Keynote SpeakersJaspreet Kaur aka ‘Behind the Netra’ is an award-winning spoken word artist from East London.
Jaspreet delivers performances focused on gender issues, historical topics, positive social change and taboo subjects in both the Asian community and wider society.
By day, Jaspreet is a secondary school history teacher, with an academic background in both history and gender studies.
Her work tackles issues related to gender discrimination, mental health stigma, the postcolonial immigrant experience, and much more.
“When I was younger, I never knew that poetry could save a life. I never knew that poetry could fight racism. I never knew that poetry could fight for gender parity and act as a voice for the voiceless. But after ten years of writing poetry and two years of performing, I have found that poetry has the power to do just that”
Over the last two years, Jaspreet Kaur has performed at events around the UK.
Highlights include the 2018 Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in front of HM the Queen, (broadcast live to 2.4 billion viewers around the world), Theatre Royal London, Oxford University, London City Hall, the House of Lords, Trafalgar Square, and Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
Her TEDx London talk ‘How Poetry Saved My Life’ explores how the power of words gave her the confidence to overcome her own mental health struggles.
Jaspreet has been voted as One of the Top 10 Inspirational Sikh Women in the UK.
As well as performing poetry, Jaspreet provides workshops and keynote talks for all ages.
- Winner of the Asian Women of the Year Award by Women of the Future 2017
- Winner of the ‘We Are The City‘ Rising Star Award 2017 in Education
- Finalist for the National Diversity Award for being a Positive Role Model
Brown Girl Like Me
Jaspreet’s debut book ‘Brown Girl Like Me‘ is an essential guidebook on how to deal with growing up brown, female, marginalized and opinionated.
Every day, brown women are resisting, challenging and thriving. But where are their stories? Where are the ordinary stories of the daughters and grand-daughters.
Brilliantly researched and expansive, this book explores topics as diverse as mental health, periods, cultural appropriation and love, acting as a powerful manifesto for the empowerment of brown women and girls everywhere.
