Business leaders, future talent and policymakers will come together on Friday 6 March 2026 to mark International Women’s Day at Partners in Progress: Give to Gain, a flagship event focused on inclusive leadership, collaboration and regional opportunity.
Now in its third year, the event is delivered by the Institute of Directors (IoD) Wales in collaboration with Bluestone National Park Resort and the Welsh Government (Trade & Invest Wales). Hosting the event in West Wales highlights the opportunities beyond city centres and the role regional businesses play in attracting and retaining talent closer to home.
Running from 10am to 2pm, the event will bring together established leaders and business management students from local sixth forms, colleges and universities to explore how sharing time, insight and opportunity can drive progress in the wider region. Demand for the event has been strong in previous years, with places filling quickly, underlining the appetite for more open and practical conversations around leadership, ambition and inclusion.
Belinda Houghton-Jones, Assistant Director at RBC Brewin Dolphin, will join the discussion, bringing a strong perspective on finance, careers and long-term business decision-making. She will be joined by Alex Shufflebottom Jones, former Managing Director of Shufflebottom Ltd and now a mentor, non-executive director and angel investor, alongside Dr Owain James, founder of Darogan, Wales’ Graduate Hub, and Jane Wallace-Jones, founder and CEO of Something Different.
The panel will be chaired by Richard Selby, Pro Steel Engineering director and National Chair of IoD Wales, and will offer a practical, on the ground view of leadership, skills and progression in Wales.
Universities across the region will bring students along to actively take part in the discussion, putting questions directly to leaders and sharing their expectations of work, leadership and opportunity.
Through panel discussions, tours and networking, attendees will hear real examples from businesses that are already opening doors, developing people and creating pathways into work. The focus is on practical lessons, from Something Different’s exporting journey with Welsh Government support to the inclusive leadership approaches each speaker embraces, that others can apply within their own organisations.
The conversation comes at a time when businesses in Wales continue to face growing skills challenges. IoD Wales’ latest State of the Nation survey shows skill shortages remain the biggest concern for organisations (39%). The event also reflects IoD’s wider call for stronger collaboration between government, business and the third sector to address these shared challenges.
Thanks to Welsh Government support, tickets are fully funded, helping remove barriers to access and encouraging wider participation. Free places are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Standard ticket prices are £25 plus VAT for members and £35 plus VAT for non-members.
Jo Price, Nations Manager for Wales at IoD Wales, said:
“Partners in Progress is about bringing people together to tackle real challenges facing businesses and future talent in Wales.
“By connecting leaders and students in West Wales, we can share practical experience, learn what is working, and build stronger collaboration across sectors. This event is about opening doors, strengthening confidence and helping create opportunity where people live and want to work.”
Rebecca Rigby, Director of Operations at Bluestone National Park Resort, said:
“We’re proud to host International Women’s Day – Partners in Progress at Bluestone for a third year, working with the Institute of Directors and the Welsh Government to celebrate inclusive leadership, ambition, innovation, and the power of mentorship.
“Events like this create meaningful connections between future talent and inspirational business leaders – showing what’s possible beyond city centres and building the confidence, skills, and belief needed to shape the future of business across West Wales.”
