The Gender, Work and Organisation (GWO) Conference 2025 took place from 21 to 23 July 2025 at Audencia Business School in Nantes, France. Across four days, academics and practitioners from around the world explored the theme “World in crisis and the future of work: gender, work and organisation and bodies on the move.”
The event provided a space to reflect on how global disruption is reshaping gendered realities in work and organisational life. Representing Salford Business School (SBS) were Dr Divya Patel and Dr Evelyn Oginni, who each presented research addressing urgent issues of gender, equity and inclusion.
Giving voice to women in small businesses in India
Dr Divya Patel, Lecturer in Business Strategy, presented her paper ‘Empowering gendered voices: a contextual feminist analysis of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in couple businesses in India.’
Her study explored how small, couple-run ventures in Gujarat negotiate CSR through a gendered lens, revealing how patriarchal structures influence whose voice is heard and whose remains marginalised.
The paper contributed to broader debates at the conference about the need to rethink established normal in the face of global crises, and the value of research that bridges the Global North and South. Divya’s findings offered critical insight into how contextually grounded feminist approaches can make visible the voices and experiences often left out of mainstream CSR and organisational studies.
Reflecting on the event, Divya said: “A collective spirit ran through the conference, underscoring the importance of bringing diverse global voices into dialogue to challenge hierarchies and shape more equitable futures in a world in crisis.”
Rethinking equality and inclusion in UK universities
Dr Evelyn Oginni, Lecturer in People Management and Programme Lead for Undergraduate Human Resource Management, together with Dr Isabel Tavora from the University of Manchester (UoM), presented research conducted by themselves and Professor Susie Miles (UoM) on ‘EDI in UK elite universities: progress, challenges and prospects.’
The research focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) policies and practices within Russell Group Universities, examining the progress achieved while drawing attention to persistent challenges. It also evaluated the impact of initiatives such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter. Despite two decades of focus on EDI, significant inequalities remain, which underscores the need to critically assess what has been done to date and how effective these strategies have been.
Reflecting on the experience, Evelyn said: “We feel honoured to have had the opportunity to present our research. The experience was both rewarding and inspiring – not only in sharing our work, but also in connecting with fellow researchers and learning more about the exciting and diverse projects being undertaken across the field.”
Their presentation sparked conversation about how universities can create genuinely inclusive environments, while also strengthening collaboration between researchers at the University of Salford and the University of Manchester.
Looking ahead
The GWO Conference 2025 highlighted how global crises are reshaping the world of work, and why research into gender, equality and inclusion is more important than ever. The contributions from Salford colleagues showcased the school’s commitment to impactful, socially responsible research that supports fairer futures for all.