King's Global Institute for Women's Leadership celebrates the winners of the 2025 Brenda Trenowden Feminist Analysis Essay Prize: Humayra Ismail, Ida Di Stasio and George Small.
Organised by the King's Global Institute for Women's Leadership in collaboration with the Gender Studies Network and Feminist Perspectives, the prize encourages students at King's College London to explore and apply feminist perspectives within their academic work.
Meet the 2025 winners
Humayra Ismail, a recent Global Health and Social Medicine graduate, explores the theory of the biological unconscious in her winning essay, blending insights from medicine, sociology and feminist thought to produce an interdisciplinary piece of work.
Ida Di Stasio, who completed an MSc in Emerging Economies and International Development, draws on her experience working with an international NGO in an essay examining the gendered risks of irregular migration.
George Small, who graduated with a BA in Geography, offers an insightful exploration of homemaking within trans self-portraiture, reflecting their passion for celebrating queer voices through art, zines and archiving.
Celebrating the prize at our event on inclusive growth
The prize was presented during a GIWL event held in honour of Brenda Trenowden, which brought together leaders including Julia Gillard, Claudia Harris and Vanessa Vallely to discuss how inclusive growth can help address the UK's productivity and growth challenges.
The panel examined the opportunities and risks presented by innovation, technology and AI, with discussion drawing on findings from the Lovelace Report, which highlights the persistent barriers women face in entering and progressing within the tech sector. Speakers emphasised the need for inclusive design, strategic sponsorship and stronger policy interventions to ensure technological advances benefit all.
Inclusive growth isn't just a moral imperative, it's an economic necessity. We're losing billions in potential growth by failing to retain women in tech. AI is already reshaping our economy; the question is whether we'll shape it to be inclusive or allow it to replicate existing inequalities. Diverse voices aren't optional, they're fundamental to the future we build.
Professor Heejung Chung, Director, King's Global Institute for Women's Leadership
The Brenda Trenowden Feminist Analysis Essay Prize honours Brenda Trenowden CBE (1967-2022), a pioneering advocate for gender equality whose leadership through the City Women's Network, 30% Club and numerous charities helped drive lasting change for women in business and beyond.
Watch the award ceremony, as part of our event on inclusive growth:
