MEET THE ACCELERATE ACTION IWD25 EVENT TEAM

WIMB’s sold out IWD celebration is on Thursday, March 6. If you missed out on tickets please sign up to our newsletter so you get early access next time.

Your IWD event host is WIMB director Niamh Campbell:

Niamh Campbell has been a journalist with The Belfast Telegraph since 2021 and a Director of Women in Media Belfast CIC since 2023.

In her current reporting role at The BelTel, she covers everything from breaking news to sports and politics, as well as writing features and hosting podcasts.

Niamh also regularly contributes to BBC Radio Ulster, U105, and has been working with the BBC NI Education team by conducting media literacy outreach classes in schools across Northern Ireland. 

Niamh is passionate about women's health issues, tackling fake news, and highlighting inequalities through her reporting, but also has a soft spot for all things boxing, GAA and Liverpool FC.

Guests will also hear from:

WIMB director Patricia MacBride:

Patricia Mac Bride is from County Derry and is a co-founder of Women in Media Belfast.

She graduated from the NCTJ Professional Qualification in Journalism course and after a stint at the Ballymena Guardian, she worked for a number of years in the USA, contributing to daily papers and Irish American publications.

On her return to Ireland she worked in public affairs and media relations, including the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. She ran her own PR company for a number of years and won a number of awards for her work.

She has been a regular contributor to media in Ireland and internationally, providing analysis on political affairs, human rights and legal issues. She is a former columnist with The Irish News.

She is a Commissioner on the NI Judicial Appointments Commission.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Micky Murray:

The current Lord Mayor of Belfast, Micky took up office on 3 June 2024. He is the first openly gay Lord Mayor of Belfast.

A member of the Alliance Party, Micky was initially co-opted onto Belfast City Council in May 2022, and retained his seat in the local government election of May 2023.

His background before politics was in the community and voluntary sector, where he worked helping homeless people and those with addiction challenges.

Micky is committed to using his year in office to furthering the goal of making Belfast an inclusive and compassionate city.

Freelance journalist, broadcaster, and nutritionist Sal Hanvey:

Sal Hanvey is a Nutrition consultant and acupuncturist.  Sal has a real passion for finding ingredient substitutes and alternatives for those people with food intolerances, or allergies, or dietary exclusions without compromising on nutritional value or taste. 

Sal is a free lance journalist and writes for various publications around the subjects of nutrition, health and food.  Sal offers ‘Stir Crazy’ cook-a-long classes online and in person to help people to connect, or re-connect to the universal language that we all know and love- to enjoy really good food.  The classes are interactive, live and very much nutrition led. Sal has a BA (hons) degree in Journalism.

She is a regular respected contributor on both BBC Radio Ulster and U105FM discussing all things food, health, nutrition and wellness.

Sal is a member of the Guild of Food Writers UK and is a member of the National Union of Journalists, (NUJ).

Freelance journalist Caoimhe Clements:

Caoimhe Clements is a Freelance Journalist and Photographer with a passion for storytelling and visual arts. A graduate of Ulster University, she holds a BA Hons in Photography with Video (2021) and an MA in Journalism (2024). Her work spans multiple platforms, including the Belfast Telegraph, The Irish Independent, and the London-based fashion magazine 5eleven. Caoimhe’s professional journey has led her to contribute to EU-funded events and serve on press teams across England in 2024.

Beyond her career, Caoimhe speaks passionately about important issues such as gender-based violence, the arts, and mental health. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys self-teaching the keyboard, staying active through spin classes, and is always looking to plan her next trip.

OU lecturer Dr Sophie Doherty:

Dr Sophie Doherty is a Lecturer in Law at The Open University. Her primary research explores the intersections of feminism, art, and law. She joined The Open University after working as an Assistant Professor in Criminal Law at Dublin City University, Ireland. Sophie has acted as Module Coordinator for a variety of modules including Criminal Law, Advanced Criminal Law, Jurisprudence, and Law, Culture, Humanities. She supervises multiple doctoral students writing on these themes.

Additionally, Sophie is currently an Editorial Committee member of the Law and Humanities journal, a member of the Coordination Group of the international Art/Law Network, and a Committee Member of the Irish Network for Legal Humanities. While at The Open University, she co-founded the Law and Humanities Research Cluster. Described as ‘very much at the heart of the Legal Humanities scholarship in Ireland’ Sophie has most recently been invited to take part in a new Working Group on Legal Humanities via the Irish Humanities Alliance.

Author, and integration and diversity champion Amelia Kai:

Amelia was born in London to a Sierra-Leonean father and an Irish mother, moving to Northern Ireland when she was 9. After graduating from Queen’s University Belfast and becoming a mother, she focused on parenting for several years before pursuing a career in equity, diversity, and inclusion. With 7 years of experience in EDI, Amelia transitioned from consultancy to join Integrated Alumni, a charity supporting and advocating for integrated education, as Project Manager in 2023.

Amelia has written two children’s books: The Little Crayon and most recently, The Bees and the Wind, a collaboration with NICIE celebrating 40 years of integrated education in Northern Ireland. Both books are used in Early Years Learning and Key Stage 1 classrooms across the island of Ireland and the UK.

A proud intersectionalist, Amelia advocates for inclusivity, openly sharing her experiences as an autistic and physically disabled woman. Recently, she became an accredited Independent Funeral Celebrant, officiating funerals of all faiths and identities across Northern Ireland.

In her spare time, you’ll usually find Amelia reading a book, hanging out with her son, or walking her nieces Poppy and Willow (yes, dogs!) at the weekends. 

QUB PhD researcher and Churchill fellow Nicole Devlin:

Nicole Devlin is a PhD researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, focusing on social identities and intergenerational trauma stemming from Northern Ireland’s Troubles conflict.

She holds both a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and an MSc in Applied Developmental Psychology from the same institution. In 2023, Nicole was awarded a Churchill Fellowship, which enabled her to travel to the USA to study the “Coaching Boys into Men” (CBIM) programme by Futures Without Violence.

This initiative empowers sports coaches to engage young male athletes in fostering healthy relationships and dismantling harmful stereotypes.

Upon returning to Northern Ireland, Nicole successfully piloted the CBIM programme at Banbridge High School and is collaborating with local authorities to integrate it into the region’s strategy to combat violence against women and girls.

Her dedication to addressing misogyny and promoting gender equality is evident in her academic pursuits and community engagements.

QUB student journalist Jess Donohue:

Jess Donohue is a first year Media and Broadcast Production student.

Jess is currently the on-air deputy of The Scoop (the News and current affairs platform of Queen’s Radio).

Jess is an aspiring journalist with experience done during two summer work experiences at Galway Bay FM. 

Jess studies Media and Broadcast Production due to her fascination with current affairs and all that goes on behind the scenes in the media. 

QUB student journalist Jessica Toal:

Jessica Toal is a final-year International Relations and Politics student at Queen's University Belfast and an aspiring journalist.

She has gained freelance experience with The Irish Independent and currently leads The Scoop, Queen's Radio's news and current affairs platform. 

Initially considering a career in the public sector, she soon realized she was more interested in holding it to account than working within it. 

Freelance journalist and SCI fellow Claire Dickson:

Claire Dickson (22) is from Banbridge and is currently completing a fellowship with Social Change Initiative in Belfast based around endometriosis care in Northern Ireland.

She also has a freelance role in the BBC and is a former Head of the Scoop. 

Belfast Telegraph news editor Flávia Gouveia:

Flávia Gouveia is an assistant news editor at the Belfast Telegraph.

She joined the paper as a freelancer working across business and news in 2023.

She has a particular interest in investigations and before joining Bel Tel she freelanced for The Detail.

While at Queen's she worked at the Scoop producing and presenting and environmental podcast and later worked as the science and environment editor.

Women’s Aid Federation NI Sonya McMullan and Karen Devlin:

The WA team will deliver a workshop on its new media guidelines.

And helping the WIMB line up capture all the magic of the day are…

Photographer Bernie McAllister:

Bernie from Larne, Co Antrim, is a freelance photographer of over 15 years experience, specialising in event/music photography.

She is extremely social, and enjoys people. Work isn’t work if it’s a passion.

Student videographer Elliot North:

I am a 2nd year Broadcast Production student in Queens. Throughout the last 7 years I have been involved in filming projects with Cinemagic and the Nerve Centre. Currently, as well as working on my course, I am videographer for Queens Sport hockey division where I create short social media videos. My footage is also used by Queen's Sports for documentaries and other productions.  My wider industry experience includes my current work as the audio technician and editor for a podcast produced by North Down and Ards Community Advice (CAAND). If you want to see some of my video work, please visit my site here. 

Student journalist Emily Brown:

I’m 23 years old, and I’m from the North Coast. I have a first-class English and Classical Studies degree from the University of Liverpool and have recently graduated with distinction from a master’s degree in journalism at Ulster University. My time at Ulster University sparked an interest in social media, content creation and communications. I am currently volunteering with charities and doing some freelance work in public relations and content creation to increase my experience. I love to travel and experience new cultures and so, later this year, I am travelling to Southeast Asia for three months with the hopes of blending content creation with seeing the world! It is amazing to have a local organisation such as Women in Media Belfast to uplift women’s voices across Northern Ireland and beyond. I am so excited to be part of the team and to help spread their message.’

Student journalist Aideen McGlone:

I am a final year journalism student at Ulster University in Coleraine! I am so excited to be taking part in this year’s IWD event in Belfast and can’t wait to get talking with fellow journalists who share a passion for representing women’s voices here in the North! This year’s theme of ‘Accelerate Action’ is an important one as we can all agree that the views of women need to be heard, and action is needed now with regards to legislation and social change. I am delighted to be spending the day in the company of top journalists and look forward to hearing from the guest speakers and participating in the Women’s Aid workshop! Let’s celebrate the amazing voices of our women and their contribution to the media industry!

Student journalist Shonagh Gill:

I am a Media Broadcast & Production Master’s student with a love for content creation. I’m excited to help bring International Women’s Day to life in Belfast on March 6th. I can’t wait to meet all the incredible people! My goal is to bring creativity to the social media world.

Student journalist Emily Gervais: I am a final year student journalist at Coleraine. I can’t wait for this years’ event in Belfast, with the ‘Accelerate to Action’ being such a prominent theme, in support of International Women’s Day. I am excited to meet all the important figures within WIM, who all share the same drive and enthusiasm for gender equality. I am delighted to be able to come along to the event this year and hear from the empowering guest speakers, attend the workshops and meet all the attending journalists.

It’s quite a line up we are sure you’ll agree! We can’t wait.