Asia's pioneering menopause festival is back with the theme of closing the menopause gap at work. Here's why you should attend
Last year, Lisa Tarquini, founder of The Menopause Space, a platform to educate and empower those who are impacted by menopause and to drive conversations on the topic, launched Hong Kong’s first menopause festival, What The Fog.
“We want menopausal women to feel positive and confident about their transition, and we want their partners to understand the impact it can have on a woman’s physical and mental health,” Tarquini told Tatler Front & Female ahead of that inaugural festival. “We want health professionals to recognise that more needs to be done to support women’s health, and we want employers to recognise that the workplace needs to provide a certain level of education and support to ensure the retention of female talent.”
Through that first event Tarquini had wanted to support women in three areas—targeting the impact of menopause on women’s health, on women in the home, and on women at work.
This year, What The Fog will hone in on one of those three areas with its theme 'Closing the menopause gap at work across Asia Pacific'.
See also: Menopause Matters: It’s time to talk about menopause in the workplace
Menopause is a workplace issue. Typically impacting women between the ages of 45 and 55, it often occurs at a crucial point in a woman's career, with symptoms that can significantly affect a woman's well-being over an extended period of time. These can include hot flushes, brain fog, poor sleep and anxiety, all of which can be disruptive.
It is important that companies create inclusive workplaces and offer reasonable adjustments to accommodate women going through this natural life event. Not only is this important for women's well-being, but will be key to retaining and attracting valuable female talent that is increasingly looking for employers that support this life stage.
Workplaces have come a long way in supporting women returning to work as new mothers, but while not everybody wants to be or can be a mother, 100 percent of women will go through menopause. What policies and strategies can be implemented? How can women be best supported and what do they need to know about tackling this taboo topic in a professional capacity?
What The Fog, which takes place on October 18, World Menopause Day, will see a stellar line-up of panellists and speakers share their expertise to help close the knowledge gap and drive positive change in the workplace. Here are some of the highlights of this year's festival.
See also: Are menstrual and menopause leave policies a good thing?
1. Keynote speaker Dr Ho Choon Moy
For more than 30 years, Dr Ho Choon Moy has been treating menopausal women and keeping abreast of the latest menopause research, both through her work as an ObGyn and as president of the Asia-Pacific Menopause Federation. She is also a past president of the Malaysian Menopause Society. Engaging and accessible, she will share valuable insights and practical advice as well as the latest findings, highlighting how lifestyle and diet changes can play an important role, alongside traditional medication, in helping women to manage menopause.