Fiona Cannon to be deputy chair at Equal Opportunities Commission

Fiona Cannon, who has been a commissioner since 2000, begins the job today with a speech to the Institute of Directors outlining the business benefits of an equal opportunities workplace.

Cannon takes over from Jenny Watson who was appointed chair of the organisation last December.

She said the entire economy suffered from the waste of women’s skills, in particular in those industries where they are under-represented and which are also suffering from skills shortages.

“I’m looking forward to further work with employers to find new solutions to the challenges both employers and employees face in the workplace,” she said.

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Watson said that Cannon’s background will be of real benefit to the EOC in the run-up to the creation of the single equalities body, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

“Her knowledge and contacts will help us to better promote the full range of our work to help narrow the pay gap, from legal reform to transforming Britain’s workplaces for the better,” she said.