Our Matrons & Ambassadors

LEE WADE

Lee Wade an artist from Halifax and is our first Ambassador. Lee has pushed her work in all kinds of directions helping women as she goes. She has created 9 pieces for the Calderdale Hospital Birth Centre. She has also created paintings for women who have been on journeys and want to show this through her work.

Lee has been on her own journey and now feels stronger than ever to put herself forward and help other women through her art.

When asked to be an Ambassador Lee replied ‘what an honour, this is so close to my heart an amazing charity I strongly support.’

EMMA BRANKIN

Emma lives locally and is the founder/owner of jewellery brand Bauble Magpie Limited.
Since going full time in her business in 2022 she has achieved an Instagram following of over 40,000 and truly global sales.

In 2023 Bauble Magpie was a finalist in the annual Barclays Entrepreneur Awards and Emma was named as one of the Top 100 global women entrepreneurs by Global Woman Magazine.

Emma is also a solicitor of England & Wales and prior to starting her company she worked for twenty years as a specialist in healthcare regulatory and ethics law.

When asked about becoming a Matron Emma said ‘I’m incredibly proud and excited to support a local charity that does such important work. Particularly given Womencentre’s emphasis on empowering women which perfectly aligns with what we do, albeit in a different context, at Bauble Magpie. I’m truly honoured and I can’t wait to roll my sleeves up and get stuck in’.

ASMA IQBAL

Asma Iqbal Partner at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors West Yorkshire is now WomenCentre Matron and joined us during #16days of action to eliminate violence against women and girls.

 

Asma says “As an advocate for Womens Human Rights it is an honour to be supporting WomenCentre as a Matron and Gold Corporate Member. The Charity gives Women courage and offers a safe space at a time of crisis and vulnerability in her life which can lead to empowerment – proud to be supporting this journey for such brave women”.

LISA CASLER

Retired Police Officer and Advisor to Happy Valley, Lisa is our newest Matron.

Lisa spent the majority of her career in Calderdale then moving on to Police Training School where she taught Equality, Diversity and Rights to Police Officers and Staff.
Once she retired, she started working with  schoolfriend Sally Wainwright in the development of Happy Valley series 1 and went on to be a Police Crime Drama advisor for many productions.

Lisa said “It’s an absolute privilege to be asked to become a Matron for Women’s Centre.
As women we need to share our experiences to work through difficult times together.
Supporting one another and building positive futures for all of us”.

ELLIE SAX

Saxophonist and performer Ellie Sax is one of our Matrons.

On accepting the role she said, “I am honoured to be supporting WomenCentre. As women, we need to stand together and support each other in times of crisis, and WomenCentre supports local women in Calderdale and Kirklees in times of crisis”.

JILL LIDDINGTON

Jill Liddington, writer and historian, has been a supporter of WomenCentre since the very beginning. In July 2021 she joined us as an official Matron.

On accepting the role, she said:

‘I am delighted to support WomenCentre. Providing a safe space for women has never been more vital, and I know the Centre will continue to help women support other women’.