Women across Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS), Northamptonshire Police and the Office of the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) Danielle Stone came together in Northampton’s Guildhall this week for International Women’s Day with a special event to celebrate women in the emergency services.
The room heard personal stories about their journeys from Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Marianne Kimani, NFRS Area Manager Lisa Jackson and Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Emma James.
Guest speakers Tracy Whittaker-Smith MBE and Maisie Summers-Newton MBE also joined the event, who have both excelled in their areas of sport and shared stories of their professional and personal growth.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day was Accelerate Action for gender equality, and many of the speakers spoke of how far we have come in creating more inclusive and equal places of work, but also how there is a still long way to go and how we can all work to achieve more for our future generations.
Deputy Police Fire and Crime Commissioner Marianne Kimani gave the opening speech, in which she shared her own personal journey to the role she is in now, and the importance of mentorship.
Marianne said, “I am so proud of how far we have come, even myself being in this position shows how much has changed, but we still have a long way to go.
“Our job as women now, is to inspire those younger than us, to be mentors, to offer our support to ensure that the future generation can be the absolute best version of themselves they can be.”
Marianne also spoke of the importance of workplace policies that favour, and benefit women.
“To keep making meaningful changes within our places of work we must look internally at our policies and how we can make sure they support our women in the workplace. There is so many hidden figures that are vital to our organisations, and we must do more to acknowledge their contributions.”
NFRS Area Manager Lisa Jackson, who is also chair of the NFRS Women’s Staff Network, shared her journey of 35 years in fire and rescue, and how she would have given up if not for the support of other women in the Fire Service. Lisa spoke of how she has learnt to just be herself after years of fighting to prove herself to be equal as her male colleagues, and how we need to continue having the audacity to just be who we are in our places of work.
Lisa also echoed the importance of workplace policies that support women. She shared that when she was pregnant as a firefighter, she fought for meaningful training to accommodate her while she was off operational duties, which had not previously been in place, paving the way for other women who came after her.
Highest ranking female police officer in Northamptonshire ACC Emma James was frank and honest about the journey she has been on to reach where she is today, including tales of misogyny and homophobia that could have set her back, but didn’t.
Emma spoke of how she worked her way through the ranks, and the difficulties that came with being good at her job, fitting in, and just being herself. She shared how much she has grown in confidence over her 25 years of service, and that she has achieved a balance of being both brilliant at work and at home, a challenge many working women face.
Olympic gymnastics coach Tracy Whittaker- Smith MBE, and Paralympian Maisie Summers-Newton MBE were also in attendance, who shared with the room their inspiring journeys and stories of how hard they have worked to achieve what they have.
Both women spoke of the importance of the visibility of those who have inspired them, and how those people have shaped their journeys.
OPFCC Danielle Stone wanted the event to take place so that women from across all three organisations could come together and celebrate each other. Danielle and Chief Fire Officer Nikki Watson could not attend in person due to a National Fire and Rescue meeting they both were at.
Both leaders joined the event through a video link. They spoke about how we should be celebrating ourselves and all women every day, but especially on International Women’s Day.
Danielle commented on how women are helping to reshape our organisations for the better by continuing to break barriers and leave it in a better place.
The day ended with the three leaders, Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet, Chief Executive Officer for the OPFCC Jonny Bugg and Assistant Chief Officer and Head of Enabling Services for all three organisations Paul Bullen, giving their commitments of what they were all going to do to make the three organisations better for women.
