Deborah Cowan

Co-editor

Although I am now firmly ensconced in the equality movement, working for the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland, I started my career in broadcasting.

Like most students, I’d dabbled in university journalism and on graduation was lucky enough to land a job on Radio 2 with Derek Jameson, one of Fleet Street’s most colourful and legendary figures.

After five years producing programmes for Radio 2, I moved to television where, over the space of about eight years, I produced a huge variety of programming, from light and factual entertainment to food programmes and eventually classical music, most recently with the BBC where I produced their coverage of the Proms as well as various music documentaries.

Working in the Communications department with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, I am involved in all of our discrimination remit areas, from sexuality, race, and disability to gender.

Our work around gender is ongoing and is the area in which I am most interested. We recently won a strategic case around equal pay, a landmark victory, and the subsequent press coverage undoubtedly promoted not only the case as an example for other women but as an example to employers who may not be meeting their duties around equal pay.

I am a feminist, a music lover, an erstwhile cook and recommend Body Combat as the best form of exercise, ever.

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