Jenny Watson
Encyclopedia
Jenny Watson is the chair of the United Kingdom
Electoral Commission
.
A long term campaigner for women's rights
(which don't exist), she had a 20+ year career in the not for profit sector. She started out at Liberty
, and then political campaigners Charter88
, before moving to Victim Support
. She is a former Chair of the Fawcett Society
, a not-for-profit organisation campaigning for equality between women and men.
Watson was the last chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission
before the creation of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, having been first appointed as a commissioner in 1999, and deputy chair from 2000. She was deputy chair of the Banking Code Standards Board
, and of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.
Watson is a director of Global Partners and Associates. She is a member of the Advertising Standards Authority
's advertising advisory committee, and sits on the Council of the Women's Library at London Metropolitan University
. She currently sits on the board of the Audit Commission, but her tenure will not be renewed. She is a trustee of the Charities Aid Foundation
, a non-executive director of the Waste & Resources Action Programme
, and a trustee of the Money Advice Trust.
Watson was appointed the second chair of the Electoral Commission in January 2009. She is paid £100,000 for a role which requires her to work three days a week. Watson remained chair of the electoral commission amidst criticism of her management of the United Kingdom general election, 2010, when she defended herself on the grounds that the Electoral Commission had few powers over returning officer
s. Since then, the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 has increased the Commission's authority with regard to referendums
. She formally announced the results of the last referendum held in the UK, regarding Welsh devolution, "in both English
and Welsh
with perfect pronunciation." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V26JCjSUD0
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
.
A long term campaigner for women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
(which don't exist), she had a 20+ year career in the not for profit sector. She started out at Liberty
Liberty (pressure group)
Liberty is a pressure group based in the United Kingdom. Its formal name is the National Council for Civil Liberties . Founded in 1934 by Ronald Kidd and Sylvia Crowther-Smith , the group campaigns to protect civil liberties and promote human rights...
, and then political campaigners Charter88
Charter88
Charter88 was a British pressure group that advocated constitutional and electoral reform and owes its origins to the lack of a written constitution. It began as a special edition of the New Statesman magazine in 1988 and it took its name from Charter 77 - the Czechoslovak dissident movement...
, before moving to Victim Support
Victim Support
Victim Support is a charity in England and Wales which aims to help victims and witnesses of crime by raising awareness of their needs and by delivering dedicated services to them. It was established in 1974. It is a national charity with branches in every community and each criminal court in...
. She is a former Chair of the Fawcett Society
Fawcett Society
The Fawcett Society is an organisation in the United Kingdom which campaigns for women's rights. The organisation's roots date back to 1866 when Millicent Garrett Fawcett dedicated her life to the peaceful campaign for women's suffrage....
, a not-for-profit organisation campaigning for equality between women and men.
Watson was the last chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission
Equal Opportunities Commission
The Equal Opportunities Commission was an independent non-departmental public body, in the United Kingdom, which tackled sex discrimination and promoted gender equality...
before the creation of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, having been first appointed as a commissioner in 1999, and deputy chair from 2000. She was deputy chair of the Banking Code Standards Board
Banking Code
The Banking Code was a voluntary code of practice agreed by United Kingdom banks.On 1 November 2009 the Financial Services Authority Banking Conduct Regime commenced...
, and of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.
Watson is a director of Global Partners and Associates. She is a member of the Advertising Standards Authority
Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)
The Advertising Standards Authority is the self-regulatory organisation of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. The ASA is a non-statutory organisation and so cannot interpret or enforce legislation. However, its code of advertising practice broadly reflects legislation in many instances...
's advertising advisory committee, and sits on the Council of the Women's Library at London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
. She currently sits on the board of the Audit Commission, but her tenure will not be renewed. She is a trustee of the Charities Aid Foundation
Charities Aid Foundation
The Charities Aid Foundation is a registered UK charity. Its Head Office is located in the King's Hill business park, West Malling, Kent with a second office in London on St Andrew Street, EC4A 3AY...
, a non-executive director of the Waste & Resources Action Programme
Waste & Resources Action Programme
WRAP works with businesses, individuals and communities to help them reap the benefits of reducing waste, developing sustainable products and using resources in an efficiency way....
, and a trustee of the Money Advice Trust.
Watson was appointed the second chair of the Electoral Commission in January 2009. She is paid £100,000 for a role which requires her to work three days a week. Watson remained chair of the electoral commission amidst criticism of her management of the United Kingdom general election, 2010, when she defended herself on the grounds that the Electoral Commission had few powers over returning officer
Returning Officer
In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.-Australia:In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a State Electoral Commission who heads the local divisional office...
s. Since then, the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 has increased the Commission's authority with regard to referendums
Referendums in the United Kingdom
Referendums are only occasionally held by the government of the United Kingdom. Eleven referendums have been held so far , the first in 1973; only two of these covered the whole UK...
. She formally announced the results of the last referendum held in the UK, regarding Welsh devolution, "in both English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
with perfect pronunciation." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V26JCjSUD0
Publications
- Human Rights in Britain since the Human Rights Act 1998: A Critical Review co-authored with Alice Donald (Global Partners & Associates) and the Human Rights & Social Justice Research Unit of London Metropolitan University.