The Speakers Sub-Committee is dedicated to maintaining the quality and diversity of the BFWI Speakers Listing, the brochure for which is published every two years.
Speakers recommended to the Committee are selected to be invited for audition at venues around the County. WI members’ written comments at these events are relied upon to determine whether a speaker is approved for entry to the Speakers Listing. Speakers are subsequently invited to renew their place in the Listing, updating their details every two years. Details of interim changes and newly approved speakers are published in BFWI News.
Speakers offering virtual presentations are now identified in the Listing.
To ensure that the standard of speakers remains high, WIs are requested to complete and submit a Speaker Report Form after each monthly meeting, whether the talk was virtual or face to face. This applies to all speakers, whether or not they have been approved for the listing. Click on the .pdf link below to download a copy.
| speaker_report_form_current_revising_2020.pdf |
NEW SPEAKERS ADDED! - see foot of page for full information
Featured Speaker - Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships
What do you do after spending 47 years in the NHS and retirement is fast approaching? How can you continue using all that experience and skill learnt over so many years, for the benefit of people in countries in the world that have little or no healthcare available to the people? The hospital ship Africa Mercy serves the people of West Africa, providing surgery for patients for whom timely, affordable and safe surgery is impossible. We partner with countries to treat patients and mentor medical professionals to learn new skills – aiming to leave each country with an improved healthcare infrastructure. Working on board should come with a health warning: it is addictive! I have served on the ship in four countries, working as a nurse and orthopaedic practitioner, and really look forward to being able to serve again as soon as the pandemic is under control and the ship is allowed to return. Being part of the speakers’ network for Mercy Ships allows me to share my experiences and show photos of my time in each country. I show the range of medical conditions that we treat, explaining their causes and showing the effect of surgery on the patients and their families: there is real joy at seeing individuals restored and given hope for the future. Seeing the “before and after” photos touches my own heart every time, and knowing that I was able to make a difference to some of those patients is truly amazing. The launch of a new hospital ship – the Global Mercy – will give more opportunities for training and mentoring; it will also double the capacity of the surgery for people in West Africa who urgently need our help and care. It also means that there will be a greater need for volunteers to serve, so that the work can continue and grow. Are you willing to be part of that journey for the people in West Africa? Ruth Walne |
NEW SPEAKERS ADDED!
We have continued to audition speakers through lockdown - virtually of course - and we're delighted to introduce you to new "WI approved" speakers. Click on the file .pdf below to open Pandora's Box!
| new_speakers_approved_no_addresses_from_april_21_for_communications_or_other.pdf |