"Raising Her Voice" is a special event marking International Women's Day, a global day (8th March) celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. This year's theme is Each for Equal - an equal world is an enabled world.

The inspiration for this event came from the Women of Walsall Photo Project, which is about putting a spotlight on Walsall women, past and present. Caroline Molloy is the Living Memory Project bursary artist working on this project. The aim of the work is to demonstrate and celebrate the diversity of the Women in Walsall.

Around 130 women have taken part in this project and a final film is to be produced, including all of the photos. This will be shown at the event. 

This event aims to bring together different women from across Walsall to share their experiences and stories.  

1pm to 3pm - Open Event - booking not required

You are welcome to attend the open event from 1pm to 3pm at The Crossing at St. Paul's in Walsall town centre, where there will be information stalls, opportunities and creative workshops from local organisations.  

Attending on the day will be Walsall Creative Factory, Urban Hax, Mend-IT, Aaina Hub, WBSC, Department for Work and Pensions - DWP Community Connectors, Walsall Works, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Breast, Bowel and Cervical Screening Service and many more. 

Stalls: If you provide services or opportunities for women in Walsall and you would like to have a stall, please contact Zara Khan.  

4pm to 6pm - Networking, Speeches and Panel Discussion - ENTRY BY TICKET ONLY

There will be various speakers from different sectors, giving speeches on themselves and their roles and taking part in a panel to discuss issues women face. 

SCHEDULE

4pm - Networking

4.30pm - Speeches and Panel Discussion

5.30pm - Networking

6pm - Finish 

SPEAKERS

Superintendent Harvi Khatkar, West Midlands Police

Harvi Khatkar is a Superintendent in West Midlands Police. She has 26 years Police experience all within West Midlands. She has worked in the boroughs of Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Birmingham.  She has been a Superintendent for 2.5 years, previously as Operations Superintendent in Wolverhampton and her current role is leading an IT change programme for the force, working with their business partners Accenture.  She has a breadth of policing experience in Neighbourhood Policing, Response Policing, Partnerships; Integrated Offender Management and Operations.  As a Public Order Bronze Commander she has policed many football matches at the Wolves.  She is a Tactical Firearms Commander and enjoys travelling and cooking in her spare time.

 

Andrea Gubbins, Holiday Inn 

Andrea is the General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express Walsall. She has been in this role for the last three years. Having worked in the hospitality industry for 34 years, she has worked in all hotel departments, progressed and got promoted through the ranks. She has also juggled a career and is a working mum with a firefighter husband, as well as having a busy home life. In her spare time, she enjoys singing and being a member of two musical theatre groups and last year appeared in two shows. This year, she is working on her Musical Theatre Grade 5 award.

More speakers will be confirmed in due course. 

HOW TO REGISTER 

To register for free tickets, please go to Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/raising-her-voice-international-womens-day-event-networkingpanel-tickets-95710509711 

When registering, you can only register for a maximum of two tickets (including yourself). If you would like to register more attendees, please ask them to complete the registration separately. 

CONTACT

For further information, please contact Zara Khan on 01922 652657 or email Zara.Khan@walsall.gov.uk