MWF Spring Conference 2025 - Post-Conference Reflection
By Dr Marguerite O'Riordan
Attending the MWF Spring Conference 2025 in Cambridge came at a meaningful moment in my career - just as I prepare to step into the role of South East Postgraduate Representative. It felt less like an event and more like a gathering of kindred spirits: a room full of women across different generations of medicine, united by purpose, insight, and an often quiet - but fierce - determination to change the system from within.
A standout moment for me was Dr Lizzie Butler-Meadows’ talk on chronic illness among female doctors - “The Invisible Middle.” It was thoughtful, deeply human, and refreshingly honest. Her reflections captured what many of us know instinctively but rarely say aloud: that the structures we work within weren’t built for the lives many of us lead. There was a quiet power in the way she named what’s so often invisible in workforce policy and wellbeing strategies, and I found myself thinking about how this insight could inform my future work - not only as a rep, but as a doctor navigating this system myself.
The panel discussion on women’s groups left me feeling both heartened and challenged. It was inspiring to see such breadth - ENT, psychiatry, surgery, academia- all represented on one stage. But what struck me most was not just what was said, but how it was said. The tone was collaborative, curious, and generous. There was no ego in the room, only a shared sense that progress happens when we connect rather than compete.
Prof Stella Vig’s comment - “Be the change, not the title” - has stayed with me. In a system that often rewards hierarchy, her reminder that influence can come from authenticity and values was both grounding and motivating. Similarly, Dame Jane Dacre’s reflections on “soft power” reframed what leadership could look like - not louder, but kinder. Not tougher, but more thoughtful. That’s a vision of leadership I want to be part of.
What made the biggest impression, though, wasn’t a single talk. It was the collective presence of women who made space for each other. Students were given the same attention as consultants. Questions were asked with genuine curiosity. Stories were shared with vulnerability. The space felt unusually safe and unusually brave at the same time.
As I take up my role with MWF, I carry with me not just notes from talks, but a sense of responsibility - to listen carefully, to connect people who need each other, and to keep asking difficult questions. This conference was a timely reminder that we don’t need to wait until we’re senior to lead. We lead by showing up, by supporting others, and by imagining something better.
Thank you to MWF and the Lady Estelle Wolfson Bursary for the opportunity to attend. I left the conference more hopeful, more connected, and quietly resolved to keep doing the work.
