FEMALE CHAIRS (CONCLUDING PART)
won that position. That was it for me, I was on a mission. I was on the board; I was the Deputy Chair, and I was in a position where my views and ideas were being heard. I have been keen to progress in my role in the Federation - once I became Deputy Chair, I also set my sights on becoming TVP Federation’s first female Chair when the opportunity arose.
In your experience, what are the most important qualities a Branch Chair must bring to the role? Stepping into the position of Branch Chair you are the seen as the “face” and “spokesperson” for the branch. The key to this for me is to remember it’s not my show - the views I give are the views of my branch and not that of me as Aileen O’Connor. Empathy is definitely a key quality I believe you must have as a branch chair, I work really closely with four other fulltime officials, and I know instinctively when something is not quite right with any of them. Another key quality would be the ability to tailor your communication style to your audience: from public speaking to an audience with the Chief, or an audience with new recruits. Each situation is different, and you need to be able to adapt. I also believe authenticity is really important: never pretend to be something you’re not, be your own authentic self. Other qualities that are needed are commitment, self-reflection, drive, ambition and resilience.
How has your perspective or leadership style evolved since stepping into this position? As a leader I am focused on shaping not only the future of my own branch but helping shape PFEW for the wider membership. Making mistakes made by our predecessors at PFEW are never repeated. I lead by example; I have high standards which I instil in my council and board: I will never ask someone to do something I am not prepared to do myself or I have not done myself. I have a strong team around me who support my vision and values, which is key to being a good leader.
What does it mean to you personally to be part of a record number of women leading Federation branches?
I feel very privileged to be part of a group of driven, professional and committed women who have chosen to break the mould and step into leadership positions. I am the first female Chair within my own Federation, and I will make sure I am not the last. I want to show my female Fed reps what they can achieve and what opportunities are there if you take them and believe in your potential. At times I do have imposter syndrome and sometimes I can’t believe I have managed to achieve my goal of
“I lead by example; I have
high standards which I instil in my council and board: I will never ask someone to do something I am not prepared to do myself.”
becoming the Chair of our branch, but this is also something I’m very proud of.
Do you feel the increasing visibility of women in these roles is having a tangible effect on your colleagues, particularly female officers or reps? Yes, I do. When I joined my council there were just five female Fed reps, now out of 28 Fed reps we have 11 females; out of a board of 12 we have a quarter of female representation. I have worked really hard to harness and show our female Fed reps that when opportunities arise, they can and should take them. Often it just takes someone to say, “you can do this” instead of your inner voice saying, “you can’t do this”.
“My focus is on building a
policing. The Federation historically has been a very male-dominated arena. Equal representation in leadership positions helps break down barriers and stereotypes that have historically kept women away from leadership positions.
KATIE CLEMENTS CHAIR, DEVON AND CORNWALL
What inspired you to put yourself forward for this leadership role within the Federation, and how did your journey here unfold? I became a work place representative in 2021 and have enjoyed the role
stronger local council and supporting the large influx of new reps and those existing reps who have been successfully elected with training, mentoring and support.”
How can the Federation continue to encourage a wider range of voices in leadership without making representation feel tokenistic? More needs to be done at the centre around gender equality in leadership positions, showcasing opportunities within the officer holder positions. Women make up half the population, yet we are underrepresented in leadership positions generally, including within
supporting members alongside my day- to-day role. As I became more involved, I wanted to play a more active part in shaping our branch for the future. We were losing a lot of experience through retirement, and it seemed a good opportunity to put myself forward. I stepped into the role of Deputy Chair for the branch initially with no intention of standing for Chair. However, I enjoyed taking a more involved approach with both PFEW and also locally within force. I saw it as a real opportunity to take my experience and effect change. As I got more involved with supporting members, I was disappointed that a number of members were sharing experiences with me that I had experienced throughout my career. I think the turning point was the National Council meeting in March. I walked into the room and for the first time I was able to see how few women there were.
In your experience, what are the most important qualities
a Branch Chair must bring to the role? The ability to actively listen, be confident to challenge in an appropriate way and have a strong visible presence.
How has your perspective or leadership style evolved since stepping into this position?
It’s probably a little too early to tell. My focus is on building a stronger local council and supporting the large influx
35 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2025
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