Esteemed speakers include Petra van den Houten, Director of Development, Marketing, and Communications at Liverpool Biennial. With over 25 years of experience, Petra has worked extensively with emerging artists, commercial galleries, not-for-profit art organisations, art collectors, and philanthropists across Europe, the USA, and the Middle East. Most recently, she served as Head of Major Gifts at the Royal Northern College of Music. Petra is a former Associate Director of Christie’s, Deputy Director of Sotheby’s, and Trustee of Manchester Art Gallery, and she holds an MA in Art History from Leiden University, The Netherlands.

Helena Lee, acting deputy editor of Harper’s Bazaar, oversees the magazine’s art and culture content and co-edits the annual Bazaar Art, celebrating women in the art world. In February 2020, she founded East Side Voices, a platform to raise the visibility of British East and Southeast Asian talent. Her book of the same name was published by Sceptre. Helena has been a visiting lecturer at City University and a judge for various art prizes, including the Platform Presents Playwright’s Prize, the Sunny Dupree Prize for the Royal Academy, and the Fourth Estate Short Story Prize.

Sinta Tantra explores the interplay between colour, light, and form, creating paintings and installations that transform with time and space. Inspired by her Balinese heritage, her work combines geometric and organic shapes in a universal visual language, focusing on emotional and physical experiences. Born in New York and raised in London, Tantra studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and the Royal Academy Schools. Her work has been showcased in prominent exhibitions and public spaces, including the Folkestone Triennial, Liverpool Biennial, the Karachi Biennale, and The Southbank Centre. Her pieces are held in notable collections such as the Government Art Collection, Museum MACAN, and the Louis Vuitton Collection.

Rehana Mughal, Director of Creative Economy at the British Council, leads global initiatives in policy, research, and leadership development for the creative sector. Rehana has pioneered impactful digital arts programmes that reached millions during the pandemic. She previously established and led a £6.6 million culture programme in the Gulf region and has contributed to major creative education projects in the UK.

Thanh Sinden, Director and Head Coach at Hoa Lotus, has extensive experience in strategic and leadership positions, supporting the development and resilience of cultural workers in the UK. She is a qualified coach with postgraduate training, skilled in group facilitation, coaching, and strategic thinking. Thanh is a passionate advocate for a more inclusive, creative, and diverse cultural sector.

The panel will be chaired by Xiaowen Zhu, Director of esea contemporary, the UK’s only non-profit art centre dedicated to East and Southeast Asian contemporary art. Located in an award-winning building in the heart of Manchester, esea contemporary has evolved from a community-focused visual arts festival in 1986 into a hub for innovative art programmes. Beyond exhibitions, it offers commissions, research, residencies, publishing, and a wide array of public events. esea contemporary is committed to creativity, compassion, interconnectedness, and collectivity in its mission.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that offers enriching insights and meaningful dialogue on how women from diverse backgrounds are shaping the future of contemporary art.