Swansea MP among inaugural judges at world’s first Menopause Awards

Swansea East MP, Carolyn Harris, one of the leading political voices on menopause support and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Menopause, has joined a 16-strong panel of medical professionals, influencers, and brand and policy experts to judge entries to the first ever menopause awards.

Other big names include TV presenter Jenny Powell, ITV’s This Morning GP Dr Nighat Arif, and fashion creative Karen Arthur, who are all passionate advocates for improving the menopause experience.

The inaugural awards, launched by GenM – the menopause partner for brands, aims to celebrate the businesses leading the change for the menopause, with entries open exclusively to GenM’s over 60 brand Partners including the likes of Boots, Royal Mail, Marks & Spencer, WW (formerly Weight Watchers), Co-op, Holland & Barrett and Next. As part of GenM’s fast-growing 9collective of Partners, all 60 brands have publicly committed to better serving, representing, and advocating for the previously under-served menopause audience.

GenM’s Partners are making impressive strides to rewrite the narrative and normalise the menopause conversation at home, at work, and in wider society. The GenM Awards will recognise and honour the brands going the extra mile to help the UK’s 15.5 million menopausal people to live happier, healthier lives.

The judging panel will decide the winners of eight prestigious awards, represented across four different award categories.

Winners will be celebrated in an online ceremony on 20^th September and will receive an official ‘2022 GenM Award Winner’ badge to display across all communications. 

Heather Jackson, co-founder of GenM, says, “The menopause is often treated in isolation as a purely medical issue, a workplace issue or a gender issue, but actually it’s the sum of all parts and it’s important for the brands we use everyday to treat it as such. The last few years have seen society wake up to the importance of the menopause and really take it seriously for the first time. Our Partners have made incredible progress inside the workplace and across society, helping everyone see the menopause in a new light. 

“From Co-op creating a manager’s menopause support guide and releasing it for free, to Royal Mail’s internal Let’s Talk About Menopause camapign that spread awareness and understanding to hundreds of thousands of team members; we’re excited to celebrate the great steps that are being made.

“There has rightly been lots of attention on what is lacking in the menopause space, but it’s also important to recognise and acknowledge the amazing progress that has been made. We can’t wait to see the outstanding work, teams and individuals who are changing the game, and we’re so grateful for the contributions and support from our expert judging panel.”