Jo Swinson

Founder and Director

Equal Power Consulting; Chair, Maternity Alliance

Charismatic, energetic, direct and down-to-earth, Jo is an engaging speaker on a wide range of topics including the world of work, diversity, corporate responsibility and consumer affairs.

An MP at 25, and a Minister in the coalition government at 32, she wasted no time in shaking up the political establishment. Her passion for improving the world of work saw her battle to extend flexible working and introduce landmark legislation to allow couples to choose how to share parental leave. A firm believer that business can be a force for good, Jo introduced new corporate reporting requirements on human rights and gender diversity, and worked with Vince Cable on improving boardroom culture and promoting long-term thinking.

A champion for consumers, Jo led a crackdown on unscrupulous payday lenders, introduced new powers to tackle rogue traders and set up the Groceries Code Adjudicator to keep big supermarkets in check. She is the architect of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 which for the first time gives consumers protection when buying digital content.

An inspiring role model for women, Jo secured Government support to tackle the gender pay gap through pay transparency in large companies, and co-founded the Campaign for Body Confidence, working with the fashion, media and advertising industries to drive change.

For 10 years the MP for East Dunbartonshire, Jo was one of the key voices advocating for Scotland staying in the UK at the 2014 independence referendum and beyond. Combined with her Ministerial experience at the Department of Business, she is well placed to talk about the uncertainties following Brexit and the prospect of a second Scottish referendum.