2017 WiSET Award winner: Kizanne James

We are delighted to present this year WISET award winner Kizanne James.

Kizanne Portrait

Here is a foreword from the WISET SG about Kizanne:

Kizanne James is an International student on the Leadership and Management MSc course in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Her dissertation is regarding the impact of work life balance on women getting into leadership roles. She is also a postgraduate member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity committee in her Faculty. Kizanne is an ambassador in her own country (Trinidad and Tobago) for increasing awareness of contraceptive use in young people, and for highlighting the plight of domestic abuse and rape which are common but ignored. She is not only promoting women in science by being an exemplary role model, her work is far reaching by endeavouring equality internationally.

And, here is what Kizanne tells about herself:

Kizanne Photo by David Alexander

I am an award-winning youth leader, medical doctor and Chevening Scholar, which is the UK government scholarship scheme for global leaders. I am passionate about youth empowerment and development. My legacy in youth leadership spanning over 15 years has been recognized by the University of the Southern Caribbean, who named me as the Most Outstanding Young Alumni 2015 and The University of the West Indies from whom she received the Primer Award for Leadership, Award for Outstanding Leadership and Excellence in Leadership consecutively. My work has been featured in magazines such as Marie Claire UK, PSI Impact and major media (tv and print) in the Caribbean.

Additionally, I am a Women Deliver Young Leader. Women Deliver is a global advocacy organization that selects 200 young leaders from over 100 countries every three years for training and to work towards the advancement of women and girls. I am also one of 10 World Contraception Day Ambassador and advocates for the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Girls within Latin America and the Caribbean. At present, I am the project lead for the Contraception Accessibility for All program which I hope can improve contraception use in Trinidad and Tobago, decreasing the rate of unwanted pregnancies. At the University of Southampton, I am a member of the Faculty of Health Sciences Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team as the post graduate taught representative.

It is my career dream to work for a global health organization, implementing health programs or strategies to assist most vulnerable communities. I have a special interest in Sexual and Reproductive Health because it impacts young people’s social, economic, psychological and emotional well-being yet is often overlooked.

Thank you again, WISET Award winners, for being such inspiring role models and we would like to congratulate again with your achievements!