50:50 Parliament appoints new CEO to champion further progress towards achieving gender parity in politics.
50:50 Parliament, the pioneering charity dedicated to achieving gender parity in politics, proudly announces the appointment of its first CEO, Lyanne Nicholl, a respected leader in the charity sector, author, and activist. This milestone comes as the organisation’s founder, Frances Scott, transitions to a new role on the Board of Trustees.
Frances Scott founded 50:50 Parliament a decade ago, driven by the vision of achieving equal representation for men and women in politics, inspired by the fact that men outnumbered women in Parliament by a ratio of 3:1. The organisation has since made significant strides, with approximately 3,000 women expressing their intent to stand for office through the #SignUpToStand campaign.
Building a Better Democracy
The core mission of 50:50 Parliament is to attain gender-balanced representation (50:50) on elected bodies across the UK by the year 2030. Scott will step down as Director in November 2023 and take up a role on the Board of Trustees. The official transition of leadership to Lyanne Nicholl is set for November 21, 2023, at 50:50 Parliament’s annual #AskHerToStand event, which takes place in Parliament.
Frances Scott, Founder of 50:50 Parliament, commented, “It is fantastic to welcome Lyanne Nicholl to 50:50. It is so exciting that our charity, which aims to help women progress in politics and build a better democracy, is now truly established. It has taken ten years to get to this point. With everyone’s support, let’s hope that over the next ten years, women will gain rightful representation on elected bodies throughout the UK.”
Lyanne Nicholl, the newly appointed CEO, expressed her honor at being chosen to lead 50:50 Parliament. She pledged to continue Frances Scott’s remarkable work and looks forward to the #AskHerToStand Day in Parliament on November 21. Nicholl is enthusiastic about helping the charity grow and thrive as it heads toward a General Election and beyond.
Inspiring and Supporting Women to Progress in Politics
Susan Bright, Chair of 50:50 Parliament, remarked, “As 50:50 marks its 10-year anniversary, I am delighted to welcome Lyanne Nicholl as our new CEO. Lyanne will lead the next stage of 50:50’s journey as we inspire and support women to progress in politics and to achieve our goal of gender parity at Westminster. I also want to pay tribute to Frances Scott, who founded 50:50 and has led the charge over the last decade, inspiring hundreds of women to #signuptostand. I am very pleased to announce that Frances will be joining 50:50’s Board of Trustees.”
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust’s support has been instrumental in making this appointment possible.
50:50 Parliament is committed to empowering, equipping, and enabling women to engage in politics, leveraging diverse talent, shared experiences, friendly conversations, and connections. The organisation offers multiple avenues for participation, including campaigns such as #AskHerToStand and #SignUpToStand, group events, peer-to-peer advice, buddy schemes, and Become A Friend initiatives.
This year, the #AskHerToStand Day, taking place on November 21, coinciding with the date of the Qualification of Women Act’s passage in 1918, will feature a significant event in Parliament hosted by Caroline Nokes MP and a reception to commemorate 50:50 Parliament’s 10th Anniversary.
About 50:50 Parliament:
50:50 Parliament is a dynamic and impactful charity committed to achieving gender-balanced representation in elected bodies across the UK. Learn more at www.5050parliament.co.uk. Connect with 50:50 on social media: