Why Critical Mass?
Somewhere in the zone when women reach 20 to 30% of an institution, things begin to change.
To help organisations reach a critical mass of women, we are generating a critical mass of knowledge and leading practice. Working with our partners, we are building a Critical Mass Community that is sharing their company challenges in the gender space, and, importantly, how they are overcoming those challenges.
Make change with us...
Critical Mass Summit
Our 2026 Critical Mass Summit focused on the future
With thanks to our Pankhurst Partner Babcock, this summit looked at the future through the lens of those starting out in the sector – our early career women. We examine how to deal with those momentary lapses of confidence we all experience whatever our age, and we hear from past emerging talent women on how they are now helping to shape defence.
Our speakers were:
Leanne Cann - People Services Director from Babcock international
A dedicated Working Group of early career professionals from across the Armed Forces, industry, and the Civil Service
Dr Kate Goodger - Olympic Performance Psychologist and Mindset expert
Recognition to reality: Emerging Talent brought together finalists and winners from the Women in Defence UK Emerging Talent Award category over the last six years for an inspirational panel session at the Critical Mass Summit
General Dame Sharon Nesmith DCB ADC (Gen) - Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
Critical Mass Community
Every company or organisation has their own women’s or gender network that runs fabulous, informative and supportive events for all. The Critical Mass Community will not try to duplicate that, instead we will use our tremendous reach across the UK defence sector to build a community of HR Professionals and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion practitioners to share challenges and, importantly, how they are over-coming those challenges.
The Critical Mass Community will share those challenges and solutions for the benefit of the whole community at monthly virtual or face-to-face meetings.
This way, we will create a critical mass of knowledge and leading practice.
related stories
Critical Mass Summit 2025 - Recrafting the narrative of defence
“As women achieve power, the barriers will fall. As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we’ll all be better off for it.” - Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Critical Mass Summit 2024 - How do we retain women in the sector?
“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” - Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Critical Mass Summit 2023 - How do we attract women to the sector?
The Summit was our first big step in solving problems and creating a critical mass of knowledge and leading practice.