Dr. Patrycja Kupiec will be speaking on the WOW Views on the News Panel.
Patrycja is the Director of YWCA, a Doctor of Viking Archaeology, a feminist, and a self-confessed dog-loving vegan! She moved to Scotland from Poland ten years ago, and pursued studies at Aberdeen and Cambridge - where her archaeological research focused on both Scotland and Iceland.
Patrycja started at YWCA as a Volunteer '30 under 30' editor, and worked her way up to the role of Director. Her past paid titles have encompassed researcher, lecturer, lab assistant, and events officer. In addition to this, she has consistently volunteered her time to museums, science centres, festivals, and public engagement units - promoting archaeology and STEM subjects.
Mridul Wadhwa will be speaking at the panel 'Badass Women from History: Pride Edition'.
Mridul is a Training and Volunteer Coordinator at Rape Crisis Scotland, a trustee at YWCA, a trans rights activist, feminist, and mother. She is also a passionate campaigner for better rights for women and others with insecure immigration status. In past, she has also worked at Shakti Women's Aid.
She first came to Scotland in 2004, from India to further studies at The University of Edinburgh. Since graduating, she has worked in the violence against women sector - mainly with Black & minority ethnic and immigrant women.
"As a trans and immigrant woman, I am very conscious of my experience of being the eternal minority, but I have acquired the ability to influence", says Mridul. "I am interested in ensuring that young women with similar experiences as me don’t have to question their right to contribute and participate in our society".
Photo credit: Adjamu
By Credit: Adjamu
Nadine Aisha Jassat will be speaking at Body Image: Glasgow Women’s Library Story Café. She is a writer, creative practitioner and consultant in the field of challenging Gender -Based Violence.
In 2017 she was named as one of '30 Inspiring Women Under 30' by YWCA Scotland, and in 2018 she was awarded a prestigious New Writers Award from the Scottish Book Trust.
She is known for combining the creative arts and social justice. Her work has featured in New Writing Scotland, Litro Magazine, and 404 ink's acclaimed Nasty Women to name a few, and she has appeared at literary festivals such as Aye Write: Glasgow's Festival of Literature, and Edinburgh International Book Festival.
As a creative practitioner, she often works to address issues to do with gender and race inequality. Her current projects include creative participation work with young women of colour on issues to do with gender-based violence, racism and Islamophobia, and working with the Just Festival to work creatively with school pupils to explore issues of inequality and discrimination.
Jenni Keenan, will be speaking at WOW Bites, where she will be discussing her relationship with childlessness.
Jenni is a 26 year old originally from the North East coast, now living in Perth. She studied Criminology and Social Policy at Stirling University, with a specialisation in feminist theory and issues which impact women, particularly violence against women.
She has worked in social policy at the local level and now works in the third sector for an organisation which supports the many migrant and minority ethnic communities in Perth and Kinross.
A dynamic blend of physiotherapist and comedian, Elaine Miller will be performing her stand-up comedy show, 'Gusset Grippers' at WOW Perth this year!
Elaine says that "Making socially cohesive groups guffaw about awkward topics makes them talk, share experiences, gain empathy and, hopefully, encourage each other to seek help" - her comedy show aims to both entertain and inform.
Dr. Carol Emslie will be speaking at 'We Need to Talk About Alcohol' at this year's WOWPERTH.
Dr. Emslie is a reader at Glasgow Caledonian University - currently her research focuses on the experiences of drinking alcohol amongst LGBT people in Scotland; reducing binge-drinking amongst disadvantaged men using intervention delivered through mobile phones; and the social context of drinking amongst early mid-life men and women.
Dr. Emslie heads the Substance Use & Misuse Research Group, which regularly engages with the public, media, and professionals within the field. She is also the co-creator of the website genderandalcohol.co.uk.
Founder and Director of Edinburgh Student Arts Festival, Briana Pegado will be speaking at 'WOW Views on the News' at this year's WOW PERTH and the "Intersectionality in action" panel.
Briana moved to Scotland from America in 2010 to study at The University of Edinburgh, and holds a degree in Sustainable Development. She was EUSA's first ever black female president - in 130 years - and through her social enterprise, Edinburgh Student Arts Festival, sought to increase the accessibility of the arts. She is also a co-founder of Povo - a consultancy set to "use design thinking methods to unpack social issues". She was also named as part of the young women in Scotland '30 under 30' by YWCA Scotland.
Image by Jassy Earl Photoraphy
By Jassy Earl Photography
Alison Douglas, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland will be speaking at 'We Need to Talk About Alcohol - A Discussion Group'
In past, she worked as the Head of Alcohol Policy and Delivery at the Scottish Government. She has also worked as a Policy Adviser to Scottish Ministers, and in Brussels as part of the U.K. Research Councils.
She has served as a member of Edinburgh’s Children’s Panel, is a former Poverty Truth Commissioner, and former Board Member of mental health charity, Penumbra.
Rachel Weiss is a counsellor, coach, trainer, mediator and speaker. She is the founder of Rowan Consultancy - a multi-faceted Perth-based organisation helping people lead more satisfying lives, and of Menopause Cafe - a charity which provides informal, welcoming discussion groups about the menopause and the personal impact of this, which has now spread globally. Recently, Rachel won the coveted Points of Light award in recognition of the work she has carried out with the Menopause Cafe.
Image via The Sunday Post
By The Sunday Post
Horse McDonald will be performing an intimate acoustic set at this year's WOW to close the festival, and will also speak on the panel Badass Women from History: Pride Edition. A Scottish singer/songwriter, she has been described by Q Magazine as one of the finest singers in Britain, and has toured with artists including Tina Turner. She is the recipient of DIVA magazine's coveted lifetime achievement award, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of her second album 'Gods Home Movie'.
Jennie Cook is a radio presenter with over a decade of experience working on one of the biggest breakfast radio shows in Scotland, and host of 'The Snash Podcast' - a podcast by a woman, about women. She will be chairing “Motherhood: A Conversation Café” on Saturday the 29th of September. She is also a DJ, Voice Over Artist and experienced Events Host - as part of which she presented The World Gymnastics Championships in front of 10,000 people at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
By The Snash
Becca Mcclune runs the Monthly Meet-Ups for WOW, as well as organising WOW's fantastic volunteer programme. In addition to this, she's also a trustee for the Crannog Centre in Kenmore, offering advice on museum related reports - plus she's also working on developing the Perth Ultimate Frisbee club (new members welcome!).
Fallope & The Tubes are a self-described 'weirdo punk' band based in Glasgow, comprised of six artists. Catch them leading the Art & Activism table at WOW Perth this year! Their live shows are eye-catchingly unforgettable, featuring their lovingly hand crafted yet somewhat tasteless visuals, shameless zero-budget costumes, sculpture and visual props.
Lou Brodie is the organiser of the Women of the World festival's only Scottish date in Perth! She is a performance maker and applied artist, with a practice rooted in social practice and conviviality. She has worked with a range of companies and artists including Visible Fictions, Tramway, and Macrobert Arts Centre, amongst others.
