WHEN is a social enterprise with a mission to speed up gender equality in higher education. We’re moving in the right direction, but slowly. By bringing women in HE together, we can focus the brilliant minds of 222,000 women on the problem. We’ll help individuals forge valuable professional networks, build confidence and take control of their careers. And in turn make universities more collaborative, innovative and productive.

Our beginnings: Addressing the problem from within

The journey of WHEN began in 2013, when Emma Todd and Alice Chilver founded Astrea: a grassroots network for professional services women at UCL.The network aimed to address the under-representation of women at the highest levels of the institution, and brought women together to share experiences, and skills and support one another’s professional development.

The value and benefits that the network brought to its members and to UCL were significant. The appetite, enthusiasm and support from women was unrelenting. Through WHEN, Alice seeks to deliver these same benefits to women working in Higher Education across the country.