IoD boss says '˜mistakes were made' on lack of women at Northern Powerhouse Conference

The event’s organisers drew fire last week when the lack of women on the list of guest speakers was highlighted and a protest staged outside the event in the morning by those angered by the male-dominated line-up.

However Natalie Sykes, who heads up the IoD in Yorkshire, told the conference that the “balance was shifting toward greater equality and greater respect”.

Ms Sykes said: “There are a few lessons that need to be learned and have been learned.

“Last week the Independent pictured Ivanka Trump in the presidential seat.

“Change is coming.

“There is an army gathering behind us and it’s an army of women.”

Ms Sykes added that the challenges faced by the north were also the opportunities faced by the north and cited the Kuwait hyperloops as examples of massive infrastructure projects that can benefit the north.