Mary-Ann Stephenson has worked as a freelance consultant since 2002. She has worked in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, East Timor, Ethiopia, France, Iran, Israel, Kenya, Kuwait, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Spain, UK, Uganda and Zimbabwe with women politicians, business leaders, civil society activists, youth activists and journalists

Mary-Ann is an experienced campaigner and lobbyist on women's issues. She was Director of the Fawcett Society from November 1998 until May 2002 and led Fawcett's lobbying work on equality between women and men in Westminster. In 2001 Fawcett won the Political Studies Association Award for setting the political agenda. Prior to this she was campaigns manager at Fawcett where she was responsible for establishing Fawcett's network of local campaigning groups.

From 1998 until 2002 Mary-Ann was a member of the Women's Budget Group management committee and advised the UK Government on the gender impact of economic policy.

She has written widely on gender equality and human rights and is a frequent speaker at national and international workshops, conferences and seminars.

Mary-Ann has also worked at Liberty, (the National Council for Civil Liberties) and international human rights group Article 19.

She is a member of the International Board of Article 19 and a Commissioner on the Women's National Commission.