International Conference on Policies and Parental Support

Past events

Programmes and keynote speakers from our past conferences.

View of the historic Lord Mayor's Walk building with plants in the foreground.

Jump to our past conferences:

2024 Conference | 2023 Conference | 2022 Conference

2024 Conference

The third International Conference on Policies and Parental Support took place on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 July 2024.

The conference was organised by York Business School in association with the Institute for Social Justice. The sessions provided a platform for discussion on various aspects of social and legal policies that impact parents in the workplace, at home and in society.

Discover more about the conference programme and keynote speakers below.

2024 conference programme

Our 2024 conference featured 2 days of sessions, including keynote addresses, parallel presentations, and networking events.

9.00am to 9.30am: Registration

9.30am to 9.45am: Welcome by Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi (Conference Convenor).

9.45am to 10.30am: Keynote by Dr Lyndsey Hookway:

“More breastfeeding support in a coffee shop than on the paediatric ward”: Mothers' experiences of breastfeeding their children with medical complexity.

Paediatric nurse, children's public health nurse, researcher and international speaker.

Session 1 (Chair - Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi)

Time	Session
10.45am to 11.15am	Infant Feeding: Mind the Gap! Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi, York St John University, UK
11.15am to 11.45am	Following fathers’ own wellbeing through their parental leave journeys Jessica Hobbs, Birkbeck College, University of London
11.45am to 12.15pm	Maternal Well-Being, Infant Feeding and Return to Paid Work Prof Sarah Jewell, Dr Fari Aftab, Professor Marina Della Giusta, Professor Grace James, Professor Sylvia Jaworksa University of Reading, UK

Time

Session

10.45am to 11.15am

Infant Feeding: Mind the Gap!

Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi, York St John University, UK

11.15am to 11.45am

Following fathers’ own wellbeing through their parental leave journeys

Jessica Hobbs, Birkbeck College, University of London

11.45am to 12.15pm

Maternal Well-Being, Infant Feeding and Return to Paid Work

Prof Sarah Jewell, Dr Fari Aftab, Professor Marina Della Giusta, Professor Grace James, Professor Sylvia Jaworksa
University of Reading, UK

Session 2 (Chair - Dr Mark Gatto)

Time	Session
1.00pm to 1.30pm	Fathers taking leave: evaluating the impact of Shared Parental Leave in the UK Dr Joanna Clifton-Sprigg - University of Bath, UK Prof Eleonora Fichera - University of Bath, UK Prof Melanie Jones – Cardiff University and IZA Dr Ezgi Kaya – Cardiff University
1.30pm to 2.00pm	"Paimoderno" - modes of representation of 'good' fatherhood in German and Brazilian media classification regimes Prof Kim Bräuer and Judith Weinecke DHSH University of Applied Sciences, Germany
2.00pm to 2.30pm	What interventions are available to prevent or reduce loneliness experienced by parents in the perinatal period: findings from a restricted scoping review Dr Ruth Naughton-Doe, Dr Rebecca Nowland, Dr Stephanie Tierney and Martin Webber, University of York, UK

Time

Session

1.00pm to 1.30pm

Fathers taking leave: evaluating the impact of Shared Parental Leave in the UK

Dr Joanna Clifton-Sprigg - University of Bath, UK
Prof Eleonora Fichera - University of Bath, UK
Prof Melanie Jones – Cardiff University and IZA
Dr Ezgi Kaya – Cardiff University

1.30pm to 2.00pm

"Paimoderno" - modes of representation of 'good' fatherhood in German and Brazilian media classification regimes

Prof Kim Bräuer and Judith Weinecke
DHSH University of Applied Sciences, Germany

2.00pm to 2.30pm

What interventions are available to prevent or reduce loneliness experienced by parents in the perinatal period: findings from a restricted scoping review

Dr Ruth Naughton-Doe, Dr Rebecca Nowland, Dr Stephanie Tierney and Martin Webber, University of York, UK

Session 3 (Chair - Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi)

Time	Session
2.45pm to 3.15pm	Protecting the Position of Modern Fathers in Childcare from Discrimination Manisha Mathews, University of Birmingham, Uk
3.15pm to 3.45pm	A toolkit for Parents and Carers Networks Dr Mark Gatto and Dr Ana Lopes, Northumbria University, UK
3.45pm to 4.15pm	Recultivating Empathy After Post-Pandemic Burnout Dr Jessica Turcat, Oklahoma State University, USA

6.30pm to 8.30pm: Conference dinner at All Bar One (13-17 New St, North Yorkshire, York YO1 8RA

9.00am to 9.30am: Registration

9.30am to 10.15am: Keynote by Professor Tina Miller:

Examining the ‘illusion of balance’ in work/family arrangements: Policy developments and contemporary practices.

Professor of Sociology: Oxford Brookes University, UK.

Session 4 (Chair - Dr Ruth Naughton-Doe)

Time	Session
10.30am to 11.00am	Enhancing the Growth of Preterm and Very Sick Babies’ using Kangaroo Care Through ‘Family-led Care Model and Fatherhood Involvement Kateregga Bazilio Preterm Infants Parents Network, Uganda
11.00am to 11.30am	Excluded at home: Parents of young children reflect on the first UK national lockdown Ms Rachel Harding, Nottingham Trent University, UK
11.30am to 12.00pm	An examination of the Psychosocial Determinants Influencing Asylum-Seeking Parents in the UK Gurujosh Roth, York St John University

Time

Session

10.30am to 11.00am

Enhancing the Growth of Preterm and Very Sick Babies’ using Kangaroo Care Through ‘Family-led Care Model and Fatherhood Involvement

Kateregga Bazilio
Preterm Infants Parents Network, Uganda

11.00am to 11.30am

Excluded at home: Parents of young children reflect on the first UK national lockdown

Ms Rachel Harding, Nottingham Trent University, UK

11.30am to 12.00pm

An examination of the Psychosocial Determinants Influencing Asylum-Seeking Parents in the UK

Gurujosh Roth, York St John University

12.00pm to 1.00pm: Lunch break

Session 5 (Chair - Jessica Hobbs)

Time	Session
1.00pm to 1.30pm	Analysing and developing family support services across European countries: A multi-level policy, provision and practice framework Dr Carmel Devaney, University of Galway, Ireland Dr Harriet Churchill, University of Sheffield Prof Angela Abela, University of Malta
2.00pm to 2.30pm	Impact of Rising Cost of Living on Infant Feeding Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi, York St John University, UK

Time

Session

1.00pm to 1.30pm

Analysing and developing family support services across European countries: A multi-level policy, provision and practice framework

Dr Carmel Devaney, University of Galway, Ireland
Dr Harriet Churchill, University of Sheffield
Prof Angela Abela, University of Malta

2.00pm to 2.30pm

Impact of Rising Cost of Living on Infant Feeding

Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi, York St John University, UK

Session 6 (Chair - Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi)

Time	Session
2.45pm to 3.15pm	Engaging new fathers in community-based mental health support: the role of leisure, sport and physical activity Dr Emily Lovett - Edge Hill University, UK Dr Ruth Naughton-Doe Dr Rebecca Nowland Prof Andy Smith Prof Anna Tarrant
3.15pm to 3.45pm	From Policy to Practice: Using Data to Enhance Equity in Parental Leave Experiences Dr Amy Pytlovany, Center for Parental Leave Leadership, USA
3.45pm to 4.15pm	Barriers to Women's Workforce Participation: Exploring the Dual Role Based on Marriage and Caregiving Responsibilities Ting Yu Yang, National Taiwan University, Taiwan

Time

Session

2.45pm to 3.15pm

Engaging new fathers in community-based mental health support: the role of leisure, sport and physical activity

Dr Emily Lovett - Edge Hill University, UK
Dr Ruth Naughton-Doe
Dr Rebecca Nowland
Prof Andy Smith
Prof Anna Tarrant

3.15pm to 3.45pm

From Policy to Practice: Using Data to Enhance Equity in Parental Leave Experiences

Dr Amy Pytlovany, Center for Parental Leave Leadership, USA

3.45pm to 4.15pm

Barriers to Women's Workforce Participation: Exploring the Dual Role Based on Marriage and Caregiving Responsibilities

Ting Yu Yang, National Taiwan University, Taiwan

Closing remarks and end of conference.

2024 Keynote Speakers

Dr Lyndsey Hookway

Paediatric nurse, children's public health nurse, researcher and international speaker

Dr Lyndsey Hookway is an experienced paediatric nurse, children’s public health nurse, IBCLC, researcher, responsive sleep/parenting advocate, and the author of 6 books. She has worked with children and families for more than 20 years within in-patient paediatrics, paediatric ambulatory care, NICU, and the community. Lyndsey is a researcher at Swansea University, exploring the needs and challenges of medically complex breastfed infants and children. In 2019 she founded the Breastfeeding the Brave project to raise awareness of the unique lactation needs of sick children in the paediatric setting. Lyndsey is the co-founder and clinical director of the Holistic Sleep Coaching program and Thought Rebellion. She is a respected international speaker and also provides regular training, advocacy and consultancy to both NHS and private organisations.

Professor Tina Miller

Professor of Sociology at Oxford Brookes University

Tina Miller is a Professor of Sociology at Oxford Brookes University in the UK. Her research interests include family lives and significant transitions, gender, identities and reproductive health. She has been an advisor at the World Health Organisation, contributed to think tanks, political parties and parliamentary committees in the UK and at the EU. She regularly participates in TV and radio programmes in relation to her research and publications on motherhood, fatherhood and managing paid work and care in contemporary family lives. Tina has recently authored three BBC Radio 4 Analysis Programmes on aspects of Contemporary family lives. Tina’s fourth Cambridge University Press monograph ‘Motherhood: Contemporary Transitions and Generational Change’, was published in November 2023. Her previous CUP monographs include; Making Sense of Motherhood: A Narrative Approach (2005), Making Sense of Fatherhood: Gender, Caring and Work (2010) and Making Sense of Parenthood: Caring, Gender and Family Lives (2017).

2023 Conference

The second International Conference on Policies and Parental Support took place on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 July 2023.

Discover more about the conference programme and keynote speakers below.

Attendees of the 2023 International Conference on Policies and Parental Support standing in front of the conference banner

Attendees of the 2023 conference at York St John University.

2023 conference programme

Our 2023 conference featured 2 days of sessions, including keynote addresses, parallel presentations, and networking events.

8.30am to 9.00am: Registration

9.00am to 10.00am: Welcome by Professor Robert Mortimer, Pro Vice Chancellor: Research, York St John University and Keynote by Professor Anna Tarrant, Professor of Sociology, University of Lincoln

Session 1 (Chair - Professor Anna Tarrant)

Time	Session
10.20am to 10.40am	Exploring the experiences of British fathers returning to paid work after extended parental leave Jessica Hobbs: University of London, UK
10.40am to 11.00am	Caring dads: Latest insights into the social neuroscience of fatherhood and their implications for social support and legal policies Pascal Vrticka: University of Essex, UK
11.00am to 11.20am	What's in a name? Parents and Carers networks and the myth of gender neutrality Mark Gatto: Northumbria University, UK Dr Ana Lopes: Newcastle University, UK
11.20am to 11.40am	Alternatives to Sexed Language in Perinatal Care Prof Fiona Woollard: University of Southampton, UK Dr Jules Holroyd: University of Sheffield, UK Dr Matthew Cull, University of Edinburgh, UK
11.40am to 12.00pm	The Importance of Leave Design in Encouraging the Participation of Fathers in Childcare: A Comparison to Sweden Ms Manisha Mathews: University of Birmingham, UK

Session 2 (Chair - Professor Fiona Woollard)

Time	Session
1.00pm to 1.20pm	The gendered impact of flexible and hybrid work on work-family balance and wellbeing Dr Naomi Finch: University of York, UK
1.20pm to 1.40pm	Family Justice System (England and Wales): What about the mental well-being of parents who are undergoing legal Care Proceedings with their children? Gurujosh Roth: York St John University, UK
1.40pm to 2.00pm	Breastfeeding: Not on the Agenda Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi, York St John University, UK
2.00pm to 2.20pm	Sharing the joy, sharing the risks – Exploring parents' enactment of gender justice within the constraints of the UK’s shared parental leave policy Ms Clare Matysova: University of Leeds, UK

Session 3 (Chair - Clare Matysova)

Time	Session
2.40pm to 3.00pm	‘Everything is down to me' – bereaved parents' experiences of support following co-parent death Alexandra Wray, York St John University, UK
3.00pm to 3.20pm (virtual presentation)	To Leave or not to Leave: Voluntary Maternity Leave Schemes and its Effects on Workers and Firms Bruno Souza: University of Warwick, UK.
3.20pm to 3.40pm	Challenges of Parenting, Motherhood and Fatherhood in Sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria Case Study Dr Samson Adesoye, Sikiru Adedoyin Adegboye and Dennis Nurudeen Ganiu-Esho: Adesoye College, Nigeria.
3.40pm to 4.00pm	Workplace Supports for People who Experience Pregnancy Loss Before Viability: A scoping review Ms Ruadh Kelly-Harrington, Marita Hennessy, Mary Donnelly, Claire Murray, Sara Leitao, Caroline Dalton O'Connor, Daniel Nuzum, Maeve O'Sullivan, Keelin O'Donoghue: University College Cork, Ireland

5.30pm to 8.00pm: Conference dinner at All Bar One (13-17 New St, North Yorkshire, York YO1 8RA

8.30am to 9.00am: Registration and coffee

Session 1 (Chair - Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi)

Time	Session
9.00am to 9.20am	Transcontinental Parenting: Effects on the Lives and Circumstances of Lebanese and Liberian Migrant Parents in Nigeria Mrs Stephani Ikeade Adekola and Dr Olayinka Peter Oleyede: Centre for Family and Parenting Research, University of Ibadan
9.20am to 9.40am	Maternal Well-Being, Infant Feeding and Return to Paid Work Professor Sarah Jewell, Dr Fari Aftab, Dr Sam Rawlings, Professor Marina Della Giusta, Professor Grace James and Professor Sylvia Jaworska: University of Reading, UK
9.40am to 10.00am	Statutory Leave for Pregnancy Loss Before Viability in High-Income Countries Ms Ruadh Kelly-Harrington, Marita Hennessy, Mary Donnelly, Claire Murray, Sara Leitao, Caroline Dalton O'Connor, Daniel Nuzum, Maeve O'Sullivan, Keelin O'Donoghue: University College Cork, Ireland
10.00am to 10.20am	Engaging with policymakers: developing a policy on parenting support Dr Isang Awah: Global Parenting Initiative, Dept. of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, UK.
10.20am to 10.40am	Twenty years of ‘Varieties of familialism’: a systematic review of (de)familialisation measurement Dimitrina Ivanova: University of York, UK

10.40am to 11.00am: Coffee break

11.00am to 12.00pm: Keynote by Prof Richard Petts, Professor of Sociology, Ball State University, USA. Serves on the Board of Directors of the Council on Contemporary Families and the Executive Board of the Work and Family Researchers Network (Virtual presentation).

12.00pm to 1.00pm: Lunch break

Session 2 (Chair - Professor Sarah Jewell)

Time	Session
1.00pm to 1.20pm	Shared Parental Leave Evaluation Report 2023 does nothing to enhance father’s status as parents. Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi: York St John University, UK
1.20pm to 1.40pm (virtual presentation)	The Limits of Parental Leave Policy: What Else is Needed During the Most Complex Time in an Employee’s Career Lifecycle Amy Beacom: Center for Parental Leave Leadership, USA
1.40pm to 2.00pm (virtual presentation)	Understanding parent’s decision-making process in taking Shared Parental Leave through an equal parenting lens Dr Holly Chinnery and Emily Storr: St Mary’s University, UK
2.00pm to 2.20pm	Return to work after maternity for mothers: Challenges Ms Ezinwanne Raymond: York St John University, UK

Session 3 (Chair - Ezinwanne Raymond)

Time	Session
2.40pm to 3.00pm	The Importance of Supporting Dads Groups – how engaging with dads groups helps statutory services to improve engagement with dads Errol Murray, Founder Leeds Dads Support Group
3.00pm to 3.20pm (virtual presentation)	The Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on children's, parents and families Ms Tripti Bhushan: O.P Jindal Global University, Jindal Global Law School

Closing remarks and end of conference.

2023 Keynote Speakers

Anna Tarrant

Professor of Sociology, University of Lincoln

Anna Tarrant is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Lincoln. She is also the Director of Following Young Fathers Further (2020-24), a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded Future Leaders Fellowship. This study has a qualitative longitudinal and participatory design. This is being used to promote productive engagements and knowledge exchange between communities, researchers, policy, and practice. She has established expertise in applied fatherhood research and methodological innovations in co-creation and qualitative secondary analysis. She is the author of Fathering and Poverty (2021) with Policy Press and lead editor of Men and Welfare (2022), an edited collection with Routledge.

Richard J. Petts

Professor of Sociology, Ball State University

Richard J. Petts is a Professor of Sociology at Ball State University. His research focuses on the intersection of family, work, gender, and policy. Richard's research has a specific emphasis on parental leave, father involvement, and workplace flexibility as policies and practices that can reduce gender inequality, promote greater work-family balance, and improve family well-being. His first book, Father Involvement and Gender Equality in the United States: Contemporary Norms and Barriers, was released in 2022. Richard is a member of the International Network on Leave Policies & Research. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Council on Contemporary Families and the Executive Board of the Work and Family Researchers Network. He has published extensively in academic journals, and his work has been featured in numerous media outlets including The New York Times, CNN, and The Atlantic.

2022 Conference

The first International Conference on Policies and Parental Support took place on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 August 2022.

The conference was organised by York Business School in association with the Institute for Social Justice. Sessions covered various aspects of social and legal policies that impact parents in the workplace, at home and in society.

Read more about the conference programme and keynote speakers below.

Attendees of the 2022 Conference on Policies and Parental Support.

Attendees of the 2022 conference at York St John University.

2022 conference programme

Our 2022 conference featured 2 days of sessions, including keynote addresses, parallel presentations, and networking events.

8.30am to 9.15am: Registration - De Grey 123

9.15am to 9.30am: Welcome and opening remarks by Professor Robert Mortimer, Pro Vice Chancellor: Research, York St John University and Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi, Conference Governor and Chair - De Grey 125

9.30am to 10.30am: Keynote address: - De Grey 125

10.30am to 10.45am: Morning break with tea and coffee provided - De Grey 123

Morning parallel sessions

Parallel sessions 1 Room: De Grey 125 Chair: Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi	Parallel sessions 2 Room: De Grey 124 Chair: Amy Holmes
10.45am to 11.15am: Policies to Support Father Involvement in Parenting James Brown and Professor Charlotte Brownlow The University of Southern Queensland, Australia	10.45am to 11.15am: Making music with Care-Experienced Families Ryan Humphrey York St John University
11.15am to 11.45am: New fathers' experiences of requesting Shared Parental Leave in UK organisations Jamie Atkinson Manchester Metropolitan University	11.15am to 11.45am: Fathers' experience of taking Shared Parental Leave within established mother orientated support mechanisms and networks Dr Holly Chinnery and Ellie Bacon St Mary's University
11.45am to 12.15pm: Daddy Leave: How to build a fairer parenting leave system for the UK Dr Jeremy Davies Fatherhood Institute UK	11.45am to 12.15pm: Where is the missing puzzle? Shared Parental Leave and Breastfeeding practices in UK HEIs Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi and Dr Anjali Westwood York St John University

Parallel sessions 1
Room: De Grey 125
Chair: Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi

Parallel sessions 2
Room: De Grey 124
Chair: Amy Holmes

10.45am to 11.15am: Policies to Support Father Involvement in Parenting

James Brown and Professor Charlotte Brownlow
The University of Southern Queensland, Australia

10.45am to 11.15am: Making music with Care-Experienced Families

Ryan Humphrey
York St John University

11.15am to 11.45am: New fathers' experiences of requesting Shared Parental Leave in UK organisations

Jamie Atkinson
Manchester Metropolitan University

11.15am to 11.45am: Fathers' experience of taking Shared Parental Leave within established mother orientated support mechanisms and networks

Dr Holly Chinnery and Ellie Bacon
St Mary's University

11.45am to 12.15pm: Daddy Leave: How to build a fairer parenting leave system for the UK

Dr Jeremy Davies
Fatherhood Institute UK

11.45am to 12.15pm: Where is the missing puzzle? Shared Parental Leave and Breastfeeding practices in UK HEIs

Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi and Dr Anjali Westwood
York St John University

12.15pm to 1.30pm: Lunch and picture opportunities - Holgate Dining Room

Afternoon parallel sessions

Parallel sessions 3 Room: De Grey 125 Chair: Jamie Atkinson	Parallel sessions 4 Room: De Grey 124 Chair: Jessica Hobbs
1.30pm to 2.00pm: Parenting through the pandemic Sam Atwell Action for Children UK	1.30pm to 2.00pm: "That's really important for parents to feel like they've got a voice": Experiences of Services in Parenthood Paige Davis, Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi, Sue Shippen York St John University
2.00pm to 2.30pm: Exploring the lived experience of fathers who took Shared Parental Leave during Covid-19 Dr Holly Chinnery and Jemima Hobbs St Mary's University	2.00pm to 2.30pm: Men's use of family-friendly policies in financial services: an institutional ethnography Harvir Kaur Sangha Queen Mary, University of London
2.30pm to 3.00pm: Covid-19 Career Survival - The Single Parents' Perspective Ms Elsa Ruxandra Olaru The University of the West of Scotland	2.30pm to 3.00pm: How can we investigate parents and carers organising in the workplace? A critical community engaged scholarship proposal Dr Mark Gatto and Dr Ana Lopes Northumbria University

Parallel sessions 3
Room: De Grey 125
Chair: Jamie Atkinson

Parallel sessions 4
Room: De Grey 124
Chair: Jessica Hobbs

1.30pm to 2.00pm: Parenting through the pandemic

Sam Atwell
Action for Children UK

1.30pm to 2.00pm: "That's really important for parents to feel like they've got a voice": Experiences of Services in Parenthood

Paige Davis, Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi, Sue Shippen
York St John University

2.00pm to 2.30pm: Exploring the lived experience of fathers who took Shared Parental Leave during Covid-19

Dr Holly Chinnery and Jemima Hobbs
St Mary's University

2.00pm to 2.30pm: Men's use of family-friendly policies in financial services: an institutional ethnography

Harvir Kaur Sangha
Queen Mary, University of London

2.30pm to 3.00pm: Covid-19 Career Survival - The Single Parents' Perspective

Ms Elsa Ruxandra Olaru
The University of the West of Scotland

2.30pm to 3.00pm: How can we investigate parents and carers organising in the workplace? A critical community engaged scholarship proposal

Dr Mark Gatto and Dr Ana Lopes
Northumbria University

3.30pm to 6.00pm: Touristic activities

5.00pm: Conference Dinner - Las Iguanas York

8.30am to 9.30am: Registration - De Grey 123

9.00am to 10.00am: Keynote speaker: - De Grey 125

10.00am to 11.00am: Keynote speaker: - De Grey 125

11.00am to 11.15am: Morning break with tea and coffee provided - De Grey 123

Morning parallel sessions

Parallel sessions 5 Room: De Grey 125 Chair: Elsa Ruxandra Olaru	Parallel sessions 6 Room: De Grey 124 Chair: Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi
11.15am to 11.45am: Making parental leave policies work for single mothers: Lessons from Europe Dr Alzbeta Bartova, Adeline Otto and Wim Van Lancker KU Leuven, Belgium	11.15am to 11.45am: Is Shared Parental Leave (SPL) feminist? A black feminist critique Dr Patricia Hamilton University College London/University of York
11.45am to 12.15pm: Exploring UK fathers' parental leave journey experiences with particular focus on their mental wellbeing Jessica Hobbs Birkbeck College, University of London	11.45am to 12.15pm: Balancing IVF and work: The law's role in supporting women undergoing fertility treatment Dr Gemma Mitchell University of East Anglia
12.15pm to 12.45pm: Shared Parental Leave - A catalyst for progressing gender equality or a reinforcement of the status quo? Using stories to explore parental leave decision-making dynamics in the UK Clare Matysova University of Leeds	12.15pm to 12.45pm: Are fathers considered as parents in legal and social policies? Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi and Amy Holmes York St John University

Parallel sessions 5
Room: De Grey 125
Chair: Elsa Ruxandra Olaru

Parallel sessions 6
Room: De Grey 124
Chair: Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi

11.15am to 11.45am: Making parental leave policies work for single mothers: Lessons from Europe

Dr Alzbeta Bartova, Adeline Otto and Wim Van Lancker
KU Leuven, Belgium

11.15am to 11.45am: Is Shared Parental Leave (SPL) feminist? A black feminist critique

Dr Patricia Hamilton
University College London/University of York

11.45am to 12.15pm: Exploring UK fathers' parental leave journey experiences with particular focus on their mental wellbeing

Jessica Hobbs
Birkbeck College, University of London

11.45am to 12.15pm: Balancing IVF and work: The law's role in supporting women undergoing fertility treatment

Dr Gemma Mitchell
University of East Anglia

12.15pm to 12.45pm: Shared Parental Leave - A catalyst for progressing gender equality or a reinforcement of the status quo? Using stories to explore parental leave decision-making dynamics in the UK

Clare Matysova
University of Leeds

12.15pm to 12.45pm: Are fathers considered as parents in legal and social policies?

Dr Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi and Amy Holmes
York St John University

12.45pm to 1.45pm: Lunch and picture opportunities - Holgate Dining Room

1.45pm to 3.45pm: Research Impact case study workshop - De Grey 125

3.45pm: Conference closing remarks - Conference Chair

2022 Keynote Speakers

Professor Udy Archibong

MBE

Professor Udy Archibong MBE is the Pro Vice Chancellor (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) at the University of Bradford, directs the Centre for Inclusion and Diversity and provides strategic oversight for equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across the institution. She is a Fellow of the West African College of Nursing and a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing and has been recognised as a foremost authority on inclusion and diversity and became the first ever UK Professor of Diversity with a cross-disciplinary and institutional portfolio.

Mark Williams

Fathers and Perinatal Mental Health

Mark Williams is a Keynote Speaker, published author and international campaigner. He founded International Father's Mental Health Day and the #HowAreYouDad Campaign to help ensure that all parents and families are supported throughout the perinatal period. Mark has spoken on television and radio stations around the world. Working alongside Dr Jane Hanley, he has published articles and books on Father's (Paternal) Mental Health. Mark is also an Ambassador for Mothers for Mother’s Charity.

Jane van Zyl

CEO of Working Families

Jane joined Working Families as CEO in September 2018. She has 14 years' experience working in the third sector and has held senior leadership positions at a number of UK charities, including Samaritans and Sands. She believes in the value of a fulfilling, balanced working life and its transformative power to create social connections, build self-esteem, and impact the wider community. She is a passionate advocate of equal opportunity for all.

Courses

News

Staff

Past events

2024 Conference

2024 conference programme