Talk Overview

Arlene shares her view on the importance of women standing for elected office, speaking up, getting involved in the community.

Ignoring attacks on social media and mainstream media - focus on appearance, sexual slurs, called stupid - it needs sorted but it cannot distract or prevent. Conservative women in particular attacked massively - our principles and values are logical and we have a right to state them.

Also women of faith are somehow the wrong sort of women - why? Millions share our view. Closed room thinking is dangerous and wrong including at our universities. We need to reset CTL+ ALT + DEL. Bullying cannot continue - for young women they must be allowed space to bring their own truth. Let's hear all voices. 

About the Speaker

An MLA for 18 years and a Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive from 2007, Arlene Foster retired from local elected politics in October of 2021.

She was the first female leader of the DUP, the largest political party in Northern Ireland, and became the first female First Minister in January 2016.

Since leaving frontline politics Arlene has taken up a portfolio career, advising companies, broadcasting, writing and speaking. She remains a strong advocate for the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland's place therein.