Finn Mackay has over twenty years of experience in feminst activism and policy and is an experienced media commentator, writer and public speaker. Dr Mackay’s work can be found in the Huffington Post, The Guardian, Open Democracy and more. Media appearences include BBC Radio 4 The Moral Maze, Today programme and Woman’s Hour, as well as debates on LBC and Radio 5 Live for example. Television experience includes BBC 2 The Big Questions, BBC3 Sex on the Edge and Channel 4 documentary ‘Activists’. Finn is the author of ‘Female Masculinities and the Gender Wars’ from Bloomsbury and ‘Radical Feminism: Feminist Activism in Movement’ published by Palgrave. With a professional background in youth work, before returning to academia Finn set up and managed award winning anti-bullying and domestic abuse prevention education programmes for a Local Education Authority in London. Finn has delivered training for Welsh Women’s Aid, Women’s Aid, Rights of Women and many more private and third sector clients. Finn is a member of the Bristol Women’s Commission Women’s Safety Task Force, an Ambassador for the Workers’ Educational Association and a Trustee of the Feminist Archive and the British Sociological Association. They have given keynote addresses for clients such as Business and Professional Women UK, KPMG, European Women’s Lobby, Workers’ Educational Association and Business Women South West. Finn completed a PhD in the Centre for Gender & Violence Research, School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol. Currently, Finn is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of the West of England.
Background
I have been active in the Women’s Liberation Movement in the UK for over twenty years. My political grounding was in the women’s peace movement and I spent time as a teenager living at a women’s peace camp in Yorkshire, where I gained experience in all elements of campaigning, from involvement in non-violent direct action to legal defence. I have a professional background in youth work and local government, where I focussed on domestic abuse prevention training and Safeguarding. I am an experienced trainer on domestic abuse awareness and prevention; equalities and inclusion.
My work in a London Local Education Authority was recognised with a Mayor’s award from the GLA for contributing to the Mayor’s Domestic Violence Strategy and my school curriculum resources and teacher training packs are still being used in several London boroughs as well as nationally. Coordinating policy on all aspects of anti-bullying work I also developed resources to address and reduce homophobic bullying. I am still involved in policy work on violence against women and children, particularly in the education sector and was an early founding member of the Board of Directors for the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW). I have also delivered training for Women’s Aid and Welsh Women’s Aid. I am proud to be an Ambassador for the Worker’s Educational Association (WEA), I am a member of the Bristol Women’s Commission Women’s Safety Task Force; I am also a Trustee of the Feminist Archive.
In 2004 I founded the London Feminist Network, and revived the tradition of London Reclaim The Night, growing the annual march from fifty to thousands of marchers. The event received financial support and formal sponsorship from organisations such as Trade Unions - Unison, NASWT, BECTU - the women’s sector - Women’s Aid, Refuge - and Transport for London, Camden Centre. This revival inspired others, and Feminist Networks sprang up in towns and cities across the UK, many organising their own local Reclaim the Night marches for the first time.
In 2021 to mark International Women’s Day I was listed in ‘Marie Claire’ magazine in a list of activists changing the world over the last 100 years. I am listed under the 2000’s for contributions to the feminist resurgence.
In 2006 I was recognised by ‘The Guardian’ in an article on British ‘world-changing women’.
In 2010 I featured in a BBC4 documentary called ‘Activists’ as part of a series on ‘Women‘ directed by Vanessa Engle.
In 2010 I was the individual winner of the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize.
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"Many thanks Finn, as always for coming to speak to my class. You're the highlight of the London Eye".
/ Professor Mary Antoinette Smith, Seattle University /
Experience
2014 – present University of the West of England
Senior Lecturer Sociology (+Trainer on IPV for CPD & MA Public Health)
2013 – 2014 University of the West of England & Bath Spa University
Associate Lecturer BA Sociology (PT AL at both Universities)
2013 – 2014 University of Bath
Guest Lecturer BSc Social Work – ‘Domestic Abuse & Safeguarding’ Years One and Two
November 2011 – March 2012 Women’s Aid
Research Assistant (Survey analysis for EU project, Women Against Violence in Europe)
May 2011 – September 2011 Women’s Aid
Research Assistant (Survey research & analysis of annual survey of national refuge provision & outputs)
2006 - 2009 Cambridge Education @ Islington (LB Islington LEA)
Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator (Local Government Scale Point: PO6)
New project start up
Produce & monitor whole borough anti-bullying strategy across all young people’s settings
Develop & deliver training & guidance on prejudice motivated bullying & harassment
Line-management of Home Safe Project
2004 – 2006 Cambridge Education @ Islington
Home Safe Domestic Violence Prevention Officer for Schools
New project start up
Develop & deliver multi-agency staff training & workshops + provide sample curricula for schools
Produce guidelines for schools, including reporting tools & Safeguarding procedures
2003 – 2004 Royal Scottish Corporation, London
Training & Employment Officer
New project start up for registered charity
Intensive support & advice to wide range of clients, including marginalized and vulnerable groups
Manage budget & Award grants for education/training
2001 – 2003 Leeds Careers Guidance
Personal Advisor Learning Gateway Team
Intensive individual support to ‘hard to reach’ 16 – 18yr old NEET
Advocacy for young people & boys’ groups; placement & business partnership building
