New Chair to support young women’s charity tackle workplace inequality

30 May 2024

Young Women’s Trust, the charity campaigning for an equal world of work for young women, has appointed Emma Norris, the deputy director of the Institute for Government, as its new Chair.

Emma brings with her over a decade of knowledge working in senior policy and influencing roles – and extensive experience of Westminster and Whitehall. She has been at the heart of making the Institute for Government one of the most influential think tanks in the UK – and currently leads their work on transitions of government. She is a regular public commentator on policy, politics and effective government. She previously worked at the Institute for Public Policy Research, the Royal Society for arts, manufactures and commerce, and at the Institute for Policy Analysis and Research in Rwanda.

The challenges facing young women in 2024 are huge, they still earn a fifth less than young men each year, they’re facing discrimination in the workplace and they are more likely than men to be in unstable work. As Chair of Young Women’s Trust Emma will use her expertise to guide the charity in its mission to achieve social change and close the income gap between young women and young men.

Emma takes over from Jo-Ann Robertson, CEO of Global Markets at Ketchum, who has successfully steered the charity for the last six years and supported them through the development of their new ambitious strategy.

Emma Norris said: “I’ve long admired the work of Young Women’s Trust and the focus they have on achieving economic justice for young women. I am excited to work with the brilliant team on their next steps in delivering social change – building on the charity’s rich feminist history, delivering fantastic services to young women, and making the most of the opportunity the coming general election provides to deliver the policy changes young women desperately need.

“We still live in a society where women are under paid and undervalued. Young Women’s Trust is throwing everything at changing that.”

Claire Reindorp, chief executive at Young Women’s Trust, said: “We are so happy to have Emma on board. Her expertise and guidance is really going to drive us forward in our fight for equality in the workplace – especially in this crucial election year. We’ve got an extremely ambitious strategy and with Emma at the helm we are confident that we can create a more equal world of work, tackle the structural barriers that are holding young women back and give them a platform to have their voices heard.”

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Notes to editors

For more information or interviews please contact:

Hayley Richardson-Roberts, Communication Lead:

07495 981142 / [email protected]


About the Young Women’s Trust:

Young Women’s Trust champions young women aged 18 to 30 on low or no pay. We’re here to create a more equal world of work and raise young women’s incomes.

We offer young women free coaching, feedback on job applications and information to help them get where they want to be. We bring together a thousands-strong network to support each other, build their self-belief, and have their voices heard. We work with young women and anyone who experiences misogyny and sexism to campaign for equality in the workplace. And our research provides insight into what young women’s lives are really like, fuelling our campaigns for change.