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The Adelaide Group is a unique networking forum for women business leaders founded by the firm in 1997.

An ever increasing number of women occupy senior executive positions within companies and the professions; many of them welcome the opportunity to meet with their peers and exchange views and ideas on issues affecting women in business. Like all successful business people their time is valuable and they need to spend it in a productive and focused way. The Adelaide Group runs 5 or 6 events each year with speakers covering a wide range of topics. The first speaker was Cherie Booth, QC who is the Group's Honorary President.

Membership is by invitation - the Group is now over 700 in number. If you want more information about the group and future events please email to adelaide.group@blplaw.com.

Past speakers include:

• Cherie Blair - the glass ceiling
  
• HRH The Princess Royal - Opportunity International and microfinancing
  
• Gillian Shepherd, MP - women in politics
  
• Kate Adie, OBE - women in broadcasting
  
• Dame Stella Rimington, DCB - MI5 and commitment to your country
  
• Dame Sheila MacKechnie - the work of the Consumers' Association
  
• Mo Mowlam - Northern Ireland and after
  
• Gwyneth Dunwoody, MP - transport, wider implications of change
  
• Heather Rabbatts, CBE - the government electronic initiative
  
• Baroness Peta Buscombe - a career in public service
  
• Cheryl Carolus - South Africa - what the political changes have meant
  
• Dame Anita Roddick, DBE - The Body Shop and entrepreneurship
  
• Baroness Margaret Jay - women, government and politics
  
• Nicola Horlick - a career in the spotlight
  
• Dr DeAnne Julius, CBE - the work of the Monetary Policy Committee
  
• Mary Spillane - projecting power and influence
  
• Sue Stapely - the dynamics of managing meetings
  
• Fiona Reynolds, CBE - the National Trust and its role in the community
  
• Dame Steve Shirley, DBE - establishing a business against the odds
  
• Dr Vanessa Lawrence - revolutionising the Ordnance Survey
  
• Dame Veronica Sutherland, DBE CMG - Northern Ireland and the peace talks
  
• Sue McGregor, OBE - a lifetime of broadcasting
  
• Anne Widdecombe, MP - why are there not more women in politics
  
• Baroness Detta O'Cathain and Yve Newbold - the role of the non-executive director
  
• Rosie Boycott - the role of women in the media
  
• Jan Murray - the work of the World Energy Council
  
• Caroline Slocock - Equal Opportunities in action
  
• Dianne Thompson - Camelot - winning against the odds
  
• Rose Marie Bravo - Burberry - reinventing the Burberry brand
  
• Dame Eliza Manningham Buller, DCB - MI5 - security in troubled times
  
• Dawn Gibbins, MBE - Veuve Clicquot - Business woman of the Year 2003
  
• Baroness Shirley Williams - the special relationship
  
• Jana Bennett, OBE - the future of the BBC
  
• Dame Pauline Neville Jones, DCB - how are we women doing?
  
• Baroness Susan Greenfield - tomorrow’s people
  
• Commander Janet Williams - extremism and terrorism
  
• Theresa May, MP - the future of the Conservative Party
  
• Baroness Young of Old Scone - the environment and our commitment
  
• Baroness Morris of Yardley - reflections on politics
  
• Sally Green, Chief Executive of the Old Vic - a theatrical entrepreneur
  
• Alexandra Shulman, Editor in Chief Vogue - all about a fashion icon
  
• Baroness Hogg of Kettlethorpe - women in executive roles
  
• Baroness Valerie Amos - on being the Leader of the House of Lords
  
• Jenny Watson, EOC - the gender agenda
  
• Val Gooding, BUPA
  
• Heather Rabbatts, Millwall Football club