Platform 51

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Categories: equality, general, woman of the week
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Woman of the week - Jenny Watson

First woman to oversee a UK wide referendum in the UK

Platform 51's woman of the week is Jenny Watson. Jenny is the first woman chair of the Electoral Commission and the first woman to oversee a UK wide referendum in the UK. 

Today, voters across the UK will be choosing whether to change the voting system that governs UK wide General Elections.  This is the first UK wide referendum since 1975.  The Electoral Commission will so be overseeing the governance of elections for the Wales Assembly Government, the Scottish Parliament and the local elections that are taking place in some parts of England today.

Jenny has been chair of the Electoral Commission since 2008.  Before that she was chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission (now part of the Equality and Human Rights Commission).  In this role she lead important campaigns for equal pay between women and men, for better protection for pregnant women at work and for improved rights for parents and carers.

Platform 51 believes that there needs to be far more women in high profile positions in public life as they are important role models for girls and women. Jenny is a woman in a high profile position but she is also campaigning for women's equality and therefore a worthy winner of woman of the week.  We wish Jenny good luck in her role as returning officer in today's referendum.

You can find out more about Jenny on the Electoral Commission website.