After hosting numerous outstanding speakers at the Henley Female Network monthly events, March’s breakfast talk is with the incredible Holly Hughson who will be sharing her extraordinary story – Unarmed – A Female Aid Worker’s Journey on the Frontlines of 21^st Century Conflict. Holly’s experiences as a humanitarian aid worker in some of the world’s most challenging environments promise to be both inspiring and eye-opening.

On Friday 28th March come with Holly on a humanitarian mission and adventure that explores her motivation and the ways she learned to stay safe, or at least stack the odds in her favour! Over the course of Holly’s career, she has held assignments ranging from refugee reintegration in South Sudan to advising International Security Forces in Afghanistan on stabilisation and governance.

Operating unarmed in highly insecure locations is only possible through consent by the local population. Like the military, humanitarian aid workers go into harm’s way. Unlike the military, they do not wear protective armour or have weapons to enforce and secure their presence. Operating unarmed elevates the importance of relationships and trust. Security comes from building relationships and working with the consent of the local community. 

For nearly two decades, Holly was either operating in or training to respond to some of the most complex humanitarian emergencies on the planet. This journey took her to Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Sudan, South Sudan, the Russian Federation, Afghanistan, and Macedonia. Most of the locations were fragile or failing states. Over and over, she had to adapt to new locations, new rules, cultural differences, and quickly grasp what was needed to stay safe.

This is a unique opportunity to get a first hand insight into places and conflicts that we have heard on the news cycle for much of our adult lives, and to understand what it takes to be an unarmed female operating in these environments. 

The Henley Female Network takes place every fourth Friday of the month at the River & Rowing Museum. These regular meetings have been created to provide a warm, supportive and welcoming space for conversation, inspiration and connection to flourish. You can take time for yourself and come along to expand your personal and professional network as you connect with like-minded women. This is certainly not your typical ‘networking’ meeting. All women are welcome – whether you’re self employed, employed, currently taking a break or anything in between. Whether it’s friendship, for business or for life, the focus on the events is on connection first, that is when business and friendship follow naturally.

Experience Henley is proud to be a partner of this network and to support its vision of empowering women in our community.

These are normally sell out events – you can buy your tickets here for Breakfast Conversation with Holly Hughson.