Journalist, author, event host and communications trainer, Edie Lush recently led an online ‘Speaking in Public’ workshop for our grassroots partners around the world. We caught up with Edie afterwards to find out more about what being a global feminist means to her. We also discovered she would love to blast into space…
Let’s meet Edie before she sources that rocket…
Tell us how you became a part of our Circle network of changemakers?
I loved interviewing Annie Lennox for the podcast that I produced and hosted called Global GoalsCast – telling the stories of the people helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. I was inspired by the concept of ‘global feminism’ that I learned from her – namely that every single one of us can support the rights of disadvantaged women and girls from poorer parts of the world.
How have you supported our work?
I recently hosted an online course on speaking in public for some of The Circle’s partners recently – we had participants from South Sudan to Sri Lanka.
We focused on two key aspects of communication.
First, how do you come across? Are you looking and sounding confident and comfortable? Is there anything detracting from your delivery? Second, your content – what is your message? Is it landing how you want it to and resonating with the audience? Are you being remembered, not just for a few minutes or hours, but maybe even weeks, months or years?
Overall, we worked hard on having impact, a presence and raising gravitas. Some of the partners talked about being the only woman in the room. They talked about the challenge of bringing attention to their work when the need is great in many so areas. I’d love to continue to stay in touch and to support these incredible women.
What do you feel are the important issues to be addressed in the coming year, and what feminist change would you like to see in the world?
The number one feminist change I would like to see in the world is to see the United States elect its first woman president. Seeing President Kamala Harris walk into the White House will send a strong signal that the United States will protect women & their reproductive rights in the United States.
What does being a global feminist mean to you?
I love sharing the stories of women and girls that I have interviewed.
Here’s one: The world has recently been through a global experiment in who we prioritise – a test of how equitably we look after each other regardless of race or resources. That test was called Covid-19. And let’s just say we failed. Miserably.
In the middle of Covid, I spoke to a nurse who was running a health clinic in the slums of Nairobi. It was a moment when children in the rich world – who weren’t all that vulnerable – were getting second doses of vaccine before our nurse or any other health professionals in Africa had received a first dose.
Not only was this unconscionable, it was stupid public health policy. But there it was …and it still breaks my heart to remember her saying to me, “our lives matter too!!”
The question for all of us is – how do we make sure that that sort of inequity never happens again?
How do you unwind and rest?
I’m a member of a woman’s cycling club called Bella Velo. I am learning to play tennis and pottery. I’m relearning to play the piano. And I love to read.
What job did you want to do when you were little?
I was going to be an astronaut. Who knows – I may make it into space yet!
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