Alison Dunn understands the complexities of social mobility more than most. She grew up in a working-class household and left school without qualifications… What Alison DID have was a strong sense of social justice and a desire to put herself between the bully and the bullied.

At 16, despite having no formal qualifications, Alisons talked her way into a job at a local solicitor’s office. Then, a whole new world of possibility opened up, a world which until this point had been entirely invisible to her.

That experience inspired Alison to enrol in night school, combined with a liberal dash of Open University, to get the qualifications she needed to qualify as a solicitor – something she could never have imagined as a school kid of a North East working class family in the industrial decline of 1980 and 90s. In 1992, she became a full-time Solicitor and in 2005 she joined the movement that is Citizens Advice, dedicating her career to protecting the powerless from the powerful.

In her talk, Alison explains some of the barriers people face in social mobility. Linking back to her own experiences, topics tailored to your audience could include issues like:

• The lack of visible inspiration, poor careers advice and the limiting beliefs of children from socio-economic backgrounds (nature or nurture?)

• Class issues and Unhelpful stereotypes. Can the Angela Rayner affect can change this.

• Bias both unconscious and very much awake

• Misogyny, past and present, what’s changed and what’s not!

• A lack of investment in women entrepreneurs and leaders

• A lack of support networks and what it means to be a workplace returner

• Why women are missing from data and why you should care about

And above all else, a systemic failure to see the potential in people.

Alison explores how people from less advantaged backgrounds can achieve their ambitions. Her talk is nothing short of a manifesto explaining just SOME of the steps organisations can take to smash down barriers and ignite social mobility.

Attendees will discover:

• Why we need a fairer society.

• The characteristics of intersectionality and disadvantage.

• The difference between representation, inclusion, and mobility.

• The impact of unconscious bias and discrimination in the workplace — from race and gender to socioeconomic.

• How businesses can be agents of positive change.

• How to be an ally: Promoting and supporting diversity in all its forms

As she explains in her talk, championing social mobility isn't just morally right, it’s essential in today's business environment and political landscape.

In this talk, Alison explores inequality and social stigmatisation to demonstrate what can drive a person to the point of suicide. She shares why it is so important to drive discussion around the topic of suicide to help others understand why we must not shy away from talking about it.

Audiences will learn:

• Strategies to help you look after yourself and others.

• How to respond when somebody is in the depths of despair, and where to signpost them to seek professional support.

• Why we shouldn’t be afraid to talk about suicide to open up conversations and help those who need support.

Something as simple as where you grow up can have a huge impact on your career, aspirations and even life-expectancy. In this talk, Alison shares how an individual’s earliest lived experiences can shape their world view and influence what they can achieve in their career, and beyond…

Audiences will discover:

• The root causes of societal and regional inequalities, and what businesses can do to help make positive change.

• The benefits that diversity brings to a business and its operations.

• How to promote an environment which embraces social-mobility and creates more equal opportunities.

Any organisation’s most integral asset is its staff, and Alison knows this better than anyone. As the CEO of the independent charity Citizens’ Advice Gateshead, she has introduced a raft of employee benefits including a four-day working week, complimentary breakfast and lunch, and remote working. In this talk, Alison shares how an engaged and happy workforce can lead to improved productivity and better retention and engagement rates, helping organisations to become an employer of choice.

In this talk, audiences will learn:

• Strategies to improve workplace culture.

• Why benefits for staff can strengthen an organisation.

• How to accommodate the diverse needs of employees.

• Why having open and honest communication with staff leads to better outcomes.