A free Zoom Webinar to reflect on last year and look forward to the year ahead at our Annual General Meeting. Featuring a panel discussion to launch WiR’s latest research supported by FDJ United, Racing Home: Menopause, midlife and well-being in horse racing.
Key details:
-Wednesday 25 February
-12 noon
-Free Zoom Webinar
Women in Racing is delighted to announce its panellists ahead of this year’s AGM webinar. The panel discussion coincides with the launch of Menopause, Midlife and Wellbeing in Horseracing, WiR’s latest commissioned research undertaken by Dr Kate Clayton Hathway as part of the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice at Oxford Brookes University. The research is funded by FDJ United (Unibet) and delivered by Simply Racing.
Dr Kate Clayton Hathway
Dr Kate Clayton-Hathway is an Associate Researcher with the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice at Oxford Brookes Business School. She led the 2017 diversity study for the horseracing industry, the Racing Home research in 2019/20 and most recently the 2025 Menopause, Midlife & Wellbeing project. She has extensive experience in qualitative research methods, including interviews, focus groups and co-production. Her specialism is gender and equalities-related organisational issues, with a focus on promoting progressive institutional change. Kate continues to work closely with Women in Racing and Simply Racing to implement recommendations from these studies, advising on research, data collection and impact measures.
Helen Knight
Helen Knight is currently working, as part of the Industry People Team, leading on the Wellbeing and Culture change programme within the Horse Racing Industry. Helen has worked within many safety critical industries, including construction and oil and gas, designing and developing their Occupational Health and Wellbeing Strategies, ensuring that they are data and evidence-based, to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of colleagues who work on the front-line. Helen recognises, that by tackling the root cause of what is causing both, poor Mental and Physical health and putting measures in place to actively reduce risk, that this leads to a better outcome for both colleague and industry alike, creating a healthier, safer and more positive working environment.
Andrea O’Keeffe
Andrea O’Keeffe is a Racing Industry Consultant and Director of a small family-run Racehorse Training Business, with over 25 years of lived experience in British Horseracing. Passionate about horses, people and the sport, Andrea currently works for the BHA as part of the Horseracing Industry People Board team, collaborating with colleagues to advance projects in education and training. Andrea contributes to the work of Racing Home, is a proud Board Trustee of Racing to School and Racing Together. Andrea was honoured to receive the Godolphin Thoroughbred Industry Community Award in 2019. As a WiR member, Andrea champions the brilliant work of WiR and the many racing organisations and charities improving the lives of people and horses. Andrea is a Yorkshire-based Mum to three wonderful young men and wife of a talented, hard working racehorse trainer Jedd.
The panel will be hosted by Dena Merson:
Dena has built a varied career spanning the City and the racing industry, and is the Founder of Simply Racing. She has worked closely with CEOs, Boards and senior executives across racing, focusing on leadership, governance, strategy and cultural change. She devised the Women in Racing mentoring programme and has worked closely with organisations and individuals navigating complex structural, wellbeing, and inclusion challenges. Increasingly, she has focused on women’s health, and the impact of life transitions on performance, retention, and leadership. She is committed to improving education, awareness, and practical support within racing, advocating for evidence-based guidance and open dialogue to create healthier, more sustainable workplaces for all.
What to Expect at the AGM
Hear latest updates and key information from the WiR Committee on progress of our key objectives, the Racing Home programme and the launch of Racing Home: Menopause, midlife and well-being in horse racing.
The Zoom session will include:
- -Welcome from the Chair
- -Updates from the Committee
- -Panel discussion from those closest to the industry-leading menopause research