Equality Conference 2012: Diversity and Austerity

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Organised with Sweet & Maxwell

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: The Hon. Mrs Justice Cox, High Court Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division

PLENARY SPEAKERS: Professor Sir Bob Hepple QC; Tom Linden QC, Matrix Chambers; Karon Monaghan QC, Matrix Chambers

The Equality Act 2010 was trumpeted as a long-overdue chance to consolidate, clarify and improve the UK’s notoriously complex equality and discrimination law. The majority of the Act has now been in force for over a year.

Has it served its purpose? What are the continuing implications of the Act for practitioners and professionals? And what does it all mean for your work?

You can learn the answers to this and more at the Equality Conference 2012. If your work touches on equality and discrimination issues, this event provides the perfect opportunity to:

Get up to date with the latest developments
Question leading experts and exchange ideas for tackling equality and discrimination issues
Discuss how to prepare for future changes and challenges

Programme

Keynote address: Equality and diversity in the law - The Hon. Mrs Justice Cox, High Court Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division

Equality 2012 - Where are we now? - Karon Monaghan QC, Matrix Chambers

Equality in the workplace - Tom Linden QC, Matrix Chambers

Morning breakout sessions

Disability discrimination: access for all? - Caroline Gooding, Equality Consultant and Associate, Employers’ Forum on Disability; Catherine Casserley, Barrister, Cloisters Chambers
Belief and sexual orientation: respect and rights in practice - Ulele Burnham, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers; Professor Aileen McColgan, Barrister, Matrix Chambers

Afternoon breakout sessions

Implementing the Public Sector Equality Duty - Gay Moon, Special Legal Advisor, Equality and Diversity Forum; Joanna Owen, Senior Lawyer, Enforcement Team, EHRC
Litigating equality - Camilla Palmer, Partner, Leigh Day; Paul Epstein QC, Cloisters Chambers

Panel session: Equality in an age of austerity - Professor Sir Bob Hepple QC

A detailed analysis of the most pressing problems with the application of the new legal framework in the current climate and examination of ways these challenges can be addressed.

Sir Bob Hepple will then discuss the issues with experts from a number of key perspectives:

Amanda Ariss - Chief Executive, Equality and Diversity Forum
Sarah Veale - Head of Equality and Employment Rights, TUC
John Wadham - Head of Legal, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Dianah Worman - Diversity Advisor, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development