WHAT WOMEN WANT - MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

15 Nov

Written By #WIMB

CLARE BAILEY

Clare Bailey was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly as an MLA for South Belfast in 2016, and has been leader of the Green Party Northern Ireland since 2018.

A committed feminist and environmentalist, Clare is currently progressing two pieces of legislation through Stormont – a Bill to establish Safe Access Zones around reproductive healthcare centres, and Northern Ireland’s first Climate Change Bill.

Clare said: “I look forward to speaking at this event to discuss the intersection of gender and climate politics.

“Women and girls will be disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis, especially in the Global South, so it’s vital that gender issues are kept at the centre of building a Just Transition to a sustainable net zero society.”

MONICA MCWILLIAMS

Monica McWilliams co-founded the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition and was elected to represent the party at the multi party peace talks leading to the Good Friday Agreement.

Following the agreement, she was elected to the first Northern Ireland Assembly and was subsequently Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission from 2006 to 2011.

She has worked with women in prison when overseeing reforms to the Northern Ireland Prison Service and currently serves on the Independent Reporting Commission on the disbandment of paramilitary organizations.

She currently works with women in conflict regions, most recently with Syrian women involved in negotiations in Geneva.

She has published widely on domestic violence and her book ‘Stand Up, Speak Out’ is published by Blackstaff Press. Monica said: “What women want is for speedier progress to be made on the things we need now and not have to wait around until other things (mostly for men) get sorted.”

JUDITH GILLESPIE
Judith Gillespie, from north Belfast, served as a police officer in Northern Ireland for 32 years, making history by becoming the first woman in RUC/PSNI to become an Assistant Chief Constable in 2004. As a Chief Officer for 11 years, she helped steer the organisation through significant change, including leading on the PSNI’s Gender Action Plan.

She became Deputy Chief Constable in June 2009, at the same time chairing the 2013 World Police and Fire Games Company Board and is very proud that Belfast delivered "the friendliest and best Games ever".

A graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute, she holds a Masters Degree in Applied Criminology from Cambridge University. She was awarded an OBE in the Birthday Honours list in June 2009, an Honorary Doctorate from Queen's University in July 2012, and a CBE in the Birthday Honours in June 2014.

On leaving PSNI in March 2014 she became an independent leadership advisor. She has presented and contributed to TV documentaries on sensitive issues including domestic abuse. She served for four years on the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, for five years on the Garda Policing Authority, and is currently a member of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and the Prison Service Pay Review Body. She chairs the Interdepartmental Working Group on Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene Laundries and Historical Clerical Child Abuse, and chairs the Careers Advisory Forum which advises Ministers on the careers strategy for Northern Ireland.

SIPHO SIBANDA

Sipho Sibanda is a human rights activist from Zimbabwe.

She is a founding member of the Housing4All which campaigns for the rights of people seeking asylum in Northern Ireland.

Sipho is a student, social and racial justice organiser, Chair of Refugees Welcome NI and Deputy Chair of Black and Minority Ethnic Women’s Network (BMEWN).

Sipho said: “I would like to see a world that considers women as equals to their male counterparts.

“Locally I would like to see a Northern Ireland that embraces and supports women at all levels because women have so much to give, a Northern Ireland that allows women to make their choices when it comes to their bodies.

“I would like to see a Northern Ireland that embraces everyone regardless of skin colour and background. I would like to see a NI that reflects all its citizens equally in positions of power and in public spaces.

“I would like to see a Northern Ireland that allows for our children to be children, allows then to roam free with no worry of being murdered for being different in any manner and also one that is free of racism.”

SEANIN GRAHAM

Seanin Graham is a Newry native with over 20 years experience in specialist journalism, currently the Irish News Health Correspondent she has won several major awards for her investigative work, including CIPR journalist of the year and Irish Medical journalist of the year.

"Working from home during the pandemic it highlighted more than ever that what women want is affordable childcare, as a female journalist working in a specialist field I also want greater access to those in authority, both politically and in the NHS, accountability is key and denying access is a way of hiding from effective scrutiny".

SARA JADE DAVIDSON

Sara Jade Davidson is a Bangor born comic that has been performing and writing comedy since 2012.

She was a semi-finalist in 2016’s ‘So You Think Your Funny’ at the Edinburgh Fringe.

She has appeared in Live at The Sunflower, on BBC Radio Ulster and even though her mum still refuses to come see her she is a regular at comedy nights in Belfast and throughout the country.

Sara Jade said: “I am really looking forward to the What Women Want event.

“Hopefully we can bring in the new year with a pandemic of smashing the patriarchy.

“I can’t wait to meet some badass women on the night, and make you all laugh.”

LEANNE ABERNETHY

Leanne Abernethy from Bushmills is a restorative practitioner and humanitarian negotiator working within loyalist communities.

Leanne said: “What I want is a greater sense of responsibility and recognition for all women irrespective of social and economic background.

“Break down the barriers which are preventing women from entering the political arena and changing the dynamics in mainstream unionism.

“To make Northern Ireland a better place for all.”

COUMILAH MANJOO

Human rights activist Coumilah Manjoo is originally from Mauritius.

As an EU citizen, she has lived in United Kingdom for 17 years. She has studied various fields of social sciences as an undergrad and holds an LLM in Human Rights.

She has a keen interest in intercultural dialogue and currently works extensively in the voluntary sector with grassroots organizations.

She is a daughter, sister and a mother of three children.

Coumilah said: "For far too long, I have had people speaking on my behalf and making me feel like I wasn’t good enough.

"From now on I choose me and what I want, I choose to take the space and seat at the proverbial table."

LOUISE COYLE

Louise Coyle is director of the Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network.

Louise said: “I have had the pleasure and privilege to see first-hand how rural women come together in their communities to support one another and how they drive forward the development of their areas.

“How they have driven forward peace and social cohesion; unobtrusively but with dedication and persistence. Rural women are resilient. Where we have vibrant, thriving rural communities the local community groups are full of women volunteering their time to build a better future for those coming behind them.

“It is the women who are making a difference here and it always has been and I will continue to support them to keep persisting and advocate for the resourcing they need to build a better place. Rural women deserve more than 1.3% of the resourcing for women.

“The pandemic has shone a light on our vulnerabilities and society inequities but also on our humanity and the power of collective action. NIRWN’s vision is an equitable society where women are visible, influential and valued; if we are to achieve that reality and truly build a better future it will be through collective action and each of us linking arms and amplifying our voices together.”

SUZANNE MAGEE

Suzanne is a hospitality manager, writer, Gaeilgeoir, and member of the LGBT+ community, from Belfast, Ireland. She is currently studying towards a Masters in Business Administration, and is working on her first book.

Suzanne said: “I want to see greater respect and advocacy for women, coming not only from a push for governmental policy implementation, for example on bodily autonomy, but a respect for those overlooked or forgotten in our social histories, as well as greater levels of support in the workforce and welfare systems.”

KATE NICHOLL

Kate is an Alliance Party Councillor and the current Lord Mayor of Belfast.

FOR INTERVIEW BIDS WITH ANY OF THE WOMEN PLEASE CONTACT AMANDA, ALLISON OR PATRICIA.

For tickets to WIMB End of Year Review: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-in-media-end-of-year-review-2021-what-women-want-tickets-207506827507