Jude Kelly
Jude Kelly is the Founder and Director of The WOW Foundation, which runs WOW - Women of the World
Festivals across the globe to celebrate the achievements of women and girls and confront global gender
injustice. Starting at London’s Southbank Centre in 2010, where Jude was Artistic Director for 12 years,
the festival now takes place in 30 locations across six continents. In 2018 Jude established The WOW
Foundation as an independent charity dedicated to building the WOW movement as a force for change.
Jude Kelly has directed over 200 theatre and opera productions, including at the Royal Shakespeare
Company, English National Opera, National Theatre, and the Châtalet in Paris including Ian McKellen in
The Seagull, Patrick Stewart in Johnson over Jordon and Dawn French in When We Are Married. She is
the recipient of two Olivier Awards, a BASCA Gold Badge Award for contribution to music and a
Southbank Award for opera. She was headhunted to join the bidding team for the 2012 London
Olympics and create the programme for culture and ceremonies, she subsequently advised both Rio
and Tokyo on their successful bids.
Jude Kelly has founded a range of arts institutions and has commissioned and supported the work of
thousands of artists across all genres.
Photo © Ellie Kurttz
Friday 5th March
Welcome to WOW Pakistan 2022
Jude Kelly CBE launched WOW – Women of the World Festival in 2010 to mark the centenary of International Women’s Day, as a major global festival that celebrates women and girls and looks at the obstacles they face, where hundreds of women’s stories could be shared, feelings vented, fun had, minds influenced and hearts expanded.
The ethos of WOW is to create a festival for everyone. It is bold and broad-based in its approach, both lively and serious, and feeds the demand to discuss anything and everything. It brings people together from all corners of society - both speakers and audience members - energising and providing the inspiration and tools to make change.
The festival came to South Asia via Karachi in 2016. Since then there have been 3 face to face WOW festivals as well as a four day digital festival in March 2021 and a series of activities and engagement with actors and partners in Gilgit Baltistan. This is the 5th WOW Festival and the 2nd Virtual one in Pakistan.
The ethos of WOW is to create a festival for everyone. It is bold and broad-based in its approach, both lively and serious, and feeds the demand to discuss anything and everything. It brings people together from all corners of society - both speakers and audience members - energising and providing the inspiration and tools to make change.
Our opening speakers are incredible women leaders who work to effect and impact change for 1000s inspires us all