Event

Join SWIDN for our Global Solidarity Working Group where we will hear from guest expert speakers about feminist leadership in international development. Increasingly, organisations in the international development sector are adopting feminist leadership principles within their organisations, committing to feminist practices of power that replace more traditional ways of thinking and doing in our sector. But what does this mean? And is this a model of operating that can be practiced by all of SWIDN’s members, including small and micro organisations, individual consultants and research or civil service organisations? 

SWIDN believe it can and we are excited to bring this session to our members, drawing on the experiences of feminist leaders and practitioners across the globe. This session will share practical insights into how feminist leadership works, and the potential for this model to shift our sector towards more locally-led development and increased equity for all. As with all our Working Groups, this will be an informal, online learning opportunity with space to engage, connect and learn from peers.

Guest Speakers:

Vani Bhardwaj

Vani Bhardwaj has research, policy and advocacy interests in feminist-climate justice activism and movement building. She is the Founder and Co-lead of the Gender and Climate Justice Circle and has been elected as the Co-President of Society of Gender Professionals. She is Head of Policy at the Young Women In Sustainable Development. Besides her advocacy for climate justice across feminist collectives, she is also a researcher on Gender-Based Violence with The Pixel Project. She is currently a consultant with the World YWCA.

Marlene Kawira Kinyua

Marlene Kawira Kinyua is a multifaceted advocate for social justice and mental health, serving as a listed consultant for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) and Communications at Fair Collective, UK. Marlene actively contributes to the Small International Development Charities Network (SIDCN) as both a member and a Board of Trustee representative, overseeing the Amplify Theme that amplifies the voices of organizations in the Global South and fosters conversations about power dynamics. She is also the founder of Afrikala Arts, a dynamic social enterprise driven by a team of innovative young minds dedicated to reshaping the landscape of expression, particularly among youth and creatives. Afrikala Arts operates as a holistic content creation team with a special emphasis on championing mental health and creativity. Additionally, she collaborates with Emily Wilson, CEO of Irise International, UK, to co-host the Lead Like A Feminist Podcast. This podcast is a platform committed to promoting alternative leadership styles by engaging in insightful conversations with diverse leaders who challenge the status quo across various fields and communities.

Sophia Moreau

Sophia Moreau is a multi-award winning diversity, equity, justice and inclusion expert with a background in communications, press, advocacy and organisational change. She is passionate about building truly inclusive services, organisations and societies. Sophia is principal consultant at S. Moreau Consulting as well as one of the leading Associates at Getting on Board, delivering training in all aspects of board recruitment.

Sophia spends most of her time as a trainer, auditor, and interim leader supporting organisations to become more inclusive and intersectional. She was named in 2022 the Burberry British Diversity Awards Diversity ‘Campaigner of the Year’, a 2022 Judge of the Orwell Prize, and a 2023 Charity Times ‘leader to watch’. Outside of work, Sophia sits on the board of SOS!SEN, a children’s disability charity.

Please note this session is for SWIDN members only. If you would like to join SWIDN as a member, you can do so here.

If you have any questions email Emma at info@swidn.org.uk.

To attend this event – Please register for the Zoom call in advance here!