Labour Women’s Network has announced the results of its latest Executive Committee elections, with Councillor Katherine Dunne re-elected as Treasurer and four women elected to serve on the organisation’s committee for the next two years.
The results were announced at LWN’s Annual General Meeting, held online on 16 September, following a ballot of members that ran from 10 August until 14 September. The positions contested this year were Treasurer and four places on the Executive Committee.
Alongside Dunne, the successful candidates were Nan Sloane, Sharon Thompson, Catriona Ogilvy and Ruby Herbert.
LWN said:
Congratulations to our Executive Committee election winners… and we look forward to working with you over the next 2 years.
Katherine Dunne returned as Treasurer
Dunne is a senior Labour councillor in the London Borough of Hounslow and holds the council’s Cabinet portfolio for Climate, Environment and Transport.
She has previously chaired the women’s section of the Irish Labour Party and campaigned for legally binding gender quotas for election candidates. She was first elected LWN Treasurer before being re-elected in 2024 and has now secured another term.
Experienced campaigners returned to committee
Nan Sloane has been involved with Labour Women’s Network since 2007 and leads its training programme. A Labour historian, author and former party regional director, she has played a central role in developing LWN initiatives including its Political School and the Jo Cox Women in Leadership Scheme.
Sharon Thompson is Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council and Deputy Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority. She was first elected to the LWN Executive Committee in 2020 and is also part of the organisation’s training team.
Catriona Ogilvy, who was first elected to the committee in 2024, is a children’s occupational therapist and founder of the premature baby charity The Smallest Things. She has worked extensively in the NHS and in SEND and family advocacy.
Supporting more Labour women into public life
Labour Women’s Network says its central purpose is to secure the election of more Labour women at every level of public office and to support women to participate fully in the party.
The Executive Committee provides strategic oversight of the organisation, employs its staff and helps deliver its training, campaigning and political programmes. Members are elected for two-year terms.
The wider committee is chaired by Baroness Thangam Debbonaire, with Kiran Mahil serving as Secretary.
Conference programme next
The new committee takes office just ahead of Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, where LWN has a substantial programme including training, its networking reception, its flagship feminist fringe and sessions focused on women in public life.
The election gives Labour Women’s Network its leadership team for the next phase of its work supporting, training and building networks for women across the Labour movement.
