Executive Women in Leadership Programme 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner

Celebrating 10 Years of Executive Women in Leadership

Reflecting on a special evening celebrating 10 years of the Executive Women in Leadership Programme, Carly Malcolm at FWB shares the highlights and conversations from the anniversary Gala Dinner that made the occasion so memorable.

What an incredible evening celebrating 10 years of the Executive Women in Leadership (EWIL) programme.

Held at the Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel, the EWIL 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner brought together an inspiring community of EWIL alumni, speakers, colleagues and friends to celebrate a decade of supporting ambitious women as they progress into senior leadership and board-level roles.

Since EWIL was established in 2016 by Judy Wagner, Founder and Director at FWB and Professor Susan Murphy, Chair in Leadership Development, University of Edinburgh Business School and Co-Director of the Centre for Strategic Leadership, more than 220 women have participated in the programme, building a diverse and supportive alumni network across organisations and sectors throughout Scotland.

The evening was a wonderful reflection of what makes the Executive Women in Leadership community so special. It focused on honest conversations, shared experiences, inspiring leadership stories and a genuine commitment to creating greater opportunities for women.

Inspiring leadership stories

The evening began with opening remarks from Judy Wagner, before Ruth Davidson (Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links) delivered a keynote, sharing insights from her career and the experiences that have shaped her leadership journey.

Ruth spoke candidly about her career, the importance of continuing to challenge inequality and the practical steps needed to create meaningful change and close the gender equality gap.

As the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives and a news and current affairs journalist, Ruth brings a wealth of experience across politics, media and business. Her board roles with a range of commercial and charitable organisations, including Royal London, Baxters Food Group and the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU), have further broadened her perspective and strengthened her leadership and management experience.

We also heard from Sarah Millar, Chief Executive of Quality Meat Scotland, who shared a fascinating perspective on leadership within an industry traditionally dominated by men.

Sarah spoke with real pride about the culture her organisation has created, highlighting the strength of its female leadership representation, including a female Chair and more women than men in senior management positions. Her reflections demonstrated the importance of creating organisations where women are not simply represented but are given the opportunity to progress and lead.

Dame Susan Rice DBE was a key and inspiring contributor to our panel discussion. Currently Chair of Forth Green Freeport and GEFI (Global Ethical Finance Initiative), Susan was the first woman to head a UK or European clearing bank as Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland plc, so she was able to articulate clearly the path that women have forged, in part led by luminaries such as herself, over the last few decades, the changes and milestones achieved, and the importance of ensuring we leave footprints for future generations of women.

Dr Lesley Sawers OBE brought another important perspective to the conversation, exploring the changing world of work and the potential impact of AI on women’s employment, particularly at entry level.

Her contribution highlighted that supporting women into work is about much more than access to senior leadership opportunities. It is also about addressing the practical barriers that can prevent women from entering and remaining in employment, from access to appropriate clothing for work to the ability to afford basic essentials. These are tangible areas where meaningful support can make a real difference.

As Deputy Chair and Scotland Commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Lesley provided senior leadership on equality, human rights and regulatory strategy, advising UK Ministers and the Scottish Government and engaging across sectors to improve outcomes for underrepresented groups.

A decade of creating opportunities

The panel discussion brought together all the above leaders, along with Judy and Susan, and provided a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation around leadership, equality, opportunity and the changing landscape for women in the workplace.

What made the evening particularly special was the opportunity to hear such different perspectives from women who have each made a significant impact in their own fields, while sharing a common commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation.

What began in 2016 as a programme designed to support ambitious women on their leadership journeys has grown into a thriving alumni community of more than 220 women. Its success also paved the way for the creation of FWB and the University of Edinburgh Business School’s Executive Leadership Programme (ELP), now open to leaders of all genders.

Today, almost 300 leaders have joined the ELP alumni community, bringing the combined EWIL and ELP network to more than 500 leaders.

Ten years on, the strength of the EWIL community was clear to see in one room, women from different sectors, backgrounds and stages of their careers, coming together to share experiences, learn from one another and celebrate the progress that has been made.

It was a truly memorable evening and a fitting celebration of 10 years of EWIL and of the women, relationships and opportunities that have made the programme what it is today.

Here’s to the next chapter.

Executive Women in Leadership

The EWLP has since evolved into the Executive Leadership Programme (ELP), delivered in partnership with the University of Edinburgh Business School and open to leaders of all genders across the private, public and third sectors.

For more information about joining the 2026 cohort, please contact elp@fwbltd.com.