To celebrate International Women’s Day, we spotlight some women in Wales who are and have been making a big impact of late, in all sorts of walks of life…
Gemma June Howell – publishing pioneer
Director of Women Publishing Wales, a new network seeking to connect and empower women in Wales’ publishing sector. “Given the untapped potential of women in publishing,” Gemma says, “it’s evident that a women’s publishing network is not only desirable but essential.”
Women Publishing Wales launch, Taliesin Create, Swansea, Fri 8 Mar, 1-4pm.
Tickets: FREE. Info: here
Sarah Boswell – sports champion
Trustee of the newly-formed Cymru Women’s Sport, an organisation aiming to advocate for sportswomen and women doing physical activity, with a background in connecting art, sport and culture. “Women are less active, underrepresented and have more challenges to overcome in sport,” the organisation said in a statement.
Info: womensportcymru.org
Hari James – screen queen
Barry-born athlete, coach, former police officer and body positivity activist who made the transition to the big screen playing Amazon warriors in the DCEU, even when heavily pregnant. “I remember Jason Momoa asking how to get abs like me,” she reflects on CrossFit’s blog.
Hari runs training sessions at Unit15 Functional Fitness, Barry.
Info: unit15functionalfitness.com
Elwen Rowlands & Hayley Manning – future producers
Co-founders of film and TV production company, Little Door, aiming to use “authentic voices” from a regional origin (Cardiff) to cater to an international audience. Their latest drama is Michael Sheen’s The Way, currently streaming weekly on iPlayer.
Info: littledoor.tv
Sian Lewis – socially engaged
Director of Wales’ largest youth organisation, Urdd, which recently celebrated its centenary. Last year, Sian was also instrumental in bringing a post-WWI peace petition, signed by 400,000 Welsh women in 1923, from the Smithsonian to the National Library Of Wales.
Info: urdd.cymru
Laura McAllister – football icon
Former captain for Wales’ women’s national football team, CBE holder, Stonewall board member and as of last April, vice-president of UEFA. Laura made headlines in 2022 after being asked to remove a rainbow bucket hat during the World Cup in Qatar. “We will continue to stand up for our values,” she tweeted.
Info: Twitter
Roma Taylor – community pillar
Former field nurse in Llandaff North for 25 years and fearless leader of Windrush Cymru Elders. The group provides a “lifeline” to its members through weekly meetings to promote the needs and celebrate ethnic minority elders.
To join, contact [email protected] for more info.
Sam Dabb – music magnate
Manager of legendary Newport music venue Le Pub for 25 years, Sam’s also now frontwoman of the city’s newest live music addition, the Corn Exchange – a 500-capacity space, just yards from Le Pub itself and founded by a near-all-female team.
The Bug Club headline the Corn Exchange’s opening night on Sat 2 Mar.
Tickets: £15 (sold out). Info: here
words HANNAH COLLINS
Editor’s note: the print version of this article incorrectly attributes a photo of Windrush Elder Vernesta Cyril to Roma Taylor. Buzz apologises deeply for this error and thanks the Windrush Cymru Elders for bringing the issue to our attention. This correction will also be printed in our next issue (April 2024).
