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Holding space for yourself and others (AWLSIG)

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The next AWLSIG Workshop – Holding space for yourself and others: the practice – will take place on Tuesday 5th March 2024 1.00PM – 2.30PM.

Many of us crave more space in our lives – time to simply think or just be.  Yet space is the one thing we rarely gift ourselves.  In this session, we will explore the mindset and the practical habits that are required to create, and hold space.  By doing so you will have greater clarity of thinking, make more effective decisions and develop a stronger presence. 

This session is inspired by our new Leadership Programme, Holding Space as the Art of Leadership, which brings together a community of female leaders from UK and Australian universities. 

We will use our time together to explore how we can: 

  • Cultivate a beginner’s mindset as a prerequisite for holding space and creating clarity.
  • Engage with holistic, embodied approaches to deliberate, unhurried leadership.
  • Use the body to set the mental and physical pace of our day, of our thinking and doing.
  • Foster a rich environment, which nurtures our thinking and creative work; and lead others to do the same.

Booking information:

  • Facilitators: Clare Trembleau & Antonia Adeyemi
  • Event Date/Time: Tuesday 5th March 2024 1.00PM – 2.30PM
  • Location: SDF Zoom
  • Bookings will be made available via SDF Jiscmail

About the speakers:

Professor Christina Hughes – Named as a “Woman of Influence 2023” in Baroness Sandy Verma’s annual list Christina has executive leadership experience in both research and teaching intensive universities having been Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Warwick, Provost, Sheffield Hallam University and Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kent. She is also an internationally leading feminist educator and researcher with over 16 books to her name and with a £1.6m achievement in external research grant capture. Throughout her career Christina has mentored and coached many women, and men, at all levels of university life. She holds an ILM Level 7 qualification in Executive Coaching and Mentoring, is an accredited StrengthsProfile coach and a member of the Institute of Learning and Management.  Christina is a Visiting Professor at Coventry University and an Honorary Professor at the University of Kent. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy which she set up; a lifetime fellow of the Gender and Education Association in recognition of her role in inaugurating and Chairing the Association; and external advisor for EDI for the Association of British Chinese Professors.  Christina has also been a Governor at Leeds Beckett University; a Trustee for Villiers Park Educational Trust and a Trustee for the Royal Society of the Arts Academies.

Dr Maria Kukhareva – Dr Kukhareva is a Resilience expert, published author, TEDx Speaker and coach. With over twenty years in the UK Higher Education sector, Maria has enjoyed a rich range of academic, research and professional roles. In her most recent role as Head of People Development at the University of Bedfordshire, Maria played a key role in developing Women Leaders and building women’s networks at her institution and across the sector. Throughout her career, Maria has led on a variety of cross- and inter-disciplinary projects, which resulted in the creation and transfer of new knowledge and practices in research, teaching and leadership practice. Her early interdisciplinary work at the intersection of pedagogy and drama, visual arts and dance gave birth informed her interest in integrative and embodied approaches to cognition, human and leadership development. Maria has trained with the Institute for Zen Leadership; she is a certified Zen Leadership Practitioner and a certified Physical Intelligence Coach. Maria is currently working towards completing her FEBI Coaching certification. Focus Energy balance indicator, or FEBI, is a psychometric tool, which measures energy patterns in our nervous system.


AWLSIG Enquiries: Please contact Clare Trembleau clare.trembleau@abdn.ac.uk and Antonia Adeyemi antonia.adeyemi@admin.cam.ac.uk (AWLSIG Co-Chairs) for any SDF Advancing Women’s Leadership Special Interest Group (AWLSIG) enquiries, or if you would like to deliver or co-facilitate a session.