The Wen Forum is a programme of events exploring environmental and health issues through a feminist lens. These popular forums include guest speakers, Q&A session, networking, stalls, music and refreshments. Previous topics have included harmful chemicals, food, climate change, periods and air quality. Check our events page for details of our next Wen Forum.
PAST WEN FORUMS
What would a feminist approach to climate justice look like? – 11th July 2023, Manchester Museum, Manchester
An evening exploring what climate justice would look like in our food system and why taking an intersectional feminist approach is key.
The event included a drinks reception and stalls from local community gardens, local growers, food producers and food justice organisers.This was followed by a sit down meal of locally sourced, plant based dishes and guest speakers, films and music.
SPEAKERS:
The Lord Mayor Of The City Of Manchester – Councillor Yasmine Dar
Victoria Holden, Social entrepreneur and Founder of Norther Lily CIC
Agatha, SAWN (Support and Action Women’s Network)
Zarina Ahmad, Climate Change & Environmentali
Jo, MUD (Manchester Urban Diggers)
Shaheda Aziz, Wen
WHAT DOES CLIMATE JUSTICE LOOK LIKE IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM? – February 2023
ZARINA AHMAD, CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENTALIST
DEE WOODS – AWARD-WINNING COOK, COMMUNITY FOOD EDUCATOR, URBAN AGRICULTURALIST, BROADCASTER AND RESEARCHER (AUTHOR OF THE FEMINIST GREEN NEW DEAL FOOD POLICY PAPER)
LAURIE MOMPELAT, ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNER & RESEARCHER ON PLATFORM’S LONDON LEAP PROJECT
SARAH WILLIAMS, PROGRAMMES DIRECTOR, SUSTAIN
RUTH JONES MP, SHADOW MINISTER (ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS)
PRE RECORDED INTERVIEW WITH DR VANDANA SHIVA
WHAT WOULD FEMINIST CLIMATE JUSTICE LOOK LIKE FOR EVERYDAY LIFE? – June 2022
- Chair – Maria Adebowale-Schwarte, CEO, Foundation for Future London and Wen Ambassador
- Dee Woods – award-winning cook, community food educator, urban agriculturalist, broadcaster and researcher
- Tiffany Lam – Feminist Green New Deal Green & Inclusive Transport Policy Paper author
- Maeve Cohen – Feminist Green New Deal RoadMap author
- Olivia Sweeney – Black & Green Ambassadors
- Emma Geen – Bristol Disability Equality Forum
Why do we need a feminist approach to tackling the climate crisis? – November 2021
ZARINA AHMAD, CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENTALIST
DR SHERILYN MACGREGOR, UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
SASCHA GABIZON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WECF – WOMEN ENGAGE FOR A COMMON FUTURE
KAVITA NAIDU , INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER
ANNE KARPF, SOCIOLOGIST, JOURNALIST, AUTHOR OF HOW WOMEN CAN SAVE THE PLANET – CHAIR
WHY’S CLIMATE JUSTICE A FEMINIST ISSUE? – March 2020
- GUPPI BOLA, CO-FOUNDER WORKINGONOURPOWER.ORG
- TINA ROTHERY, THE NANAS
- ZARINA AHMED, CEMVO SCOTLAND
- EMMA GREENWOOD, YOUTH MP FOR BURY
- KATE METCALF, CO-DIRECTOR, WEN
- Panel chair: SHERILYN MACGREGOR, THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
AIR (E)QUALITY – WHAT’S GENDER, RACE & POVERTY GOT TO DO WITH AIR POLLUTION? – July 2019
- Rachel Blake, Deputy Mayor of Tower Hamlets
- Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, The Ella Roberta Family Foundation
- Claire McDonald, Mums for Lungs
- Natasha Graves, UpRising
- Asad Rehman, CEO, War on Want
- Guppi Bola, Spokesperson for Doctors Against Diesel
- Tiffany Lam, NEF Consulting
- Film screening of Living, Breathing, London by Ross Field of Videoblogg Productions.
GENERATION PLASTIC – TOXIC CHEMICALS IN PLASTICS, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? – March 2019
- Emma Ross, Mamalina, plastic free vlogger and blogger
- Jayn Sterland, Managing Director, Weleda UK
- Helen Lynn, Co-founder, CoolGreen and Health Adviser, WEN
- Dr Anna Watson, Head of Advocacy, CHEM Trust – Chair
- Emma Priestland, Plastic Campaigner, Friends of the Earth
- Chantal Van den Bossche, Head of Communications & Advocacy, WECF
- Sammy Britten, Nappy Ever After
THE BIG STINK – HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN EVERYDAY PRODUCTS & WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT! – October 2018
- Francis Blake, Chair of the COSMOS-standard AISBL and former Standards Director, Soil Association
- Jayn Sterland, Managing Director, Weleda (UK & Ireland)
- Helen Lynn, Co-founder, CoolGreen and Health Adviser, WEN
- Nat van Zee, International Make Up Artist & Clean Beauty Curator @vanzeebeauty
- Dr A. Michael Warhurst, Executive Director, CHEM Trust
Film screening of Stink!
WHY WOMEN WILL SAVE THE PLANET – WOMEN’S URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP – March 2018
- Leonie Cooper, Chair GLA Environment Committee
- Dr Sherilyn MacGregor, University of Manchester
- Amelia Womack, Deputy Leader of the Green Party
- Liz Hutchins, Director of Campaigning Impacts, Friends of the Earth
- Maria Adebowale-Schwarte, Director, Living Space Project, urban place making, green space & heritage strategist
- Emmanuelle Pinault, Head of City Diplomacy, C40 Cities Network
HOW CAN YOUR DIET CHANGE THE WORLD? – June 2017
- Guy Watson, Founder, Riverford Organic Farmers
- Dr Tara Garnett, Food Climate Research Network
- Deidre Woods, Community Food Growers Network, BBC Cook of the Year 2016
- Vicki Hird, Sustainable Farm Campaign Coordinator, Sustain
- Sarah Bentley, Founder & Project Manager, Made In Hackney
- Biba Hartigan, Founder & CEO, Climates Network
- And food demo by Deidre Woods
WHAT’S GENDER GOT TO DO WITH CLIMATE CHANGE? – March 2017
- Juliet Davenport – CEO, Good Energy
- Professor Susan Buckingham – Feminist, Geographer & Expert on Gender and Climate Change
- Tina Louise Rothery – The Nanas, UK Anti Fracking Campaign
- Ghalia Fayad, Programme Leader, Arab World Programme – Greenpeace Mediterranean & Break Free Coalition
- Pia Hollenstein – Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland
TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2017, THE WEN FORUM PRESENTED: HOW CAN PERIODS SAVE THE PLANET? – March 2017
- Sally King – Director, Menstrual Matters
- Tara Chandra – Co-Founder, FLO (organic tampon start up)
- Kath Clements – Campaigns & Marketing Manager, Mooncup
- Joshna Raghwani – Director Corporate Social Responsibility, Binti International
- David Morrall – Trustee, Nepal Earthquake Recovery Fund
WHAT’S FEMINISM GOT TO DO WITH THE ENVIRONMENT? – January 2017
- Natalie Bennett, Former Party Leader of The Green Party of England and Wales
- Craig Bennett, CEO, Friends of the Earth
- Lucy Bushill-Matthews, CEO, Muslim Action for Development and Environment
- Marylyn Haines Evans, Public Affairs Chair, National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI)
- Kate Metcalf, Co-director, Women’s, Environmental Network
- Belinda Phipps, Chair, The Fawcett Society
- Judy Ling Wong, President, Black Environment Network
