The Women Leading the Way conference explored the global challenges of conflict, division, and social fragmentation, and how women of faith can address them.
The Women Leading the Way conference explored the global challenges of conflict, division, and social fragmentation, and how women of faith can help address them through community relations and political influence.
On Monday, 24th March 2025, to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the University of Birmingham receiving its Royal Charter, a groundbreaking conference, Women Leading the Way: Dialogue for Peacebuilding, Reconciliation, and Social Cohesion, was held to examine how to elevate women’s leadership in peacebuilding and community cohesion efforts.
170 women from diverse faith backgrounds—including Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Bahá'í, and those of no faith – gathered to demonstrate the transformative power of leadership grounded in faith, showcasing how their efforts in peacebuilding have led to profound societal changes.
The global challenges of conflict, division, and social fragmentation demand inclusive, compassionate leadership, and women of faith have long been at the forefront of peacebuilding, reconciliation, and social cohesion efforts.
Organized in collaboration with Laura Marks CBE, co-founder of the Women’s Faith Forum, the conference acted as a call to action to urgently dismantle the systemic barriers that prevent women from fully participating in decision-making, particularly women of faith, whose contributions to peacebuilding and social cohesion are often overlooked.
Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, Professor of Sikh Studies at the University of Birmingham, who led the event, said: “The global challenges of conflict, division, and social fragmentation demand inclusive, compassionate leadership, and women of faith have long been at the forefront of peacebuilding, reconciliation, and social cohesion efforts. Despite their significant contributions, their voices remain underrepresented at the highest levels of decision-making. Women of faith bring a unique perspective to politics, guided by moral convictions rooted in compassion, justice, and equality—values urgently needed in today’s complex world, and their inclusion in political spheres is essential for creating more equitable, humane, and resilient societies.”
A central theme of the conference was the critical need for women’s voices in decision-making processes. The event also addressed the challenges faced by women in faith-based leadership roles, through workshops actionable strategies were provided for women aspiring to leadership roles. Sessions covered topics such as overcoming barriers for young women in leadership, groundbreaking models of social cohesion led by women of faith, and fostering mental, physical, and social resilience.
This is a cause close to my heart, and I want to salute your incredible efforts to bridge divides, bring people together and make a difference. This is the power of female leadership at its most inspiring.
A keynote speech was delivered by the Right Revd Dr. Dagmar Winter, Bishop of Huntingdon. She spoke about the changes in gender equality within the church and in a difficult world, the need for hope, and emphasized how women’s unique perspectives are indispensable for crafting solutions to social justice, governance, and conflict resolution challenges. She also called for the continued elevation of women’s voices in leadership, stressing that sustainable peace requires the active participation of women at every level.
The conference also heard comments sent by the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner. About the conference, she said: “This is a cause close to my heart, and I want to salute your incredible efforts to bridge divides, bring people together and make a difference. This is the power of female leadership at its most inspiring.”
Lord Wajid Khan, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (Lords Minister for Faith, Communities, and Resettlement) spoke about the importance of women in discussions and highlighted the inequalities they faced and then chaired a panel which explored the intersection of gender and social inequality, highlighting how economic disparity, healthcare inequities, and limited educational access hinder women’s participation in leadership and peacebuilding.
It was an honour to be part of this inspirational event, celebrating and highlighting the power of female leadership and how critical that is to fight for social justice and unity in the face of division and conflict.
Lord Khan of Burnley said: “It was an honour to be part of this inspirational event, celebrating and highlighting the power of female leadership and how critical that is to fight for social justice and unity in the face of division and conflict.
“I am determined that our collective efforts to rebuild interfaith relations must include the equal representation of women, and a much more significant role for young people – and this opportunity to hear the inspirational stories of so many brave and powerful women has been a huge privilege.”
Professor Jhutti-Johal concluded: “It was a privilege to host this conference, and recognise the invaluable contributions women make to these accelerating global challenges. The path forward is clear: we must ensure that women’s voices, perspectives, and leadership are at the heart of policymaking, shaping a more inclusive, just, and peaceful world. This is just the beginning—the work accelerates from here.”
Professor of Sikh Studies
Biographical and contact information for Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham.
