Women in Fisheries awarded funding to complete Leadership Development Programme

The Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, in partnership with UK Women in Fisheries (UK WIF) has recently awarded funding to a group of women from the Fishing Industry to complete the Oxford Women’s Leadership Development Programme delivered by Saïd Business School, part of the University of Oxford.

Funding was awarded to those applicants who were best able to demonstrate an interest in supporting fisheries management, or who planned to support the development of fishing associations.

The successful applicants were;

Rebecca Treacy, Shellfish Fisheries Analyst, Seafish
Juliette Hatchman, CEO, South Western Fish Producer Organisation
Mandy Wolfe, CEO, Lyme Bay Fisherman’s CIC
Nicola Webster, Secretary for the North Norfolk Fishermen’s Society / Assistant Business Manager, REAF CIC

The grant forms part of The Fishmongers’ Company’s ambitions to support the development of fishing and seafood associations that address regional and national opportunities and challenges.

Alison Freeman, fisheries programme manager for The Fishmonger’s Company said:

“We received a great response from approximately 20 women, all the applicants were extremely credible. It was a tough choice, however, the successful candidates all demonstrated that they could meet our very specific criteria for this round of funding.”

Sarah Crosbie, on behalf of UK Women in Fisheries added:

“Due to the level of interest in this course from the Uk Women in Fisheries membership, we are working with partners to secure further funding to enable more women to enrol on this course in the future. We hope to be able to announce additional funding support for those women in the future”.

You can find more information on the training here: Oxford Women's Leadership Development Programme | Saïd Business School

The successful candidates have already enrolled on the course and are currently working through the modules online. We asked each of them to comment on what completing the course means to them.

“I feel extremely fortunate that I get to take part in the programme alongside so many women around the world, but more importantly, alongside some fantastic women within the UK fishing industry. I am eager to get stuck in to the programme, develop my leadership skills and learn how to successfully navigate through challenges we face as women within this industry. My hope is that by the end of the programme I will be able to demonstrate what good leadership looks like for women in this industry and put my new skills to good use within my role within the Fisheries Management Team at Seafish.”
Rebecca Treacy, Shellfish Fisheries Analyst, Seafish

‘” I am hoping that this training programme will give me the confidence to extend the influence that I, my organisation and the wider fishing industry that I represent can have at the highest levels of national politics. I hope to develop skills to help mitigate risks and ultimately enable the fishing industry to be more resilient in the challenging environment that we find ourselves in.”
Juliette Hatchman, CEO, South Western Fish Producer Organisation

"I have spent most of the last 20 years working for UK fishing companies and trying to gain a greater understanding of the drivers and evolution of the UK fleet and attitudes towards more sustainable fishing methods. I hope to be able to share the knowledge I gain from this course to help promote careers in fishing to other women, as well as being able to share this knowledge with the Fishermen members of the CIC; which will give them the confidence to join in future discussions and workstreams that will help them develop better markets and strategies; finding those win-wins that can only be achieved when Fishermen voices are heard through collaboration with regulators and the fishing industry across the UK.”
Mandy Wolfe, Chief Executive, Lyme Bay Fisherman's CIC

“Alison and I had spoken in the past and I had mentioned the seeming lack of capacity building for women in the fishing industry. I completed the application and nervously waited for the decision from the panel at Fishmongers Hall. The course content looks interesting, I admit to feeling a bit daunted and wondered if I was out of my league. However, I gave myself a good talking too: this course will teach me many things and in the long run, will help me be of benefit to the fishing industry. I very much look forward to working my way through the modules. I enjoy learning and am very much looking forward to the next six weeks. The fishermen and others that I work with in the industry have been very positive and supportive, and they are exactly who I am doing this for.”

Nicola Webster, secretary for the North Norfolk Fishermen’s Society / Assistant Business Manager, REAF CIC