IWIL - The Institute for Women in Leadership

The Sophia Series will inform you of depth and richness of women’s wisdom in its many forms.

The Sophia Series seeks to

Present speakers with expertise in: leadership, the environment, activism, the arts, politics and spirituality.
Present you with women who boldly engage in our current cultural experience and bring positive transformation to our rapidly changing world.
Honour women’s historical and ongoing contribution to our local and national landscape.

The series derives its name from layers of meaning that align with Brescia’s mission and vision.

Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom.
Sophia is the personification of Wisdom in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Sophia is often symbolized by a dove, which is also imaged in Brescia’s logo (a tree is another of her symbols).
The feminine personification of wisdom is a cross-cultural phenomenon that can be found within other world religions and spiritualities.

Since 2005, The Sophia Series has provided Brescia students and the London community the opportunity to hear the wisdom of these extraordinary women:

Dr. Margaret Wheatley, leadership expert

Severn Cullis-Suzuki, environmental activist

Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians

Michele Landsberg, journalist, activist, feminist

Sami Jo Small, Olympic Gold Medalist, Women's Hockey

Emma Donoghue, bestselling author of Room, Slammerkin and other novels

Adria Vasil, bestselling author of Ecoholic and Ecoholic Home, columnist for Now Magazine

Christina Baldwin, leadership expert, storyteller and author

Ann Linnea, leadership expert, naturalist and author

Dr. Monia Mazigh, author and human rights activist

These Brescia departments collaborate to sponsor The Sophia Series:

The Circle Women’s Centre (Ritual of Re-Membering, International Women’s Day, Jeanne Adamson Memorial Event)
iWIL - Institute for Women in Leadership (iWIL Lecture)
Ursuline Centre and Brescia Chaplaincy (Angela Merici Lecture)