The Gender Equity webinar series continued with a focus on equal pay. While the pay gap across the European Union persists despite policies and directives, the EU approach to pay equity may offer suggestions on do's and don’ts in a field that is plagued with persistent inequities around the globe. From small to big countries, male employees are consistently paid more than their female counterparts in the same jobs. On November 2, 2023 at 10 am, we welcomed three panelists with extensive expertise in this field, who reflected on what has been accomplished to narrow the pay gap and what challenges remain.

Ms. Panagiota (Deta) Petroglou is a lawyer by the Athens Bar, Greece, with 34 years of experience, specializing in labor law and gender equality law. She has successfully defended before the Greek Supreme Courts several cases that significantly contributed to the national gender equality case law. In the field of gender equality, she has participated in several research projects, written articles, taught courses and attended seminars. She is a member of the Administrative Council of the European women’s NGO Women’s Association of Southern Europe (AFEM), and General Secretary of the Greek Society for Labor Law and Social Security.

Dr. Sara Benedi Lahuerta is an Assistant Professor at the University College Dublin (UCD) Sutherland School of Law. She also served as a Lecturer in Employment Law at the University of Southampton Law School (UK) and is the founding Director of the Stefan Cross Research Centre for Women, Equality and Law. Sara’s research focuses on discrimination and employment law, at EU and comparative levels. She is particularly interested in avenues to improve the effectiveness of equality law through a range of regulatory tools like equality bodies, positive duties, ADR, and collective remedies. 

Ms. Mary Collins is the Acting Secretary General, European Women Lobby with over 25 years of professional experience in policy development, capacity building, representation, campaigning and advocacy. She has expertise in gender and socio-economic issues with a focus on Europe, particularly in women’s rights, gender equality, and social and labor market policies.