Each August Carrie de Silva generously invites BFWG friends in the neighbourhood or "just passing" to lunch at her holiday home on Hayling Island.  She has been doing this for years and the weather is always good, not just this year.

National Association of Women’s Organisations (NAWO) conference held in London attended by Patrice Wellesley-Cole on behalf of GWI and BFWG. The President of NAWO is Zambian born Dr. Justina Mutale, seen in photos as is Patrice, wearing a green dress.

Members manned a stall and enjoyed chatting about our local, national & international events.  A successful recruitment drive in the sunhine!

IPP Kay Howell passes the baton to new BFWG President Jennie Landsberg.

Back L to R:  Kate Oprava, Judith Ashton, Jane Hart (Chair), Carolyn Carr, Kay Howell (BFWG), Jennie Lansberg (BFWG)
Front L to R: Felicity Selcoe, Shirley-Anne Sheriff, Aisha Alshawaf (BFWG)

Group photo including UWE President Dr. Başak Ovacık, DAB CER and others.

BFWG representative Aisha Alshawaf with Romanian President Roxana Petroscou, German DAB President Prof. Petia Genkova and Berlin member Bigit Samarrai

SCAWG members funded Esmie Kunyumbu through school and University in Malawi.

She subsequently gained employment with the National Bank of Malawi who later sponsored her to study for a PhD at Loughborough. She was back again last week to present a research paper at a conference in Loughborough.

Jean Soper kindly hosted former members at a lunch in Esmie’s honour. She’s here with three members, Margaret Harget, Muriel Hulme and Past President Gloria Banner.

L to R: Geraldine Deas (Membership), Ann Scott (Communications), Kay Howell (President), Jennie Lansberg (Finance), Aisha Alshawaf, (External Affairs), Kate Irving (Events and Programme) and Gill Ramsay who attends LT meetings as Constitutional Advisor.

Click HERE to find out more about the event.

Congratulations to Patrice Wellesley-Cole who has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the King’s New Year Honours 2026 for services to Charity. The award was given in recognition of her work as the President of Graduate Women International (GWI).

The investiture ceremony way held at Windsor Castle and patrice's medal was presented by Anne, Princess Royal.

Kate Irving and Carrie de Silva attended one of the launch events to celebrate 100 Years of The Women's Library.  This is a repository well known to many BFWG members through their own research, and holds our archives. We are liaising with them with regard to our celebratory 120 year anniversary at the 2027 Annual Conference.  Find out more HERE

BFWG member Carrie is a guest speaker at an event organised by the University of Colombo to mark Interntional Women's Day 2026.

BFWG member Sudha Srivastava attended a landmark event in London commemorating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations at the Central Hall Westminster where the first-ever General Assembly was held in January 1946.  The keynote address was given by Secretary-General António Guterres.

BFWG member Aisha Alshawaf with outgoing UWE President Anne Nègre.

Read Aisha's report and see more photos HERE.

During the 16 Days of Activism 2025 campaign, GWI co-sponsored the Widows Rights International (WRI) event at the House of Lords.

Read Patrice Wellesley-Cole's report HERE.

Steve Nicholson's talk on Blood Bikes was an eye-opening experience for Winchester Women Graduates.  Members were so impressed by the invaluable work the volunteer bikers do, not only giving their time, but also paying their own expenses.

BFWG Independent members and friends and family were delighted to celebrate Alison's special birthday and to sample the magnificent cake .

Alison was a consultant dermatologist. This photo shows her engaged in conversation with Dr Nesta Roberts, independent member and a former consultant paediatrician.

The card Alison received from the King and Queen.

In lieu of birthday gifts (and as well as), Alison received donations for the Sutton Coldfield African Schoolgirl fund, which is supporting a young woman in Malawi studying for a degree in Midwifery.

The short-listed presenters pictured with BFWG's Carrie de Silva (second from the right):

From L to R: Paris Lee (Liverpool), Ruth Hyndman (Lancashire), Faye Lynch (Liverpool), Catherine Pennington (Sheffield) - winner of the best presentation on the day, BFWG's Carrie de Silva, the overall winner, Lois Nash (Bangor).

Held at Goodenough College in London.

Celebrating and Supporting Women’s Leadership

Click HERE for more  photos.

This has become a special annual event.  Carrie de Silva invites BFWG friends to her holiday home on Hayling Island.  Brenda Cook and her dog Dante left before the photo was taken, having travelled by ferry from Portsmouth.

Members of Lincoln and Lincolnshire Association with members of the Grenoble Association on their latest twinning visit to Grenoble in May 2025.

Carrie de Silva's talk on the "Sybil Campbell Collection - what happened next" was warmly received by members of Winchester LA.  Some already knew a lot about the subject, some knew nothing at all but we all learned something!  

Carrie de Silva in conversation with Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

BFWG delegates relaxing with their partners.  Click HERE to find out about the serious business!

This event is held annually at Jill Mitchell's home.

Goodenough College is the new home of the cream of the Sybil Campbell Collection. Click HERE to find out more.

Presenters (L to R) HHJ Sarah Davies, Dr Roopa Farooki and Lis Hirlemann.

Go to Photo Albums on the Members Info tab to see more photos.

Independent and LA members met at The Grand Hotel in York for a traditional afternoon tea organised by Jill Mitchell, the Area Coordinator. 

The judges found it hard to choose a winner from a strong field of candidates with a very diverse range of research topics.
Find out more HERE.

Members  Carrie de Silva, Kate Irving and Cynthia Burek enjoying a book swap after a pub lunch in Whitchurch - a regular event!

BFWG members Aisha Alshawaf, Jennie Morley and Christel Moor attended in Old Town Marbella.  To find out more click HERE.

Members Adele Gardner and Kate Irving visited the 25th Persephone Festival based at the Persephone bookshop and other venues around Bath.  

Members were joined by Pesident Jasmit Phull, President Elect Kay Howell and VP Margaret Middlemass.