Bloom North, which was established in 2018 to champion equal opportunities for women in the media, creative, advertising, and communication industries across the North West, has appointed its co-presidents for 2024.
Olivia Waite, sales director at Channel Factory, and Sarah Fleming, director of The Right + The Left have played integral roles in Bloom North for several years. In their joint leadership, they will continue to champion the advancement of women, addressing important and emerging industry topics to ensure Bloom North remains both relevant and impactful.
This year’s Bloom agenda will revolve around three pillars: Career Development, Supporting Wellness, and Personal Empowerment, and every action, support, and communication will align with one or more of these pillars.
New co-president Fleming said: “I first came across Bloom North during COVID when, like many, I was seeking out new communities to tap into. From then, I’ve experienced the personal and professional value of being a part of a network like Bloom North. I’ve made friends, listened to conversations and perspectives I’d have never otherwise been exposed to, and taken part in some of the most rewarding mentoring conversations I’ve had through its annual Mentoring programme.
“I’m hugely passionate about people finding their place in the world, and particularly for women to feel empowered, confident and clear on where and how they can excel – I hope that through taking on this exciting challenge with Liv, we can help more people see, and step into their potential, whatever that looks like for them.”
Waite added: “Taking on the presidency of Bloom North is an incredibly exciting moment for Sarah and me. The strong foundation already in place positions us to achieve even more for our network this year. Within our agenda, three key areas take precedence. Firstly, we are dedicated to supporting women across all stages of their lives and careers, with a particular focus on the unique challenges faced by women as they get older.
“Additionally, we aim to enhance networking opportunities, especially for those who may have felt disenfranchised or disconnected, perhaps due to starting their journey during the pandemic. To address this, we’ve established a new Social & Networking team dedicated to organising inclusive events.
“Lastly, building on the discussions initiated at our inaugural all-male panel event in late 2023, we are committed to continuing the conversation around allyship. To this end, our allyship sub-committee, led by our head of allyship, Seb Randle, has been expanded.”
Waite and Fleming also recently hosted the latest episode of The Blooming North podcast, where they dived deep into the heart of Bloom North.
