We help women progress and institutions change
WHEN Equality works across higher education to accelerate women’s progression, strengthen leadership and remove the systemic barriers that hold talent back.
Progress for women. Change for institutions.
WHEN began as a network for women working in higher education. Today, we are a national organisation working with women and universities to create measurable progress in careers, leadership and institutional change.
We believe women should not have to navigate unclear progression routes, exclusionary cultures or unequal access to opportunity in order to succeed.
So our work operates on both sides of the equation. We support women to progress, and we work with institutions to change the conditions in which that progression happens.
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
Higher education is full of talented women with the ambition and capability to lead. But progression is shaped by more than individual performance.
Access to sponsorship, influential networks, transparent criteria, developmental opportunities and senior advocacy all matter. Those opportunities are not distributed equally.
WHEN exists to make progression clearer, strengthen the conditions for women to succeed and help institutions turn good intentions into measurable change.
The 3S Systemic Change Model
Specific. Systemic. Sustainable.
Our approach starts with being clear about the change we want to see, tackles the barriers within the system, and builds the conditions for progress to continue long after a programme or individual leader has moved on.
Specific
What exactly are we trying to change?
We start by identifying the exact progression challenge, the group experiencing it and the outcome we are trying to shift. That means moving beyond broad statements about equality and being clear about where representation, progression or experience is falling short.
Systemic
What barriers are getting in the way?
We look at the structures, processes, behaviours and relationships that shape progression. That includes the barriers women encounter, the opportunities they can access and the role of leaders, sponsors, managers and institutional systems in either enabling or blocking progress.
Sustainable
What will make the change last?
We design for lasting impact. The aim is not a one-off programme that disappears when a cohort finishes or a senior sponsor moves on. We help institutions build the capability, accountability and ways of working needed for change to continue over time.
Accelerating gender equity at scale
If not now, WHEN?
WHEN started by bringing women together. As our work grew, so did our ambition: from connection, to progression, to changing the systems that shape women’s careers. Today, we are scaling that approach across more communities and institutions, with the same focus on measurable progress and lasting change.
Connection
We started by bringing women across higher education together.
Progression
We began designing programmes focused on career clarity, progression and moves into leadership.
Systems change
100 Black Women Professors NOW showed what becomes possible when individual development and institutional action work together.
Scaling the model
Today we are extending this approach to more communities and institutions.
Recognised for impact
Our work has been recognised for leadership, innovation and social impact, but the measure that matters most to us is whether women progress and institutions change.
100+
Black women professors
89%
of the inaugural cohort promoted
80%
of those considering leaving wanted to stay afterwards
15+
university partners
Expertise in leadership, progression and change
WHEN brings together specialists in leadership, organisational development, equality and inclusion, coaching, programme design and higher education. Our core team is supported by a national faculty of coaches, facilitators and sector experts who bring deep experience in leadership, progression and institutional change, all united by WHEN’s values.
Alice Chilver
Founder and CEO
Leadership, organisational development and systemic change.
Marshah Dixon-Terry
Senior Faculty
Executive coach and leadership consultant.
Professor Susan Lea
Senior Faculty
Former vice-chancellor, executive coach and mentor.
Dr Jummy Okoya
Board Co-Chair
Associate professor, university dean and executive coach.
The values behind the work
Quality
Action
Respect
Inclusion
Stronger together
Want to create change with us?
Whether you want to support women’s progression, bring a WHEN programme to your institution or explore a wider partnership, we would love to hear from you.
Talk to us
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