The former stylist and Radio 1 host has presented documentaries on feminism, Mali, and mental health.


Biography

A former stylist to Florence + the Machine, Gemma became best known as host of the Radio 1 Weekend Breakfast Show, a job she described as one ‘massive conversation’ with her listeners. She has since left the music station and pursued other passions including writing, theatre and podcasts. Gemma hosts the BBC Radio 4 show The Sound Odyssey, where she travels with British artists to other countries to collaborate with local musicians.

Moving away from the pop station’s core focus Gemma has fronted documentaries including What the F: the Story of Feminism, Bruising Silence, and Mali Music which saw her travel to Mali to explore the effects an Islamic extremist ban on music was having. Having started her own production company one of its first successes was an Edinburgh Fringe play, My Beautiful Black Dog. Gemma’s first book, Open: A Toolkit for How Magic and Messed Up Life Can Be offers down-to-earth advice on mental health, families and assorted challenges life throws at young people.

Before Radio 1 Gemma hosted the weekday afternoon show on Radio 1Xtra, for which she was Sony-nominated as Best Music Radio Personality. She hosted programmes on Radios 2, 3, 4 and 6Music was also a regular guest on Radio 1’s Sunday-night Surgery and a part of BBC’s annual Glastonbury TV coverage. First seen on television presenting Big Brother’s Big Ears and as a roving reporter for Frocks Away with Alexa Chung, Gemma also presented a documentary on the London riots and has been a guest panellist on Free Speech.

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JLA Presents


Event - 30/04/2024 - 9:00 am

Speakers Breakfast

Understanding AI Now

Speakers
Priya Lakhani and Anne-Marie Imafidon

We were joined at 87 Barts Close by three brilliant speakers on a panel that delved into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence. Over the hour our panellists de-mystified AI, speaking about AI’s immense promise for enhancing our lives, alongside the apprehension it has generated regarding job security, privacy infringement, and ethical considerations.

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

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Event - 06/02/2024 - 9:00 am

Speakers Breakfast

Looking Ahead to International Women’s Day

Speakers
Samira Ahmed, Eniola Aluko, Julia Gillard, and Alex Mahon

We were joined by four fantastic speakers to look ahead at International Women’s Day. With the theme of this year’s event being #InspireInclusion, we were lucky enough to hear from four women who have each blazed a trail in their respective fields: CEO of Channel 4, Alex Mahon; the former Australian Prime Minister and Chair of Kings’ Global Institute of Women’s Leadership, Julia Gillard; one of the leading voices in football, Eniola Aluko MBE; and broadcaster and journalist, Samira Ahmed.

Location

Bishopsgate Institute, London

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