Jo Cox Memorial Lecture 2022

Organised in conjunction with the Jo Cox Foundation and the Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke College is delighted to welcome Baroness Sayeeda Warsi to deliver this year's Jo Cox Memorial Lecture.

The lecture will be held in the Old Library at Pembroke College, starting at 6 PM and will be followed by an unveiling of a portrait of Jo Cox by the artist Clara Drummond, in the Hall at 7.15 PM.

Space at the lecture is limited, but it will also be live-streamed. Book a place at the event, in-person or online.

This lecture series was set up to celebrate the life and inspiring work of Jo Cox MP, who was so tragically murdered in 2016. Jo dedicated her life to helping others: campaigning tirelessly for a fairer, kinder and more tolerant world.

Jo came up to Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, to read Social and Political Sciences in 1992.

Baroness Warsi was born to immigrants of Pakistani origin in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. After studying law at Leeds University, she worked for the Crown Prosecution Service, later setting up her own legal practice. In 2004 she was appointed Vice Chairman of the Conservative party and advisor to then leader, Michael Howard. She stood as a Parliamentary candidate in Dewsbury in 2005. In 2007 she was elevated to the House of Lords.

Baroness Warsi became the first Muslim to serve as a Cabinet Minister in the UK, when she was appointed as Minister without Portfolio by Prime Minister David Cameron in 2010. She was also appointed as Chairman of the Conservative Party – the first Asian to chair a major British political party.

She is also a trustee of the Savayra Foundation, a UK registered charity which works in Pakistan to empower widows, divorcees and orphan girls through skills, education and other poverty relief programmes.

In the field of Higher Education, she is Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Bolton University, a Visiting Professor at St Mary's, International Advisor to Australia Catholic University and an Advisor to Georgetown University.

To support Jo's legacy, please visit the Jo Cox Foundation's website: https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/.