WOW Australia 2020

Founded by Jude Kelly, WOW - Women of the World , is a global force supporting women and girls, action and change.

The three-day WOW festival celebrating the successes of women and girls and exploring the obstacles they face was initially started in London in 2010. It is the biggest, most comprehensive and most significant festival dedicated to presenting work by women and promoting equality for women and girls.

Jude is making her way from the UK to Australia 24th – 29th June for a six-day trip to work with Cathy Hunt, Executive Director of Of One Mind, producers of WOW Australia 2020 and the team on the planning of WOW Australia 2020. Through a number of lectures at private sector and public events, they will be meeting with a number of existing and potential stakeholders to learn from Australians' experiences and views and understand the key issues for achieving gender equality in Australia.

About WOW:
The WOW movement is now one of the largest networks convening women in the world with over 2 million participants across 65 festivals in 30 countries on five continents and growing across Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, the United States and Nepal to name a few. 2020 will see WOW festivals in Brisbane, Baltimore, Istanbul, Karachi, Hunza (Northern Pakistan), Janakpur (Nepal), Shanghai and more.

WOW provides platforms for people of all kinds, changes attitudes, brings communities together and provides a unique space for people to work together towards gender equality in their own communities.

Over the last nine years the Festivals have developed a reputation as a space for world renowned artists, activists, thinkers and performers including Angela Davis, Malala Yousafzai, Annie Lennox, Patrick Stewart, Ann Summers and Urvashi Butalia, to come and participate, alongside thousands of women and girls who don't have public profiles but are doing amazing things.

In support of this Queensland Premier The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk recently announced the return of WOW to Queensland for three years from 2020 following its success as part of the Commonwealth Games cultural program in 2018.

WOW Australia & Jude's Visit:
In Jude Kelly's own words: "Australia has always been vocal and inventive in harnessing the power of women and girls to contribute to a better society. Our aim is to use the Brisbane events to grow the WOW movement and as a focal point to deepen the national debate. If that is to succeed, we need a broader understanding of current debate and initiatives in order to identify the best ways we can add to the national conversation. It is with this in mind that we are hosting a series of curated conversations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns this month. Ideas and suggestions will be invaluable in directing our thinking as WOW Australia takes shape.".

WOW Australia has a nation-wide remit to build upon and develop partnerships and positive connections with organizations and communities right across Australia that will grow over the three-year period to jointly create opportunities for women and girls across Australia and the Asia Pacific Region to present and participate.

Jude Kelly is available for interviews regarding her work and the WOW Australia 2020 Festival which will take place April 3rd – 5th at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

For more information on WOW Australia – of which the Honourable Quentin Bryce is patron, please visit: www.wowaustralia.com.au.