Community Partner Announcement: WeAreTheCity
ERG Blueprint Conference 2026 | Brought to you by iCAN and Howlett Brown
We are delighted to welcome WeAreTheCity as a Community Partner of the ERG Blueprint Conference 2026, taking place on Tuesday, 28 April at the Leonardo Royal St Paul's, London.
About WeAreTheCity
For over fifteen years, WeAreTheCity has been at the forefront of driving gender equality, visibility and career progression for women across a wide spectrum of industries. Founded with a purpose-led mission to create a more inclusive and representative working world, they have grown into one of the UK's most recognised and trusted platforms for women's development, community-building and the celebration of female talent.
With over 120,000 professional female members and partnerships with more than 100 forward-thinking companies committed to advancing women in the workplace, WeAreTheCity's reach spans banking, law, technology, government, consulting, healthcare and beyond. Through mentoring, peer support and powerful connections, they help women expand their networks, visibility and influence at every stage of their careers.
WeAreTheCity is also the only organisation to provide a comprehensive directory of women's networks and business support groups — making them a natural and fitting partner for an event dedicated to the power and potential of employee-led networks.
A Founding Story That Speaks for Itself
WeAreTheCity has its roots in a simple but powerful idea. Founded in 2008 by Vanessa Vallely, the platform was born out of a desire to create a centralised hub where women could access career development resources, grow their networks and ultimately progress in their careers. What began as a single website has grown into a movement that has supported the career progression of over 100,000 women through content, events, awards and educational initiatives, and celebrated more than 1,250 inspirational women through the Rising Star Awards.
Keynote Speaker: Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE
This partnership carries particular significance for ERG Blueprint 2026, because WeAreTheCity's founder, Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE, will be taking to the stage as our keynote speaker on the day.
Having built one of the UK's most influential communities for professional women from the ground up, Dr Vallely brings a rare combination of lived experience, strategic insight and genuine passion for inclusion. Her keynote will set the tone for a day of honest, practical and forward-looking conversation about the future of ERGs — and what it takes to build networks that truly matter.
A Partnership Built on Shared Purpose
The ERG Blueprint Conference exists to connect, inspire and equip the people leading employee networks across the UK. WeAreTheCity's commitment to community, visibility and career progression for underrepresented groups makes them an ideal partner for this event — and we are proud to have them alongside us.
We look forward to welcoming the WeAreTheCity community to ERG Blueprint 2026.
Be In the Room Where the Future of ERGs Is Being Shaped
The ERG landscape is changing fast. Expectations are higher, scrutiny is sharper, and the margin for impact without strategy is shrinking.
If you lead, sponsor, support, or influence ERGs, this is not a conversation you can afford to observe from the sidelines.
Join us at the ERG Blueprint Conference this April, where the people shaping the next chapter of ERGs will share what works, challenge outdated models, and raise the bar for impact.
Get in the room with ERG leaders, executive sponsors, culture strategists, and practitioners who are serious about moving ERGs from passion projects to strategic powerhouses.