White Ribbon Day at Aston University

The Aston White Ribbon Steering Group invites you to our annual White Ribbon Day event.

This year’s White Ribbon theme is “We Speak Up”, so we’re aiming to centre our event around speaking up, being an ally, and exploring what each of us can do to support women and girls who are victims of — or may be at risk of — men’s violence, FGM, honour-based or cyber abuse, and forced marriage.

The event will feature a series of speakers followed by lunch and a networking session with our partner organisations

Lunch will be provided and the agenda is below:

Agenda:

9:15 Registration

9:45 Welcome: Professor Osama Khan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic), Aston University White Ribbon Strategic Lead for White Ribbon Accreditation, White Ribbon Ambassador

9:50 White Ribbon Day 2025: Speak Up Now!- Claire Richards, Aston University White Ribbon Lead, and Gosia Dzierdzikowska, White Ribbon Champion

9.55 Survivor Story – Professor Osama Khan

10:00 Keynote: Joy Doal, CEO, Anawim

10:30 Honour Based Abuse - Shaila Pervez, Roshni Birmingham

11:00 Survivor Story – Symon Hill, University Chaplain

11:05 Safety On Campus

11.35 Cyber Violence – Dr Laura Di Chiacchio, Aston Centre for Cyber Security Innovation (CSI)

12.05 Survivor Story - Inderpal Singh Bahia, White Ribbon Ambassador

12:10 Closing Gosia Dzierdzikowska

12:15 Lunch & Meet our Partners (Roshni Birmingham, DORCAS, Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, The Jan Foundation, Birmingham City Council, WM Police and ROCU, Anawim)

1:30 Event ends

This event is open to all Aston University staff and students.

Let’s come together to raise awareness and drive change!