Women Against State Pension Inequality: 7 Voices Changing the Future

As Chair of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign, Angela Madden leads the movement with a strategic focus on visibility and progress. A retired project manager, she brings structure, persistence, and calm to one of the UK’s most high-profile grassroots campaigns.

Angela regularly speaks with the media, lobbies MPs, and works with legal teams navigating department responses and the evolving outcome of the ombudsman investigation. She has become a critical figure in keeping the campaign on course and in the spotlight.

Jane Cowley plays a crucial role as Finance Director of the WASPI Campaign. A qualified accountant, she manages the campaign’s funding and spending, ensuring transparency and compliance with government and charity standards.

Her work supports not only WASPI’s day-to-day operations but also the critical infrastructure needed to run legal challenges, file FOI requests, and submit evidence to parliamentary debates on pension inequality.

Sandra is a long-time campaigner and deeply involved in crafting the messaging and structure of the waspi campaign. As Deputy Chair and Policy Adviser, she helps develop the campaign’s research, responses to government departments, and position papers.

Her understanding of legislation and strong advocacy for eligible women makes her a valuable source of strength within the waspi group, especially during key media moments and public consultations.

Hilary Simpson is a veteran policy expert and former local council leader who lends her insight to WASPI’s national communications and outreach. She also represents the campaign in the South West region and coordinates local action groups across England.

Her leadership has helped women affected in smaller communities understand how to get involved, seek advice, and share their stories with MPs and journalists alike.

Pauline plays a more behind-the-scenes role, providing logistical support for WASPI’s outreach and organising email systems, data protection procedures, and grassroots materials. She also liaises with regional volunteers and community spokespeople across the country.

Her coordination ensures that the waspi women message is consistent and that women against state pension policies are shared clearly and effectively across all channels.

As Group Coordinator and point of contact for discussions around the health service ombudsman, Yvonne supports the dissemination of updates about the complaint process and its potential compensation implications.

She’s in regular contact with local leaders and helps track the evolving outcome of the ombudsman’s review into whether the UK government failed in its duty to inform women born in the 1950s about their pension age changes.

Susan’s work as a WASPI regional voice and media contributor gives the campaign its emotional power. A former nurse who had to sell her home after learning her state pension would be delayed, Susan shares her experience in interviews and online posts to raise public awareness.

Her story reflects that of thousands of affected women across the UK—those who did the right thing all their lives, only to be hit with a major change at the eleventh hour.