Maria Miller MP, welcomed CEO of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), Alex Whitfield, to speak at a series of Inspiring Women Events. The event was hosted by the Ark Conference Centre.
Attendees included a range of professionals from Basingstoke businesses, public services and charities.
Alex Whitfield started her career in operational management at ExxonMobil’s Fawley Oil Refinery and holds an engineering degree from Cambridge University. After 13 years at Exxon, Alex moved to the NHS. Alex has held senior NHS roles in both the former Basingstoke and Winchester organisations over a fourteen year period and is now CEO of HHFT.
Alex talked about her professional and personal journey and the importance of taking opportunities when they arise. She also spoke about the vital role of volunteering and being involved in the community.
Maria Miller MP then Chaired a Q and A session with Alex Whitfield and a panel of three; Carol Bode, Chair of Trustees at Basingstoke Voluntary Action, Karen Thomson, Lead on Diversity and Inclusion at Fujitsu and Sue Vanni Director of Synergy Inspired Resources. Questions covered a wide range of topics including the importance of encouraging younger generations, developing resilience when faced with adversity and both the challenges and opportunities faced by working women. The panel also discussed what had encouraged them most in their professional life.
Maria Commented; “Alex Whitfield is yet another inspiring woman helping to make Basingstoke a great place to live. Alex is an engineer by training, bringing her much needed problem solving training into the management of our Hospital and local NHS services. The whole panel gave an insight into the way in which women are developing their careers, the importance of seizing opportunity and the need for more flexible working to ensure parents can still succeed at work.
" Inspiring Women" is a speaker series, designed for women to speak about their careers, the challenges they have faced and how those challenges have been overcome. If you would like more details please email julietb.henderson@parliament.uk spaces are strictly limited.”