Women's Hall of Fame 2023

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

In pursuit of our mission of empowering our students to Join In, Speak Up and Be More, we are launching the first edition of our Women’s Hall of Fame.

This is to honour all of our women, highlight women's footprint in history, prepare the women of the future, and serve as the voice celebrating the value of our inspiring women at UWE Bristol.

This initiative is part of our Celebration of Women's History Month and is led by The Students' Union President Rania Regaieg and Vice President Lily Diyemowei.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

1 – 31 March

Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories

ABIGAIL SMITH

Showing herself to be a true champion of the student voice, Abigail has taken on and exceeded in a range of academic representation roles. As a SEND teaching assistant, she looks to improve the care and education of young people with additional learning needs.

Abigail’s time at UWE has been a positive one due to various strong and inspirational people who have helped her through her own personal challenges. Her advice is to remember that everyone’s journeys can look different and that if things take a bit longer, that is ok - just don’t be afraid to ask for help.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

OLUWADAMILOLA OKEYOYIN

Dami is a Yoruba, Black, African woman. She is a biomedical researcher who is passionate about investigating and understanding biological diseases and how herbs can contribute to the holistic health of humans. She holds a degree in BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, MRes Applied Science and is currently on a Biomedical Science PhD programme.

Her passion for equity led her to create a Nigerian cosmetic brand, Damioke Naturals, which embraces afro hair, skin and non-toxic products catering for people of African heritage. She’s been with UWE and The Students’ Union for the past eight years and engaged in multiple projects and campaigns, pushing for diversity and change.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

DOHA LAFTIMI

Doha is the VP Sports and Health at The Students’ Union at UWE. She pursued this role after receiving a degree in MSc Digital Marketing where she practiced this interest by getting involved with UWE Formula Student. She completed BA Business and Management at UWE where she was a student representative, active committee member and team player for UWE Jets Basketball.

She won Tremplin Maroc 13 and a UWE Enterprise Summer Scholarship, demonstrating her entrepreneurial skills. She’s also a photographer, exploring her artistic side. Doha believes that with confidence and hard work you can achieve anything you put your mind to and also to seize every opportunity that comes your way.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

GRACE LEE

Whether it is becoming a Senior PAL Leader, being UWE’s Formula Student’s Head of Aerodynamics, or being a Student Experience Consultant, Grace has worked hard to become a rounded engineer through immersing herself in as many extra-curricular activities as possible.

Grace is particularly grateful of the many extracurricular opportunities available and has always found herself supported by UWE. Her advice is to let your hard work speak for itself when people doubt you, and also to speak with confidence on your subject matter.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

KAT BRANCH

Before working at UWE, Kat ran music and drama workshops for prisoners, eventually turning this into funded programmes tailored to individuals’ needs, from reducing self-harm to reducing violent incidents. Now a Senior Lecturer in Music Enrichment and the Leader of Centre for Music, Kat has been designing a rich and diverse music enrichment service for students and staff with community at its heart.

Kat has often found her work to be interpreted through a gendered lens and still experiences imposter syndrome. Her advice is to develop a close network of peers to remind you how far you have come.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

LILY DIYEMOWEI

Nigerian business influencer and VP Education at The Students’ Union at UWE for 2022-23, Lily is committed to helping women follow their dreams in becoming both autonomous and empowered. Working with the Nigerian Society, Lily has also acted as a friendly and welcoming face to students who have often made a large and daunting change.

Lily has been particularly moved by the commitment to the enhancement of the women’s student voice and recommends that other women put themselves forward as change makers. Her advice to women who want to see change is to capitalise on their talents and be the change.

LIZ MURRAY

Liz Murray is the Glenside Campus Coordinator at The Students’ Union at UWE and also a freelance photographer. She graduated with a joint BA Hons degree in Photography and Journalism. She’s transformed this coordinator role from one that was purely administrative to one that now brings the campus community together through events, support, social media engagement and more.

Liz has been part of the Isle of Wight Festival’s official photography team, capturing world-famous artists and networking, which opened doors to new opportunities. Her advice as a successful female artist and coordinator is to be yourself, take up space and stand your ground.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

MARIA BROOKS

Women’s Welfare Officer for 2021-2022, Maria has campaigned for improved welfare support along with improving student awareness around spiking, consent, and gender-based violence. Working with a small team, she has also worked to improve LGBT+ inclusivity in sport, gaining over 250 student groups to pledge acceptance for LGBT+ people.

Maria was the first of her family to go to university and found her experience to be empowering, liberating, but also eye opening. Maria’s advice to women is to care for yourself, follow you dreams and ask for help to get where you need to go.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

MEIRWEN JENKING-REES

Meirwen worked with an engineering firm in her placement year on a project receiving international attention. She would use her opportunity to network and step out of her comfort zone, involving herself in ongoing documentaries and podcasts with IBM. Meirwen also ensured the survival of UWE’s Climbing Club through taking on multiple committee roles through COVID.

While Meirwen has found being a woman on a male dominated course intimidating, she has found herself feeling empowered by strong female role models. Her advice for other women is to have confidence in your ideas, fight to make your voice heard and be assertive.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

ROSHIN CHUMMUN

Roshin is a MSc Public Health student who graduated with BA (Hons) Geography at UWE. She has been part of the Commercial and Representation team at The Students’ Union for the past seven years and has been elected "Students Union Staff Member of the year" at the 2022 Welfare Awards. With her passion for diversity, inclusion and female leaders, she hopes to pursue a career in International Development or Women’s Health.

From her working experience, her advice as a woman is to stand up for yourself and to grasp all opportunities that come your way. Even if you do not know what you want to do just now, embrace the experiences you are currently living as it will help shape the person you are.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

SAKSHI PATEL

Sakshi is a first year Aerospace Engineering student who has already shown herself to be an exemplary member of the UWE community. In the last year, Sakshi has been an active Student Rep, Student Council Member, along with being UWE’s Indian Ambassador, helping Indian students wishing to pursue their studies at UWE.

Sakshi has not always found being a woman in STEM easy and advises women to network and make the most of the opportunities that come alongside studying. But first and foremost, Sakshi’s top tip is to persevere and remember that being female in itself should never limit you.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

VICTORIA CLARKE

Victoria is an associate professor and chartered psychologist. She has become known as a leading proponent of thematic analysis, publishing work that has been cited hundreds of thousands of times while being taught at possibly thousands of universities and A-Level colleges globally.

Victoria has found that her experience of academia to be shaped by her standpoint as a white, middle class, disabled woman. In turn, her advice to women is to build solidarity and bridges with each other. For any women interested in pursuing a career in academia, she recommends joining the ‘Women in Academia Support Network’ group on Facebook.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

RANIA REGAIEG

As the President and Chair of The Board of Trustees of The Students’ Union at UWE, Rania is the voice of the student body and the only student member of UWE Board of Governors.

As a student representative and Diversity and Inclusivity Department Representative, Rania championed diversity and inclusivity on campus. She also founded UWE Speak Up Society, which provides a safe and inclusive space for students from diverse backgrounds to stand up against discrimination. UWE Speak Up Society was shortlisted for its first-ever award at Student Experience Awards 2021, the Contributions to Equality Award. Rania also led the Speak Up Week campaign and launched the Speak Up pledge in partnership with the university.

She was a BoxED Ambassador and did outreach work in schools throughout the Southwest inspiring girls to pursue careers in STEM. Rania also co-founded and co-Chairs the Southwest Sabbatical Officers Network, bringing together elected student leaders from several Students’ Unions to amplify the student voice in the region and beyond.

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME