International
W
men’s Day lunch
International
Friday 6th March, 1-4pm
Join us at Nicco Restaurant & Bar on Friday 6th March, 1–4pm, for an inspiring International Women’s Day celebration. This year’s theme, Give to Gain, celebrates the power of uplifting one another. 🩷
Enjoy arrival bubbles, a three-course lunch, an inspiring panel of incredible women, and live entertainment. 🥂✨
Speakers include women from a range of industries, including leadership, social impact, fashion, publishing, PR, and aesthetics. 🌸✨🤍
Tickets are £49.99 per person, including a £5 donation to YMCA Derbyshire. 🤍
An empowering afternoon celebrating women, connection, and positive change. Gather your team and book a table together. 🌷
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Maria Fowler
Influencer and Owner
BLOOM PILATES STUDIO
Maria Fowler is an entrepreneur, empowerment blogger, and founder of Bloom Reformer Studios. She will headline the event, sharing her journey of building a successful business and redefining her path as a modern female business owner.
Tina Clough
Founder & Managing Director
POPPY PR
Tina Clough is the founder and managing director of Castle Donington–based Poppy PR.
A passionate champion of women in business, Tina has spent much of her career supporting start-ups, mentoring start-up entrepreneurs, and encouraging the next generation to pursue careers in public relations. Her commitment to education led her to develop the Public Relations course at Nottingham Trent University, a programme she later went on to teach, helping to equip future PR professionals with real-world insight and practical experience.
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In recent years, Poppy PR was crowned Best Creative and Media Agency in the Midlands by The Business Desk magazine, recognising the agency’s impact, creativity, and results-led approach. Tina’s leadership has also been recognised on a personal level, with nominations for two leadership awards later this year, reflecting her influence both within the industry and the wider business community.Throughout her career, Tina has delivered high-impact national, regional, and trade media campaigns for businesses across the UK, working with organisations of all sizes and across multiple sectors. Known for her strategic thinking, tenacity, and hands-on approach, she has built long-standing relationships with clients and media alike.Alongside her agency work, Tina has also spent time behind the microphone as a local radio presenter on the Erewash Sound Business Show, further cementing her reputation as a trusted voice in the regional business community.Tina’s journey has not been without challenges. She has overcome significant personal and professional adversity to build and sustain a successful agency, earning a reputation for resilience, integrity, and leadership.Today, she continues to lead Poppy PR with the same passion that inspired its creation — helping businesses tell their stories, build credibility, and grow with confidence.
In recent years, Poppy PR was crowned Best Creative and Media Agency in the Midlands by The Business Desk magazine, recognising the agency’s impact, creativity, and results-led approach. Tina’s leadership has also been recognised on a personal level, with nominations for two leadership awards later this year, reflecting her influence both within the industry and the wider business community.Throughout her career, Tina has delivered high-impact national, regional, and trade media campaigns for businesses across the UK, working with organisations of all sizes and across multiple sectors. Known for her strategic thinking, tenacity, and hands-on approach, she has built long-standing relationships with clients and media alike.Alongside her agency work, Tina has also spent time behind the microphone as a local radio presenter on the Erewash Sound Business Show, further cementing her reputation as a trusted voice in the regional business community.Tina’s journey has not been without challenges. She has overcome significant personal and professional adversity to build and sustain a successful agency, earning a reputation for resilience, integrity, and leadership.Today, she continues to lead Poppy PR with the same passion that inspired its creation — helping businesses tell their stories, build credibility, and grow with confidence.
Natalie Fletcher
Founder & Director
NATURALLY FLAWLESS AESTHETICS
Natalie Fletcher RM, BMedSci, MSc (Distinction) is the founder and Director of Naturally Flawless Aesthetics and a passionate advocate for confidence, authenticity, and women’s empowerment. An NMC-registered Midwife and Independent Prescriber, Natalie’s career is grounded in science, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Science and a Master’s degree in Clinical Research, graduating with distinction, reflecting her dedication to lifelong learning and evidence-based practice.
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Known for her calm presence and integrity, Natalie has built a reputation founded on trust, connection, and patient-centred care. Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that confidence comes from feeling like the best version of yourself, not from chasing perfection. She places great value on listening, education, and empowering others to make informed choices.
On International Women’s Day, Natalie shares her journey as a clinician, business owner, and woman who believes that confidence, when nurtured with care and authenticity, can be truly transformational.
Gillian Sewell
CEO
YMCA Derbyshire
With over three decades of leadership, Gillian has dedicated her career to creating opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to thrive. She spearheaded the rebuild of YMCA Derbyshire’s London Road campus providing housing alongside education and employment pathways for young people experiencing homelessness. Today, Gillian is driving the building of Foundry Point, 60 affordable flats for young people entering work.
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Her vision led to the creation of Key College, providing vocational qualifications for 14–25-year-olds and Y Kidz, a childcare initiative now in its 20th year. With a nursery, wrap around care, holiday clubs and The Community Hub, YMCA Derbyshire plays an important part in supporting families and tackling hunger in the city.
Beyond her professional achievements, Gillian’s resilience shines through her personal journey. Following the loss of her son to cancer in 2020 she established the Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust, to break financial barriers for talented young people pursuing careers in the performing arts. Partnering with West End stars, the Trust raises funds and awards grants to aspiring performers, fulfilling Lewis’ wishes and championing the values he held dear: courage, positivity and resilience.
Gillian’s story is one of unwavering commitment to social impact and empowerment, a true inspiration for International Women’s Day.
Emma Prosser
Author
Emma Prosser, of Castle Donington, is a multi-genre author, writing under the names Elenor Pountain for romance and Elodie Peters for children’s books. A lifelong reader and writer, when she’s not lost in stories you’ll usually find her open-water swimming or spending time with family and friends.
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Emma’s romance novels are popular within their genre and are often described by readers as empowering, relatable, funny, and a little spicy. Her children’s books have found a special place within the neurodiverse community, as Emma has written stories about adoption, understanding feelings, and, most recently, about how being different with ADHD can also mean being strong and powerful.
Emma is deeply passionate about lifting others up and supporting the communities around her; whether that’s locally through schools and event committees, within the author community by championing fellow writers, the adoption community by mentoring new adopters, or simply in everyday life as a cheerleader for friends and family. Supporting, encouraging, and celebrating others is at the heart of everything she does.
Tilly Dowler
The Blind Stylist
Wanted Wardrobe
Tilly, also known as The Blind Stylist, is the owner of a pre-loved boutique in Castle Donington, offering personal styling, colour analysis, body shape analysis, and beautifully curated sustainable fashion. She opened her boutique in 2023 and describes the journey of owning her own business as a true roller coaster.
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Tilly donates 10% of her profits to sight-loss charities and actively fundraises to support them. In 2026, she is running the London Marathon for Guide Dogs and is also an ambassador for Leicestershire’s sight-loss charity, Vista.
Passionate about inspiring and empowering others with sight loss, Tilly is driven to help people like her live their dreams. Currently, only 27% of people with sight loss are in employment in the UK, and there is no available statistic for women with sight loss running their own businesses. Tilly is determined to change this and to help close the gap between sight loss and employment.
