The three-day symposium welcomed a variety of special guest speakers and panellists, including academics, practitioners, professionals, creatives and students, to explore how we can address harassment and create safe spaces in higher education and beyond.
Day 1
After a warm welcome from Homerton Senior Tutor Dr Georgina Horrell, the symposium kicked off with an impactful talk from Professor Manali Desai, who explored the meaning of “violence”, how it is measured, identified and acknowledged, drawing on extensive interviews and ethnographic research conducted in both India and South Africa.
In the second session of the day, Homerton alumnae Ann Muston, Jo Browning-Wroe and Maysie Haynes, joined Dr Elaine Wilson to discuss how their university experiences here at Homerton College shaped their career paths. The panel compared and contrasted their time at University, offering insights into the challenges they faced, pivotal moments, and the influence of their academic foundations on their current roles.
Later that afternoon, Professor Sanja Bojanic and daughter Christine Bojanic (a surgeon and Homerton Bye Fellow) discussed the topic of empathy, or more specifically whether it comes from human nature or conditioning. Dr Jon Phelan, a Fellow, gave a presentation on what the term ‘abuse’ means, and also pondered the difference between self-neglect and self-abuse.
The day was rounded up with an Open Mic session in the Fellows Dining Room. Homerton’s Poet-in-Residence, Momtaza Mehri, began the evening with a poem that interwove questions of identity with lived experience of prejudice. Her moving poems inspired students and academics alike to take the microphone.
Day 2
Day 2 of the Holding Space: Taking Action symposium began with a thought provoking and rich panel discussion. Chaired by Homerton College Deputy Senior Tutor Dr Junius Olivier, the panel was made up of practitioners Amy Thompson and Manraj Chahal from HVSS, Ocean Cook, Student Wellbeing Adviser at St Edmund’s College, Cambridge and Norah Al-Ani from Cambridge Rape Crisis, who together explored how factors such as race, religion, gender and background shape how individuals in higher education are affected by harassment and discrimination in different ways.With insightful questions from the audience, the panel explored the role of institutional policies in fostering a culture of respect and accountability, and how universities can work to create inclusive and supportive environments, ensuring that all students feel safe and heard.
After a short break for refreshments, attendees divided into two groups – one group to the poetry and transformation workshop with Homerton College’s Poet in Residence Momtaza Mehri, and the other to an invite-only session for Cambridge College Senior Tutors, Wellbeing Leads, and College representatives on HVSS Research and Strategy. In the workshop with poet Momtaza, the group had the opportunity to work interactively, exploring preconceptions about language, reading poetry, and the chance to write their own poems around the theme of ‘resolution’.
An audience comprised primarily of wellbeing and tutoring staff from different colleges and Homerton came together to discuss strategy for sexual harassment. The aim of the session was to explore collaborative approaches to making safe spaces, across Cambridge. The group welcomed Amy Thompson, Head of the Harassment and Violence Support Service at Cambridge University, and Nikki Bannister from the Office of Student Conduct, Complaints and Appeals, who together covered the need to combat complacency and how to build intercollegiate working and communication across the University.
After a networking lunch, attendees at the symposium reconvened for a session with special guest speakers, Dr Anna Bull and Dr Adrija Dey, both co-directors of research and campaigning organisation, The 1752 Group. Both activists for gender-based violence in higher education, Anna and Adrija together discussed issues such as engagement between institutions and activists, the role of institutional policies in making change, and where to focus our energy for maximum impact for survivors.
Later that afternoon, Niamh Brooks and Frances Newell from NHS England delivered a session that presented what actions that institution is taking to improve reporting of sexual violence and harassment. They also covered how the NHS is trying to raise levels of confidence in procedures. The audience Q&A drew lessons that could apply to higher education, and several attendees expressed regret that NHS England was being abolished.
Day 2 was then rounded off with a brilliant poetry reading and moving discussion from Dr Kim Moore, who read from her collection of poems ‘All the Men I Never Married’ (Seren, 2021) and her hybrid book of lyric essays and poetry ‘Are you Judging me Yet?’ (Seren, 2023), to a captivated audience. Followed by a question and answer session from an eager audience, together the room explored poetry as a tool for social change.
Day 3
The final day of Holding Space: Taking Action saw the three-day symposium finish as it had started, with thought-provoking and energising conversations to explore how we can drive positive change in relation to gender, power and culture.
The morning began with a fascinating discussion between award-winning barrister, author and campaigner for women’s rights, Dr Charlotte Proudman, and Homerton’s Dr Jan Ewing. With a wealth of experience between them, the pair examined the systemic silencing of women’s voices by institutional power structures, drawing on first hand experience, and connecting these issues to recent legal and media developments, and the rise of harmful figures who weaponize “free speech” rhetoric.
The final session of the three-day symposium was a panel discussion on understanding and building resilience for women in STEM. The panel was chaired by Homerton’s Dr Priscilla Day-Walsh and Dr Nuthana Prathivai Bhayankaram, as they welcomed Roberta Hook and Professor Judith Stephenson. Together the panel shared first-hand experiences as women pursuing careers in STEM, and explored how we can advocate for inclusive organisations, whilst amplifying marginalised voices to tackle individual and structural biases.
Thank you to the University of Cambridge Wellbeing Stimulus Fund, all the speakers and participants, student ambassadors, and the organising committee.
