Celebrating creativity

that champions

equality across Thanet

ABOUT POW

Our Mission

To promote equality and diversity for the public benefit by:

  • Cultivating a sentiment favouring equality and diversity of women and girls.

  • Advancing education and raising general awareness among the public about the issues and challenges facing the lives of women and girls.

  • Promoting and staging an annual arts festival to commemorate International Women’s Day.

Hailing from the vibrant landscapes of Thanet, Kent, the Power of Women stands as a beacon of artistic expression and a championing voice for gender equality. Together with Thanet, we navigate the multifaceted realm of feminism, creating a haven where diverse perspectives are heard, understood, and celebrated.

Each March since 2015, the shores of Thanet come alive with POW’s Annual Festival, a tribute to International Women's Day and a celebration of the boundless creativity of the women and non-binary individuals in Thanet.

Beyond the festival, we're passionate about intertwining the arts with the fabric of our community. Our engagement initiatives run year-round, sparking inspiration and broadening horizons as we foster collaborations between artists and local institutions.

POW's legacy traces back to 2015, begining with POW’s Founder Christina Clark-McQuaid and Artistic Director Jan Ryan.

Today, POW’s is run collectively by Rosanagh, Amy, Sarah, Hannah, Poppy, Susan and Darryn. These 7 Women & Non-Binary people carry forward POW’s legacy from a small shed in the heart of Thanet.

Meet the Team

  • Rosanagh has over ten years in creating learning, experiential and immersive programmes for adults, families, schools, community groups and policy-makers. Her experience in designing, delivering, and evaluating programmes has resulted in working with Sky, Marks & Spencer, Nike, The Royal Collection, V&A, Historic Royal Palaces and with foreign policy makers in Mexico and South Africa. She is passionate about intersectional feminism and believes a sea swim in Thanet cures all!

  • Amy manages the artistic collaborations and partnerships for our Festival each year. Alongside working for us, Amy also heads the artistic direction for Margate Pride, alongside being a BBC radio producer, co-founder of Sink The Pink, East Creative, and Mighty Hoopla. She is a proud drag and baby mother and champions intersectional feminism, community activism, inclusivity and empowerment!

  • Hannah is responsible for developing corporate partnerships and engaging our community with fundraising camapigns. Before POW, Hannah worked with arts organisations such as Turner Contemporary, Canterbury Festival and Smugglers Records.

  • Darryn has worked on events great and small all over the country. She currently focuses her attention on Thanet, working for POW!, Ramsgate Festival of Sound, Round In Circles and anything else that comes along. She also runs her own company, Soulsound, and Margate Independent Foodbank along with other dedicated volunteers.

  • Susan makes the magic happen with our Youth Programme and other events throughout the year. Susan’s background is broad, encompassing events planning and business development within the FTSE100 to arts facilitation and community projects. She is also a Neurodivergent, Northern Irish solo artist, writer, director and collaborator working within theatre and live performance! (www.suzycrothers.com). As an Associate at Open School East, she is furthering her arts practice whilst supported by an ACE DYCP Award.

The Young Producers

Meet Abi, Lia and Ryo.

From September through to March, these talented Young People join us as part of the POW team, as they plan, develop and create their own podcast & event as part of our International Women’s Day Festival.

Meet Our Trustees

  • Dr Nena Foster - Co-Chair of Trustees

    Nena is a nutritional chef, food writer, DEI consultant, and health coach trainee with experience in hospitality, healthcare, and education. She's a former trustee of Positive East, a London-based HIV charity, contributed to Women on Boards, worked on diversity analysis for the Greater London Authority, and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology of Health and Illness from London South Bank University.

  • Alaina Crystal - Co-Chair of Trustees

    Alaina is a feminist strategist and creative communicator, dedicated to improving women's representation in advertising, boosting girls' confidence, normalizing periods, and tackling Gender Based Violence.

  • Stevie Tyler

    Stevie, CEO of The Aplastic Anaemia Trust, has extensive experience in healthcare, international development, and the arts, with a focus on fundraising innovation and patient experience. Her career highlights include roles at Macmillan Cancer Support and Fashion Revolution. She's an enthusiast of boxing, creative writing, and enjoys beach outings with her family in Margate.

  • Johanna Schulz

    Johanna heads the Adolescent Girls Investment Plan, a global feminist coalition aiming to empower adolescent girls in international development. She has a rich background in project management, advocacy, and fundraising, and is also a registered Craniosacral therapist and AoF-accredited facilitator, deeply committed to feminist values, girl empowerment, and refugee rights.

  • Eilidh Macpherson

    Eilidh is a feminist and a campaigner, with wide experience from having worked in the fields of international development, disability, conflict and climate justice. She currently heads up Amnesty International UK's Individuals at Risk programme, and prioritises participation, intersectionality and working towards an anti-racist approach in her work. She's a new Thanet resident, having recently moved to Ramsgate and loves beach fun with her kids, year round swims and recovering with coffee and a pastry.

  • Lara Wilks Sloan - Treasurer

    Lara Wilks Sloan is Development Director at The Anne Frank Trust UK, with over 20 years of experience in fundraising. She has a background in performance, has produced comedy and drama, and volunteers in Thanet to support young people. Lara's past roles include working at the Education Foundation, Suzy Lamplugh Trust, and Refugee Council, with notable achievements in donor cultivation and campaign management.

  • Sophie Clissold-Lesser

    Sophie has had a 30 year corporate career alongside a passion for volunteering. An experienced trustee having served as chair of trustees at Little Angel Theatre and StreetDoctors, and as a trustee at The Ramblers & Southwark Arts Forum. She is currently a trustee of Charity Mentors Kent & Medway and the Ramsgate Society and volunteers in a Ramsgate charity shop. She's a new Thanet resident who's fallen under the spell of Ramsgate and is enjoying local bands, beaches & breweries! 

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