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The strength of women across the Armed Forces community who are fighting for greater representation was highlighted at a powerful International Women's Day event.  

Hosted by Help for Heroes and sponsored by British aerospace, defence ​and nuclear engineering company, Babcock, the evening featured a panel discussion compered by the Charity's patron Lady Peta Cavendish and three distinguished guest speakers.  

Help for Heroes has supported more than 25,000 veterans and their families since 2007, including the most severely injured veterans who will need a lifetime of intense and complex care - and their ranks are likely to grow.  

An audience of the Charity's partners and supporters heard, at Drapers Hall in the City of London, how veterans and their families are thriving - not just surviving.  

They discovered how they can support their own Armed Forces networks through the International Women's Day theme of 'Give to Gain'. Hearing from a panel of speakers who shared their unique experiences and perspectives.


Donna Sinnick, Chief Delivery Officer at Babcock, leads on major international defence programmes and is the executive sponsor for the Babcock Forces Community Network. 

She said: "Give to Gain is now embedded in the culture at Babcock, we are committed to building an inclusive, diverse and resilient workforce. We have just resigned the Armed Forces Covenant, and we have twice been named best British forces employer. 

"Gender balance helps us to attract and retain the best talent. With the target to have at least 30% women in the business by 2030. 

"For me, I want to lead through honesty and integrity and recognise our differences," she added. 

At Help for Heroes, 75% of employees are women, and of the total number of staff who've served, 53% are female."

This year, the Charity's International Women's Day activities united under the banner of 'Help for Her'. The new campaign recognise highlight some of the distinct challenges faced by women when they transition from military to civilian life.  

Julie-Anne Fulford served for 16 years including two tours of Afghanistan and is Help for Heroes' Complex Case Manager. She was recognised with an Associate Royal Red Cross in the 2022 New Year's Honours. 

She said: "I help look after 38 of the most severely injured veterans in the UK. The ex-servicewomen I look after are grieving for the life they never had - the children they didn't have or being walked down the aisle on their wedding day by their dad.

We know female veterans can take longer to come forward for support, because they do not think they deserve help. We need to empower them to recognise that their service matters."

Georgina Smith served 26 years in the RAF and has won a Woman in Defence Award. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2025, she fought to continue serving and earned two promotions post-diagnosis. 

Now she is People Programme Lead at Babcock and a Help for Heroes veteran ambassador. 

"The hardest part about transition is the loss of identity. For 26 years I didn't have to think about what I had to wear, I had a uniform, my life was structured and disciplined.

I feel that coming to Babcock from serving was a soft landing. I was really looked after when I was brought into the business, that transition as really considered. That needs to become normal." 

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