different generations and from many walks of life - partners, mothers, daughters, colleagues and role models - whose compassion, resilience, determination and leadership shape the people around them.

Together, these stories remind us that inspiration is often found not only in well-known figures, but in the everyday strength, courage and care shown by the women who support, challenge and inspire us every day.

The women who inspire me

Vicky Thomson, Chief Executive Officer, Every-One

I have been fortunate in having many women influence both my work and my personal life over the years. I will be greedy and celebrate two women of different generations who inspire me every day.

My Aunt Iris, who is 99 years old, still goes to work and is one of the sharpest, most thoughtful women I know, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of family and community history.

And then there is my daughter, Isobel, who works so hard, battles through pain, but continues to get excited about work and life, grabbing and enjoying every opportunity available.

Two beautiful ladies in so many ways.

Caty Collier, Senior Change Manager, It’s All About People Personalisation Programme

My mum, Hazel, is my inspiration!  She has been profoundly influential in shaping my values, ethics and outlook on life.  From ‘do as you would be done by’ and fairness as core principles, through to opening doors to culture, adventure and creativity, mum continues to be the most important and huggable woman in my life.

Lisa Loy, Programme Manager, Early Action and Support, Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, Lincolnshire County Council

From the moment I was old enough to understand the world around me, I felt a fire for fairness. Even as a child, I sensed the weight of inequality and the importance of standing up for what is right. The feminist in me wasn’t something I grew into - it was always there, loud and unfiltered, pushing me to question, challenge, and demand better.

As I’ve grown, that early spark has been shaped by the women I’ve walked alongside. Working with strong, eloquent, articulate women has taught me that impact isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s steady. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s the simple act of showing up, again and again, even when the path is steep. These women have shown me that strength is not the absence of struggle - it’s the refusal to surrender to it.

This year, more than ever, I feel compelled to celebrate them. To acknowledge the women who lift me, inspire me, and remind me that in the face of adversity, we are always stronger together. I could write pages about the many women who have shaped me, but today I want to honour two who stand out not just for what they do, but for who they are.

Lorna Leaston has been a colleague for many years, but more importantly, she has become a lifelong friend. She has educated me, challenged me, and shown me what unwavering commitment to independence looks like. Lorna walks a hard path - one that many would stumble on - but she never gives up. Her resilience is quiet but fierce, her values unshakeable, her presence grounding. She is the kind of woman who doesn’t just inspire you; she changes the way you see yourself.

Hayley Eccles, though newer to LCC, has made an positive impact in her short time here. She leads with compassion, using her own story to create space for others to be honest, vulnerable, and brave. She shows our workforce - and especially our women - that ambition and authenticity can coexist. That you can aim high without losing who you are. That empathy is not a weakness but a powerful form of leadership.

These women, and so many others, remind me why International Women’s Day matters. It’s not just a date on the calendar - it’s a moment to pause and recognise the strength, courage, and brilliance that women bring into the world every single day. It’s a reminder that we rise higher when we rise together.

Alison Smith, Workforce Development Lead, It's All About People Personalisation Programme

I want to tell you about my sisters, who I couldn’t do life without.  So, last week my sisters and I flew to Germany...for the day!  That tells you that they are fun, adventurous, crazy and will do anything I suggest so that we get to spend some time together! 

I feel so lucky to have three inspirational women as my best friends. They support me, advise me, and, more importantly, make me howl with laughter.  All three have been single mums at some point in their lives and are just amazing mothers who I learn from every day. All three work so hard in education and give so much to ensure children have opportunities and kindness. All three are compassionate and would do anything for you or me. And all four of us are the way we are because of our wonderfully kind and loving parents. So, on this International Women’s Day, I want to shout out to the Amos sisters, who are just the best all-round women (I won’t say ladies ?) in the universe!

How lucky am I?

Shibina Mathew, Project Support Officer, It's All About People Personalisation Programme

This International Women’s Day, I’m celebrating my little sister Shilpa - the one I call the Mother of Dragons.

Moving to Germany, pursuing higher studies, building her career as an Architect in Infrastructure Management at Volkswagen, raising three little kids, running a home, and even learning a new language.

People often ask me, “How does she do it?”

My answer is always the same: If anyone can, it’s my little sister.

A force to reckon with. Strong. Ambitious. Unstoppable.

Also, Shilpa's the only person who can look at me and say, “What were you thinking? Don’t wear that… throw it away", and still gets away with it. ?

Without a shadow of doubt, I'm just lucky to call her my sister. So proud.

Here’s to the women who inspire us!

Gavin Street, Communications and Market Lead, It’s All About People Personalisation Programme

My biggest inspiration is an easy choice - my partner, Carrie, whose compassion, dedication, and determination shape the way she supports people, both in a professional and personal capacity. Every single day, she reminds me that real strength reveals itself through kindness, resilience, and the care you show by truly listening to and standing alongside the people around you.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate the innovator, author, and social entrepreneur, Hilary Cottam. As the rest of the It's All About People team knows, I’m a big Hilary fan. What I love about the way Hilary works is that she starts in a very human place. Instead of beginning with systems, processes, policies, or services, she starts with people’s real lives. She really listens to people's experiences, needs, and what truly matters to them. She then works alongside those individuals and their communities to co-produce practical and sustainable solutions, building networks of support that are more relational, compassionate, and, well, human - and absolutely grounded in what actually works for people.

That’s the way supporting people should happen, and I’m privileged and proud to work for a team whose approaches and aims are so closely aligned with Hilary’s.

Kirsteen Redmile, Lead for Personalisation, It’s All About People Personalisation Programme

So many women in my life inspire me, but two stand out above all others: my sister, Sarah, and my daughter, Abi.

Both have faced, and continue to face, significant health challenges, yet neither allows those challenges to define them. Their determination to keep moving forward, quite literally in Sarah’s case, is nothing short of remarkable.

When Sarah was 28, she had a brain tumour removed. The emotional and physical impact was profound, but she found her way through it by running - and not just running but running far. In 2024, she completed the Dragon’s Back Race, traversing the spine of Wales from Caernarfon Castle to Cardiff Castle, in blistering heat. It’s an extraordinary achievement that sums up her grit and spirit.

Abi was born with displaced kneecaps, meaning her knees dislocated with nearly every step she takes. Despite several operations that have brought limited success, she lives with daily pain that she rarely lets show.

Last year, she set off on a four‑month solo adventure across Southeast Asia to immerse herself in the region’s culture and food. Since returning, she has transformed the Redmile household into a hub of Southeast Asian cuisine, much to everyone’s delight! ?

Both Sarah and Abi have overcome adversity to pursue the things that matter most to them. I’m incredibly proud of them, and I deeply admire their resilience, tenacity, and refusal to be beaten by the challenges life throws at them.

And you may notice from the photo … they both have red hair!