Wheel Women Love Bikes!

Information:

A group of eleven female bicycle activists from around the globe and here in Ireland share why (and how) they cycle, triumphs and trials in their advocacy work, and their love of bikes! This discussion will be available as a podcast after the event.

International Panelists:

Jenni Gwiazdowski (UK) is the founder and director of the London Bike Kitchen, 1/2 of the Wheel Suckers Podcast, and author of How to Build a Bike. She dreams of a more equitable world, with cycling leading the way towards environmental, social, and racial justice. She also likes wine, cats, and discovering Star Trek. 

Cristina Gallo (Spain) – Journalist with focus on women and sport. I’ve covered several Olympic Games since 1988 and numerous sports events. Currently, anchor and director of Ganamos con Ellas, a radio show dedicated to women working on sport. Presenter of different sport events, symposiums and forums. Co-founder of Biciclistas de Corella in 2005. Daily urban cyclist, founder of La Ribera en Femenino, an association to empower women in our neighbourhood. Since 2018, pilot and trainer of Cycling Without Age in Navarra.

Pernille Bussone (Denmark) – I have a degree in counselling psychology from TATA Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, which sparked a non-career in trying to do things that are meaningful and helpful to others. Apart from cycling, I’ve been involved with the Association of Women for Action and Research in both India and Singapore. My current occupation is with Cycling Without Age a non-profit with these guiding principles: slowness, generosity, without age, relationships and storytelling.

Tegan Moss (Canada) – Building community is a primary goal for Tegan Moss. As the Executive Director of B!KE: The Peterborough Community Cycling Hub, Moss has directly increased community access to the tools and knowledge necessary for sustainable cycling. Through collaboration Moss has been able to leverage community resources in the launch of in-school cycling programing, community bicycle repair and riding workshops, and Earn-A-Bike programs for youth and adults. Moss currently serves as the Treasurer for Canada’s National Cycling Advocacy organization, Vélo Canada Bikes, and is a member of the Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Giulia Grigoli (Italy/Ireland) is a Senior Transport Planner and Civil Engineer with seven years of international working experience, now working for SYSTRA. Being also a passionate advocate for cycling and sustainable transport, she’s always looking after the next opportunity to instill new ideas and to influence positive change.
Member of the Dublin Cycling campaign since 2016 she has been involved in the development of Women on Wheels project for the last 2 years.

Irish Panelists:

Joan Swift – I live in Sligo and I am Chairperson of Sligo Cycling Campaign, I was 11 when I learned to cycle and ‘I’ve ever got the hang of throwing my leg over a crossbar!  I cycled as a student and younger woman, then took several “gap years” and returned to cycling in my 60’s.  I’m an accidental activist! 

Louise Williams is an activist and journalist who has reported from fishing boats off the coast of West Africa and visited communities across Congo affected by the conflict. If she’s not investigating migration and human rights abuses, she is to be found cycling around Dublin and supporting women to discover the joy of cycling in her role as vice-chairperson of the Dublin Cycling Campaign. 

Martina Callanan is a board member of Cyclist.ie – the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network and spokesperson for Galway Cycling Campaign. She is an experienced strategic policy and communications in social change organisations and has worked in overseas development aid, mental health services, and the university sector. Currently, she is working with her home city to #ChangeOurStreets to make a safer, healthier and happy Galway during Covid-19. Martina also loves books, blooms, and baking. Twitter @MartinaCallanan

Allison Phillips works as the Cycling Development Officer at Green-Schools Ireland. She lives and cycles in Dublin, is originally from California and has lived in China and Australia. With experience cycling in multiple countries, Allison has become passionate about normalizing and supporting cycling in Ireland.

Ruth O’Connor – I love any excuse to go galavanting on my bike, whether it’s commuting to work, a quick spin to the shop or heading off touring. I love the freedom my bicycle gives me and I try to spread this message as much as I can. I’m Secretary of Wexford Bicycle User Group (WEXBug) and started the ‘Bikes and Brunch Huns’ spins which aims to get more women out on two wheels in an inclusive, welcoming space.”

Mairéad Forsythe is a campaigner with Dublin Cycling Campaign/Cyclist.ie and Love 30.  She was a daily bicycle commuter in Dublin for 30 years, does occasional “sportive cycles” and has cycle-toured at home and abroad.