Rana Al-Hajouj - Anaka Women's Collective

Rana Al-Hajouj was born in the city of Khan Yunis and raised in the city of Rafah where her family still resides. She studied psychology at Al-Azhar University, Gaza in 2003. In 2012 she studied for a higher diploma in cognitive-behavioral therapy with the World Health Organization in partnership with Gaza's Islamic University. From 2005 to 2019 she worked as a psychological counselor at the International Relief Agency for Refugees (UNRWA). She is currently studying ESOL at Belfast Metropolitan and looks forward to deploying her skills in support and guidance services.

Mairead Maguire - Nobel Peace Prize Recipient

Mairead was a co-founder of the Community of Peace People which organised weekly peace marches and demonstrations and a co-founder of the Committee on the Administration of Justice a non-sectarian organisation of Northern Ireland which defends human rights and advocates repeal of the government's emergency laws. In 1976 Mairead was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Betty Williams.

Sarah Griffiths - Wheelie Momma

Sarah Griffiths MBE is an intuitive speaker, author, copy writer empowerment mentor and a disabled mum of 3. She helps exhausted people pleasers know their worth and prioritise themselves to become unshakeable and build a life that lights them up.

Alina Gawhary - Artist

'I am a professional artist and amateur musician from Afghanistan. I have spent my whole life with fear, stress and just for being a girl and an artist. My everyday life has its own sad story that made me an artist which helped to shelter art and tell stories and reality through my art. I was born in 2004 in Kabul province and in a big family, have five sisters, two brothers and now currently living in Bangladesh. My life totally changed when the regime came back into power and stole my dreams and made my home a prison. I was painting the beauty and reality in secret. Most subjects of my paintings are music instruments as the situation didn’t let me play music. I wanted to show my interest through my paintings. The only thing I can do as an artist for my country and my family is to show beauty, unheard voices and beauty of music. I use my brushes as a weapon in front of the sad things which are happening in my country. I was one of the lucky young women and got out of Afghanistan with a scholarship to a university in Bangladesh.'

Avila Kilmurray - Founder Member Ni Women's Coalition

Avila has worked in the community and women's movement in Northern Ireland since 1975. She is a committed feminist and has long advocated non-violent activism to deliver progressive change. She is author of 'Community Action in a Contested Society: The Story of Northern Ireland' (Peter Lang, 2017).