Newnham’s Principal was the headline speaker at the first Tanner Lecture to be held in Japan.
The Tanner Lectures on Human Values were established by the American scholar, industrialist, and philanthropist Obert Clark Tanner, who hoped that the lectures would contribute to the intellectual and moral life of humankind.
Professor Dame Carol Black delivered her talk on Tuesday, May 18 to a sold-out audience at Ochanomizu University, the women’s university in Tokyo which can trace its roots back to 1875 – just four years after Newnham began as a house for five students in Regent Street.
Dame Carol’s special Tanner Lecture, titled Women: Education, Biology, Power and Leadership, examined the challenges women encounter to achieve success in a world that is still not equal.
Personal experience and the experience of colleagues and friends featured in the lecture alongside statistical evidence gathered from around the globe.
Dame Carol also met Empress Michiko, Empress Consort of Japan, at the event and spent time with Dr Kimiko Murofuishi, President of Ochanomizu University.
Professor Dame Carol Black DBE, FRCP, FMedSci was appointed Principal of Newnham in September 2012.
She has long been involved in encouraging women to aspire to positions of leadership, in the professions, academia and public life.
She is a member of the University’s Equality and Diversity Committee, and of the organising committee for the annual Women of the World Festival in Cambridge.
As Principal she regularly gives talks to schools, at home and abroad, often through such organisations as Inspiring the Future and Speakers for Schools, encouraging girls to apply for leading universities and aim for high-level careers fulfilling their potential.
She is a past-President of the Royal College of Physicians, of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and of the British Lung Foundation, and has chaired the UK Health Honours Committee.
The Centre she established at the Royal Free Hospital in London is internationally renowned for research and treatment of connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma.
Dame Carol was National Director for Health and Work from 2012 to 2016, and completed two independent reviews for the Government.
She is Expert Adviser on Health and Work to the Department of Health and Public Health England, and was recently asked by the Prime Minister to undertake a third independent review, on ways of encouraging back into work adults with long-term but treatable conditions such as addiction to alcohol or drugs, or obesity.
Atsuko Toyama, Honorary Doctorate of Ochanomizu University, also delivered a lecture – hers was titled To Our Leaders of Tomorrow. She highlighted the considerable progress that has been made in Japan before she addressed why the country has traditionally lagged behind the rest of the world in terms of gender equality.
Dr Kimiko Murofuishi, President of Ochanomizu University, said: “Both lectures provided invaluable hints as to how we might break through social stereotypes to build a new Japan in which women exercise greater leadership.”
The lectures were free and they were open to the public.
Dame Carol Black (right), Principal of Newnham College, meeting Empress Michiko, Empress Consort of Japan.
Dame Carol Black delivering her special Tanner Lecture in Japan
Dame Carol Black with Dr Kimiko Murofushi, President of Ochanomizu University
Dame Carol Black with some of the delegates at the prestigious Tanner Lecture
Dame Carol Black with a group of Newnham alumnae in Tokyo