Soroptimists and guests had a thought provoking and enjoyable day at the Soroptimist International London Chilterns Region Summer Conference on Saturday 7 June 2025 at the Redbourn Parish Centre.
The event was hosted by the Soroptimist International St Albans and District Club.
Regional President Kate Belinis’ Theme for 2024/25 is: “Impactful Women”.
The event marked World Environment Day with the 2025 theme of #Beatplasticpollution.
Our first impactful speaker was Gill Arukpe MBE – she titled her talk “Leading With Purpose”, which she has done throughout her life in spades! Scroll down to read a summary of Gill’s biography. Please click here to download and view the slides that Gill talked us through Gill Arukpe Presentation SILC June 2025. Her life’s journey (so far!) is motivational and fascinating, from a difficult start at home and in education to making a difference to the lives of thousands of people, particularly women. She is driven by empowering others and seeing them succeed. Our audience was blown away by Gill, and had lots of great questions. One we want to follow up on is how 
to empower women without men feeling like they’re being disempowered – and how to answer questions around this topic. Gill lives in St Albans and local Soroptimists are keen to work with Gill in the future. Helen Byrne thanked Gill for her impactful talk and presented her with the book “Woman and Power” by Mary Beard. Gill told us afterwards that she had found taking about herself difficult and the audience was very grateful and inspired by the sharing of her story.
After Gill’s talk we had some Soroptimist Business to cover including the tradition of having a roll call of the almost 50 attendees. We had Soroptimists with us from all around the Region, plus one member from SI Stratford-Upon-Avon, guests including two women who we are hoping will become members of SI St Albans & District very soon.
Our second impactful speaker was Associate Professor Susan Parham MRTPI, FRSA. The tantalising title of her talk was “Making Space for Food in Everyday Places” – Susan engages everyone with her vision for food, placemaking and sustainability.
If you click here you can view Susan’s presentation in video format: https://youtu.be/bYHyo7crBBU
This slide “Greenhouse gas emissions from the food system” shows why it is so important that changes are made urgently. Susan describes the situation now as a “food emergency” and we need awareness of the importance of growing food and the space to grow food locally. She advocates for a change to street space, that’s better for pedestrians – the 15 minute city. The original designs for garden cities got lost and cities were designed around the car rather than the living space for people and for food. From slide 27 “Huge scale of urbanisation –
More than half the world’s population lives in ‘cities’, two thirds will by 2050.
Much development is sprawl – very car dependent and hard to get around on foot or a bike. Not much positive connection to food. These forms of urban development are having effects on our health: tendency to see weight issues about personal responsibility and behaviour, but, very much about how we make/design places. ‘Globesity’ pandemic, obesegenic environments, food deserts and food 
swamps. We underplay spatial issues.”
Susan wrapped up by saying (slide 83) “Plenty of scope to think about how we make space for food in everyday places. This perhaps is not as obvious as it might seem on first look… And it really matters! For 
health, conviviality, the climate, biodiversity and and places. To make resilient, sustainable and convivial places we need to work on this together and in a holistic way. Your thoughts on what we could and should do would be great to hear.”
A lively Q&A then ensued about how things can be changed.
Kate Belinis thanked Susan for her impactful talk and presented her with the book “Woman and Power” by Mary Beard.
There were many lively conversations from the morning that continued over a delicious lunch (produced locally we were pleased to say).
After lunch, our third impactful speaker is a Member of SI St Albans & District – Ayushi Kundu Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland Assistant Programme Director Partnerships. You can view Ayushi’s slides by downloading them as a PDF here: Ayushi Kundu Carrying the Torch and Shaping the Future SILC June 2025
Ayushi started by saying thanks for being given the time to share a little bit of her story – her journey with Soroptimist International, what brought her here, and where she hopes we’re all headed together. Ayushi is a lawyer who used to practice at the Calcutta High Court, mostly in human rights law and is now training to become a barrister in the UK. She moved to the UK after she got married. Ayushi is “a second-generation Soroptimist”. Her mother is Dr Achina Kundu who has been a member for close to 25 years. She’s been President of SI Calcutta twice, and went on to become the President of the National Association in India between 2020 and 2022. Ayushi said “Some journeys are written in the stars, others begin at home. Mine began at the dinner table. I didn’t just grow up hearing about Soroptimist values — I grew up being part of them, sometimes without realising it. I remember stuffing envelopes, tagging along to events, meeting incredible women who inspired me before I even understood what the word “Soroptimist” meant. It all left a mark.
It was only natural that I’d join the organisation myself, and I did so age 22. That might sound young – and it was. I quickly realised that being young in this space came with its own challenges. There were times when I felt unheard. Like I was too young to have a say. Or that my ideas were a ‘bit too ambitious’. And yes, there were tears. Sometimes I cried, not because I didn’t believe in what I was doing, but because I wanted to be seen. I wanted someone to say, ‘Your ideas are valid. Let’s shape them, not shelve them.’ But I kept showing up. I kept learning. And gradually, I started to feel not just seen—but trusted. In 2019, I had the opportunity to attend the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63) in New York, and that experience changed something in me. Being in rooms where global decisions were being made—about women’s rights, social protection systems, access to justice—I felt, for the first time, how wide and deep our Soroptimist presence really is. Soon after, I served as SI President’s Appeal Coordinator for The Road to Equality, working on issues like child marriage, FGM, and domestic violence. I began to understand that Soroptimism isn’t just about small, local efforts. It’s about connecting those efforts to a much bigger voice—and that voice gets stronger when we work together.
I’m now part of the Soroptimist Youth Forum Steering Committee. Our whole aim is to create spaces where young women feel like they belong from day one. We’re not here to wait our turn—we’re already here, and we’re ready. We are the brilliant future of this bright organisation, ready to steer it in its second century.
I think a lot about that first meeting I attended as a full member. I was nervous. Unsure. But I remember one person smiled and said, ‘We need more people like you.’ That one sentence? It stayed with me.”
When Ayushi became President of SI Calcutta in 2023, she wanted to lead something practical, people-focused, and impactful. That’s how the project Nourishing Mothers with Flourishing Babies was born focused on the first 1000 days of a child’s life—from conception to age two. They handed out nutrition kits, ran check-up clinics, and held workshops. The project was supported by Clubs in the UK and visited by SIGBI President Cathy Cottridge and Programme Director Lindsay Green in person during their visit to India in February 2023. Ayushi has a great relationship with her mentor Sharon Fisher, past International President and worked with her on SI The Road to Equality projects. Last year, in 2024, Ayushi became a member of SI St Albans & District. Ayushi met some of the members of the Club and Region at last year’s International Women’s Day event in Knebworth and we were delighted to hear her say that she felt a sense of immediate connection and belonging.
She finished by talking a little about her role as SIGBI Assistant Programme Director for Partnerships. She explained that SI is moving away from the 5 P’s (People, Planet, Peace, Partnerships, Prosperity) to align more closely with the new Charitable Objects of SIGBI https://sigbi.org/who-we-are/our-objects-principles/
- the advancement of education;
- the advancement of health and saving lives;
- the relief and/or prevention of poverty;
- the advancement of good citizenship and community development;
- the advancement of equality and diversity;
- the advancement of human rights throughout the world;
- for the benefit of the public and in particular for the benefit of women and girls to advance their status, position and role in society where currently unequal or disadvantaged.
Ayushi is now leading on number 3 – the relief and/or prevention of poverty, and there is a new Assistant Programme Director for Advocacy.
Jane Slatter thanked Ayushi for her impactful talk and presented her with the book “Woman and Power” by Mary Beard (see photo above). We are sure we will all hear more from Ayushi in the future – which certainly looks bright for her.
Next on the agenda was for four Soroptimist Clubs to tell us about an Impactful Woman – connected to their Club in some way.
First we heard from Anne Miles SI Hertford & District. Anne told us about Michele Stokes, CEO of Carers in Hertfordshire. https://www.carersinherts.org.uk/ – click on Anne’s script here to read more about Michele:
Next was Sarah Lichman from SI St Albans & District. Sarah spoke about the inimitable and impactful Annie Brewster. Annie has supported the Club and been generous with her time and energy on women’s issues for many years – even when she was busy as High Sheriff of Hertfordshire 2023-2024 – see the photo of Annie in her costume complete with velvet breeches, ostrich feathers and sword! (more to follow)
Joanna Swift from SI Aylesbury & District introduced us to their impactful Club Member Ranjula Takodra MBE. You can read Joanna’s script here and will clearly understand why she chose Ranjula to tell us about Impactful Women – Ranjula Takodra.
Lastly we heard from Sue Payne, SI Milton Keynes and District. Sue explained to us why she had chosen Margaret Durbridge and how she had positively impacted Sue in her life. Sue’s notes are here Impactful Women – Margaret Durbridge – you can also read this biography and see some lovely photos of the unassuming Margaret Margaret-Durbridge-e-bio-Sept-2018/.
Helen Byrne, the event’s leading organiser then brought us back to World Environment Day Theme: #Beatplasticpollution & the Plastic Free July Challenge. Helen is also SI St Albans & District’s Planet Team Facilitator.
Helen showed a short film about plastic pollution: Why Plastic? – 2.28mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E7zzQfyjX0
and then introduced the Plastic Free July Challenge video 1.12mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByayHG5CscE
What will you do?
President Kate Belinis DL then wrapped up this “impact” packed event and invited everyone to stay for a cup of tea/coffee and have safe journeys home.
The date for the next meeting is: Sat 18 Oct 2025 – SILC Region AGM/Conference – Lancaster Hall London.
Everyone was delighted to hear from Jane Slatter that ballots were with their Clubs to vote for Kate Belinis to be the next President-Elect of SIGBI, and Christine Corless, also from our Region, to continue as Director of Finance. Jane thanked Kate Belinis, Helen Byrne and the wonderful team of St Albans Soroptimists who had worked so hard to make the day such a success (Jane. Kate and Helen are pictured here breathing a sigh of relief that it had all gone so smoothly!).
Speaker Biographies:
Gill Arupke was awarded her MBE in 2024 in recognition of her 46-year career in the charity sector and has recently been appointed to be a judge of the Better Society Awards 2025. Gill started her career at 18, opening and running two women’s refuges in the early 1980s and then went on to work at Shelter for 17 years where she championed the rights of homeless individuals. She continued this work at Novas Scarman Group and then at Turning Point, focusing on mental health and substance abuse support. Her first CEO role was at Penrose Options in 2009 which demonstrated her leadership for social justice and community development. In 2014, as the founding CEO of the Social Interest Group, Gill began building an innovative organisation that supports a wider network of charities in their mission to provide essential services to vulnerable people. Amongst the many services SIG provides it has created a range of services for women who have suffered violence or been sexually exploited plus a London wide service for women with personality disorders who received prison sentences. Gill has been a vocal advocate for the homeless and those with mental health issues, with campaigns to raise awareness that have driven policy changes to address these issues.
Susan Parham – Associate Professor Parham is Director of the University of Hertfordshire’s Urbanism Unit (UHUU) and a Research Associate at the Laboratory for Building Cultures at the École Nationale Supérieure Architecture Grenoble. Susan has a long-term research interest in sustainable urban design and urbanism encompassing nature based solutions, food and spatial design, planned settlements including garden cities and new towns, sustainable building and construction, sprawl retrofitting, and transport oriented, compact and sustainable cities. Susan has written a number of books, chapters and peer reviewed articles on these topics (see https://researchprofiles.herts.ac.uk/en/persons/susan-parham), is the Co-Editor of the Journal of Urbanism and is on the editorial board of Urban Design and Planning. Previously Susan was an expert policy analyst and rapporteur for the OECD, a sustainability consultancy director and a senior manager in public sector planning. Susan chaired the Council for European Urbanism for nine years and was a Trustee and Deputy Chair of Living Streets for six years. Susan is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and an RSA Fellow.