We are a group of women with an interest in public or political life who have become increasingly concerned by the number of all-male panels at policy debates, particularly in Westminster and also across the country. Recently advertised examples include the RSA's "Tale of Two Cities" on whether Londoners are on the brink of "economic apartheid" – an event with three male speakers when we know women are disproportionately affected by the effects of the downturn – and the Institute for Government's forthcoming "Policy by Twitter" event with four men – though we know many women in policy are not just active in social media but leading exponents.
As advocates and activists around gender equality – some of us in political parties, others not – we will no longer be attending events where there is an all- male panel without exceptional reason and will also be encouraging others to do the same. Most events could easily have been more thoughtfully planned with a better balanced panel. The benefits of this for all of us are clear: wider representation makes for more informed debate and better policy outcomes. We strongly urge all thinktanks or similar organisations to adopt a policy of no longer holding events without a consideration for gender balance. For forward-thinking organisations and particularly those at the heart of Westminster, we believe it is time to be following a higher standard of public life and debate, which is more in tune with expectations of increasing the presence and voice of women in all areas of our political and economic life.
Seema Malhotra Fabian Women's Network and management consultant
Deborah Mattinson Director, Britain Thinks
Emma Burnell Blogger, Scarlet Standard
Dr Monica Threlfall Reader in European Politics, London Metropolitan University
Dr Caroline Whalley
Shaama Saggar-Malik Director, diversity in public appointments and executive development consultant
Jo Cox Director, Maternal Mortality
Dame Ruth
Anne Reyersbach
Sophie Livingstone Chief executive, City Year London
Anita Pollack Former MEP
Ivana Bartoletti Editor, Fabiana and public sector worker
Rachael Saunders Labour Women's Network and Tower Hamlets councillor
Dr Laura Nelson Senior charity manager and blogger, Delilah
Vera Baird QC Co-director, Astraea: Gender Justice
Melanie Smallman National secretary, Sera – Labour's Environment Campaign
Claire Leigh Former adviser, strategy unit and vice-chair, Young Fabians
Alison McGovern MP for Wirral South
Kate Nustedt Executive Director, WomenforWomen UK
Fiona Mactaggart MP for Slough
Olivia Bailey Chair, Labour Students
Christine Megson
Felicity Slater Masters student
Barbara Follett Former MP and former equalities minister
Carole Tongue Former MEP and chair of UKCCD
Sheila Taylor Bermondsey & Old Southwark Labour party secretary
Ellie Cumbo Blogger and editor, Anticipations
Leonie Cooper Co-chair of Sera, and Wandsworth councillor
Cllr Rohini Simbodyal Edmonton
Beverley Clack Professor in philosophy of religion at Oxford Brookes University
Reema Patel Law student
Helen Jackson Former MP
Neeraj Malhotra Locum consultant in public health, West Midlands
Ms Judith Cameron
Alexandra Kemp Chief executive, West Norfolk Women and Carers' Pensions Network
Dr Kate Mckenzie
Camilla Antrobus
Scarlett MccGwire Communications consultant
Barbara Keeley MP for Worsley and Eccles South
Jane Hanson Leading Learning
Cathryn Nunnery
Kirstin Hay Student, Imperial College
Julie Fitzgerald Management consultant
Kate Grussing Managing director, Sapphire Partners
Caroline Watson Co-founder, Progressive Women
Caroline S Dargan Interim headteacher and education consultant
Anna Turley Former deputy director, NLGN thinktank, and editor of ProgLoc
Kathryn Busby Co-director, National Campaign
Sarah Hutchinson DPhil student, University of Oxford
Professor Wendy Savage
Rebecca Rennison
Lesley Abdela Senior partner, Shevolution consultancy
Marie Bailey HR lecturer
Ronit Wolfson Account executive and London Young Labour women's officer
Rachel Jones Chair, British Council for School Environments
Nina Champion Charity project manager and Croydon community activist
Nicky Gavron London Assembly member
Dr Suzanne Franks Centre for Journalism, University of Kent
Rachel Briggs
Dr Rupa Huq Senior lecturer in sociology
Professor Joni Lovenduski Birkbeck College
Janice Winter Programme manager, Axess programme on journalism and democracy