Professor Helen Pankhurst

Helen is a local, national and international women’s rights’ activist and coalition convenor, academic, university chancellor, international development worker, author and speaker. With over 30 years’ experience of advocacy, collaborative campaigning, developing organisational strategies, personal and financial management, action research, programing, fundraising and representation.

Focus areas: women’s rights, their education and economic opportunities, their leadership and political voice, sexual and reproductive rights, addressing violence against women and girls, improving access to water and improved sanitation and hygiene.

Engagement & Knowledge Exchange

Convenor of GM4women2028 a coalition and charitable incorporated organisation coordinated by MMU of change-makers committed to seeing a better future for the women of Manchester with five subgroups: representation, safety, employment, education, culture & sport.

Convenor of The Centenary Action Group, one of the UK’s largest coalitions of women’s rights activists and organisations. The Centenary Action Group advocates for the development, improvement and implementation of laws and policies that reduce or remove the barriers to women’s political participation

Other distinctions

2019 Commander of the British Empire, CBE, for services to gender equality
2014 Edge Hill University, Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy