Milton Keynes’ largest International Women’s Day event will return next week, bringing high-profile speakers, a live female founder pitch competition and major fundraising to Wolverton.

The International Women’s Day celebration will take place at the Ridgeway Conference Centre and is expected to attract business leaders, entrepreneurs and community organisations from across Milton Keynes. Organisers have confirmed a headline keynote from Lisa Johnson and a main stage programme designed to showcase female founders and local impact.

Women in Enterprise is delivering the event, with support from NatWest’s Business Accelerator, following last year’s sold-out success. This year, the focus is firmly on visibility, confidence and commercial growth for female founders operating across Milton Keynes.

Lisa Johnson, a global business strategist and Sunday Times bestselling author, will present Making Diversity Your Superpower. Maryam Jazeem will also address delegates with a session exploring the long-term economic and social gains created by investing in young women.

Meanwhile, MK ACT will share a survivor story under the banner Giving Hope, Gaining Progress. The Milton Keynes charity supports families affected by domestic abuse and remains one of the area’s most critical frontline services. Motivational speaker Tendai Rukarwa, known as The Penguin Speaker, will also appear, using lived experience and storytelling to explore resilience and belonging in leadership.

A centrepiece of the International Women’s Day programme will be the Battle of the Business Ecosystems. This live female founder competition will see women-led businesses pitch on the main stage to a judging panel backed by local enterprise organisations. As a result, female founders will gain significant visibility while demonstrating the strength of Milton Keynes’ entrepreneurial community.

Amy Lennon will present The Architecture of Giving, while MK Community Foundation will outline how funds raised in 2025 are being invested to strengthen opportunities for women and families locally. Emily Darlington MP is also scheduled to speak about progress and the importance of sustained momentum.

Debbie Lewis from NatWest said: “We are proud to support International Women’s Day in Milton Keynes and to champion the female founders shaping our local economy. Through the NatWest Business Accelerator, we see the ambition and resilience in this community, and this event provides a powerful platform to elevate that talent.”

Michelle Theuma from Women in Enterprise added: “This is now the largest International Women’s Day event in Milton Keynes. Our focus is on creating visibility and meaningful connections for female founders and business leaders, while also raising vital funds for MK ACT and the MK Community Foundation.”

In addition to the main stage programme in Wolverton, attendees will benefit from structured networking, a curated exhibition of local organisations and optional confidence-building workshops. Consequently, the event combines inspiration with practical collaboration opportunities.

The International Women’s Day event will raise funds for MK ACT and the MK Community Foundation Women’s Fund, both of which work to improve safety, wellbeing and economic independence for women and children across Milton Keynes. The event is open to all genders aged 16 and over, with free ticket packages available for schools and colleges. Ticket prices increase on 1 March, and demand is already building.

Further details and tickets are available via Women in Enterprise.