THE WOMEN BEYOND WALLS PODCAST TEAM
Bringing you real-life stories from inspiring individuals
SABRINA MAHTANI
Host and Curator
Sabrina is a Zambian-British lawyer. She has worked with and for incarcerated women for over 15 years. She was inspired to become a lawyer after a family member was imprisoned when she was a teenager.
She co-founded AdvocAid, a civil society organisation in Sierra Leone that provides free legal services to women in detention. The organisation has freed six women on death row and has provided legal services to over 6000 women. She previously worked for Amnesty International, The Elders and the Special Court for Sierra Leone. She is part-time DPhil Candidate at the University of Oxford, researching the experiences of women on death row.
Sabrina is a regular writer and commentator on human rights issues and has written for a variety of publications, including Al Jazeera, Gal Dem, African Arguments, The Africa Portal, and New Internationalist.
Sabrina has stepped out of her comfort zone to host the Women Beyond Walls podcast as she is passionate about sharing and amplifying stories she has had the privilege of hearing. She hopes that the Women Beyond Walls podcast will support understanding and action on ending the over-incarceration of women worldwide.
LAURA COOK
Podcast producer
Laura has 12 years experience in communications for change in the not-for-profit sector. She has an MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies and is passionate about working with women who are often both literally and metaphorically on the 'borders' of society. Laura has a background in humanitarian photography and videography and in her current full-time role with The Elders has gained experience working on podcast production. Laura wanted to work on the Women Beyond Walls podcast as she believes in the power of storytelling to shift stereotypes and assumptions.
LADY UNCHAINED
Artist (Women Beyond Walls podcast theme song)
Brenda Birungi is also known as Lady Unchained. She is the Founder and Creative Director of Unchained Poetry, an artistic platform for artists with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System. She hosts Unchained Nights in partnership with Artsadmin at Toynbee Studios, a night of inspirational storytelling through poetry and music.
She generously allowed her song, Forgotten People, to be our podcast theme song.
Vocals on the song are by MIRI, an artist, musician, songwriter, and community activist.
Photo: Michaela Jay
LULU KITOLO
Branding and Design
Lulu Kitololo, is an artist, illustrator, designer and founder of Lulu Kitolo Studio with almost 20 years experience. An alumni of Pratt Institute in the US (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications Design, with Highest Honours) and SOAS, University of London (Master of Arts in African Studies, with Distinction), she previously worked as an advertising Art Director in New York and as Senior Design Consultant for a London-based sustainability communications agency, Futerra. She's been running her own studio since 2010. Aside from championing creativity and the continent of her birth – Africa – these are the things that make her world go round: her son-shine; nature (and especially the ocean); travel; movement; and writing.
KALLI JAYASURIYA
Research Fellow
Kalli is an MA student studying Gender and International Development at the University of Warwick. She describes herself as an ecofeminist who is passionate about increasing her understanding of post-colonial and indigenous feminisms. Her academic profile is pertinent to her voluntary work with Women Beyond Walls because it means she has a good understanding of how gender intersects with multiple aspects of society – including justice systems.
VICTORIA LIN
Communications Fellow
Victoria works primarily in food security and agriculture, but is deeply interested in the intersectional nature of international development and how these issues are also linked to human rights issues, gender equality, and mass incarceration. Her strong interests in intersectional feminism and prison abolition, along with her experience in photography and graphic design, have bought her to Women Beyond Walls.
MAVERICK AQUINO
Editor on Women Beyond Walls
Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Hueman Group Media
Maverick is an audio producer, music composer, and graphic designer. He is the co-creator and co-host of the Sincerely, Hueman podcast. Maverick oversees audio and music production across Hueman Grouo Media's podcast network.
Hueman Group Media is a podcast company for social change and impact. Hueman Group Media works with leading nonprofit organisations, for-purpose companies, and thought leaders to amplify conversations around today’s most important issues including gender equity, climate change, social justice, and mental health.
Hueman Group Media has produced podcasts and partnered with organisations including The Elders, B Lab, UN Foundation, Vodafone Americas Foundation, MIT Solve, and Crisis Text Line.
CAMILLE LAURENTE
Editor on Women Beyond Walls
CEO and Co-Founder of Hueman Group Media
Camille obtained her Master’s Degree in International affairs from Columbia University where she specialised in international media, advocacy, and communications. Camille also has a Juris Doctor degree and has worked on projects with lead UN agencies including UN Women and UNFPA.
Hueman Group Media is a podcast company for social change and impact. Hueman Group Media works with leading nonprofit organisations, for-purpose companies, and thought leaders to amplify conversations around today’s most important issues including gender equity, climate change, social justice, and mental health.
