Padma Rao works as Director of Sangini, an organisation empowering women from Black, global majority and minoritised communities using creativity to promote well-being through civic engagement in the North East of England. Padma is also a contemporary visual artist practicing painting and contemporary drawing, a visiting lecturer, arts facilitator and a published poet. In her role at Sangini, Padma leads on the strategic development, creative programme of work and sustainability to ensure representation of Global majority women’s voices are heard at local, regional and national networks. Padma has over 20 years’ experience in the arts, heritage, community development, equalities and women’s issues. Padma has an art studio Makaan in South Shields, where she has shown works of art by artists based locally, nationally and internationally. A published poet, Padma has a background of working in the radio both at the BBC Radio Newcastle, as well as All India Radio, India. Padma is passionate about the status of marginalised women in our current society and by exploring these issues through her work, both as an artist as well as in her role at Sangini, she aims to create a platform for the wider discussions around equality, feminism, identity and displacement of women from global majority. Padma and Kath Boodhai will be presenting on “Volunteerism as a form of ‘quiet activism’ and care: empowering women from black, global majority and minoritised communities in the Northeast of England” during a Human Library session at the IVCO Conference.