The Conversation

In the season of giving, Datshiane Navanayagam talks to philanthropists from France and Nigeria about using their wealth to help others thrive. Historically philanthropic giving has been dominated by men, but as women’s global wealth grows so does their capacity for donating money to charitable causes and enterprise. The Conversation talks to a French heiress who felt compelled to give away her money following the death of her son in a helicopter crash and a former corporate banker from Nigeria who’s galvanising businesswomen from the African diaspora to invest in the futures of women on the continent.Albina du Boisrouvay was born into extreme wealth as granddaughter of a Bolivian tin magnate and daughter of a French aristocrat. She went on to pursue an alternative career as a film director and when her 24 year old son François-Xavier Bagnoud died, Albina sold three-quarters of her assets and founded FXB Foundation in his name. Its mission is to fight poverty, AIDs and support orphans and vulnerable children. Since 1989, FXB Foundation has impacted the lives of 20 million people. She’s recently written about her extraordinary life in a book called Phoenix Rising.Former corporate banker, Dr Anino Emuwa is from Nigeria and managing director at Avandis Consulting in France. She co-founded Women in Philanthropy and Impact Africa, bringing together women in business from the African diaspora to use the power of philanthropy to drive sustainable development. With only 0.4% of foundation grants globally directed toward organisations addressing women's issues, WIPIA approaches philanthropy through a gendered lens and supports women to lead scalable change in Africa.Produced by Jane Thurlow(Image: (L) Albina du Boisrouvay credit Karine Bauzin. (R), Dr Anino Emuwa courtesy Dr Anino Emuwa.)

Having a severe allergy doesn’t just affect physical health - it’s often the social isolation and mental toll of dealing with a somewhat ‘invisible condition’ that people with allergies also have to contend with.Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women from the US and Spain who’re advocating for more awareness and visibility around the real-life impacts.Sarah Ackerman is from the US. Her sensitivity to certain nuts and other foods puts her at risk of anaphylaxis, a rapid-onset reaction that can be fatal if not treated immediately. She now supports other young people living with food allergies and caregivers through her work as a public speaker and through with her blog, ‘Girl Behind the Hive’. She believes that it’s important to show young people and their parents that it is possible to live fulfilling lives whilst also managing life-threatening food allergies and shares her experiences of everything from dating to travel. Irantzu Muerza Santos from Spain has severe, life-threatening allergic asthma which she must manage through a range of complex treatments and a strict daily routine. Having been under-diagnosed for nearly twenty years, she’s now a voice for millions of sufferers as President of Asthma and Allergy Spain – an organisation that’s committed to improving the quality of life for those living with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory illnesses.Produced by Hannah Dean(Image: (L) Sarah Ackerman, courtesy Sarah Ackerman. (R) Irantzu Muerza Santos credit: Armando Ruiz.)

Jamaica to the Philippines, Cuba to Vietnam – countries around the world are dealing with aftermath of heavy storms and flooding; with hundreds dead and billions in damage. The role of meteorologists warning of extreme weather is increasingly valuable. Ella Al-Shamahi talks to two women tracking hurricanes and cyclones about the importance of their work.Kathy Ann Caesar is chief meteorologist at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology in Barbados. As well as lecturing and teaching the next generation of weather watchers Kathy also advises regional institutions and emergency services on the advent of extreme weather events.Holly Hamilton is Director of Meteorology at Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority. The island only got its own weather forecasting service in 2022, they previously used just weather forecasting from the Bahamas. Holly is building the team to bring a more accurate picture of the weather they expect for the local community as well as the airports authority. Produced by Jane Thurlow(Image: (L) Kathy Ann Caesar, credit Norada Thorinton. (R) Holly Hamilton, credit Watsonne Photography.)

What's it like navigating the world as a disabled parent? Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women from the US and Italy about the reality of parenting with a disability and about why it’s important to reconsider some of the common misconceptions that exist within society around the kind of life that disabled mothers can provide for their children. Jessica Slice is an American disabled author, speaker and essayist who now lives in Toronto with her husband and two children. She was diagnosed with an autonomic nervous system disorder in her twenties after a strenuous hike while on holiday in Greece. The condition changed her life forever – requiring her to use a wheelchair and sometimes experiencing chronic pain - but it also made her consider having children, seriously for the very first time. Her book, Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges An Inaccessible World chronicles some of the obstacles that disabled parents face, and examines the societal beliefs that underpin those barriers.Laura Coccia from Italy is a former Paralympian who is now a representative at the European Disability Forum. She now lives in Brussels and says she faces stigma everyday as a mother with a form of cerebral palsy. She wrote a weekly online diary about her pregnancy as a disabled woman in 2019, giving a candid insight to some of the challenges she faced, but also how she was going through the same things as any other pregnant woman. She has also co-authored a children's book called La Sedia Magica della Mamma, created to show disability not as an obstacle but as a natural part of life.Producer: Emily Naylor and Hannah Dean(Image: (L) Jessica Slice credit Vanessa Heins. (R) Laura Coccia courtesy Laura Coccia)

Across continents and generations, the art of weaving has connected humans for thousands of years. But it’s dying out. Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two women from The Netherlands and Turkey about their passion for preserving the traditional craft.Turkish social entrepreneur Damla Saydam founded Qirqit Studio to help preserve the endangered tradition of handwoven Turkish rugs. She was inspired by her family’s weaving heritage and memories of helping her aunt weave as a child. Damla collaborates with village women, many of whom have been weaving for decades and otherwise would have stopped, to ensure they receive fair wages and recognition for their craft.Erna Janine from The Netherlands runs Freeweaver Studio in London, driven by her love of sustainable fashion and enthusiasm to share the joy of weaving with others. Both her grandmothers inspired her love of the craft: one was a shepherd who processed her own wool and the other was one of the last women in Holland to wear traditional costume.Produced by Emily Naylor(Image: (L) Damla Saydam courtesy Damla Saydam. (R), Erna Janine credit Ben Veasey.)