Fawcett Lecture 2026

Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton
Chief Fire Officer Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service

Two people do the same job and are both firefighters. When one is asked what they do for a living, their response is met with: 'That's amazing, you are so brave!', while the other is asked: 'Isn't that dangerous? Aren't you scared? What about your kids?' Can you guess the difference between the two?

These comments are the reality for Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton and many other women at work and in life. Gender biases stop women from succeeding. In Royal Holloway’s 2026 Fawcett Lecture Sabrina speaks to Professor Polly Dalton of Royal Holloway’s Department of Psychology about why certain qualities associated with success are viewed less favourably for women? She explores the everyday prejudices women experience through the prism of success. From leadership, to risk-taking, perception and failure, Sabrina exposes the invisible barriers that are holding women back.

Through an analysis of studies and data in her 2023 book , The Gender Bias: The Barriers That Hold Women Back, And How To Break Them, Sabrina has unpicked why women are judged differently, examines why that matters and offers practical solutions on how we can tackle our biases and overcome sustained systems.

Admission is free but booking is essential.