ELLA TALKS

ELLA Global Community strives to promote visibility and empowerment by providing positive references of successful lesbian women to our community. To this end we host the ELLA Talks, an event that offers a series of live presentations featuring leaders, experts and entrepreneurs from a wide range of sectors including academia, civil society, politics and the private sector.

ELLA TALKS 2016

The first edition of ELLA Talks “Inspiring to Listen, Inspiring to Tell” took place in Palma, Mallorca, and focused on the role of lesbian women in business and tourism.

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir,Iceland Prime Minister and her wife Jonina Sigurðardóttir

Claudia Brind-Woody, Vice President and Managing Director for IBM Global (UK) Intellectual Property

Leanne Pittsford, CEO & Founder of Lesbians Who Tech (USA), Gudrun Fertig, CEO & Co-owner of L-MAG, Germany’s leading Lesbian magazine

Alice Fauveau, CEO & Founder of the travel enterprise Focus on Women, Inspiring Travels (Spain).

ELLA TALKS 2017

The second edition of ELLA Talks “Be Visible, Be Yourself” focused on lesbian women entrepreneurs in the media and politics. It featured a presentation by:

Ulrike Lunacek, a prominent Austrian politician of the Green Party, and Member of the European Parliament

Kat Holmes, LGBT Film-maker and Founder of the film production company Kat Films (Australia)

Maëlle le Corre, Journalist and Assistant Editor-In-Chief for Yagg magazine (France)

ELLA TALKS 2019

ELLA Festival 2019 in Palma de Mallorca, the keynote speakers were:

Monica Benicio, Brazilian architect and widow of murdered human rights activist and Rio de Janeiro Counsel Member Marielle Franco

Daniela Sea, Trans Non Binary activist, actress and DJ

ELLA TALKS 2020 MÉXICO

The first edition of ELLA in Mexico, held in San Miguel de Allende, featured presentations by renowned Mexican activists:

Gloria Careaga, social psychologist and LGBT rights activist in Mexico.

Patria Jiménez, the first openly lesbian federal congresswoman.

Luz Elena Aranda, member of the ILGA World board.

Daniela Sea, non-binary person, activist, and DJ.

The event included a special panel with the Latin American directors of ELLA Global Community: Bea Cravioto, Clarena Orozco, and Emma Chacón, moderated by Kristin Hansen, Founder-CEO of ELLA Global Community, and Myrtille Danse, Director of HIVOS Latam.

ELLA TALKS 2024

The ELLA Talks 2024 edition took place in Mallorca, bringing together women leaders from various disciplines who shared their ideas and experiences to inspire change.

Among the notable speakers were:

Lady Phyll, activist, co-founder, and executive director of UK Black Pride (United Kingdom), who spoke about equity, diversity, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Amanda Currie, prison governor (United Kingdom), who addressed rehabilitation in the prison system.

Laura Encina, finance expert (Spain), discussing financial inclusion and economic empowerment.

Sara Harrak, film director (United Kingdom), exploring cinema as a driver of social change.

Ils van Looveren, painter and intuitive speaker (Belgium/Switzerland), sharing her vision of art and intuition as tools for healing.

Nathalie Prieto, psychiatrist and forensic doctor (France), on mental health and its connection to justice.

The event concluded with a special panel led by Kristin Hansen, CEO of ELLA Global Community, reflecting on the challenges and achievements toward a more inclusive future.

ELLA TALKS 2025

The ELLA Talks 2025 edition took place in Mallorca, bringing together inspiring voices from different countries and disciplines to share experiences, knowledge and perspectives around activism, culture, identity and social transformation.

Throughout two evenings, ELLA Talks created a space for reflection, dialogue and connection, welcoming both local and international audiences in a safe and inclusive environment.

Among the featured speakers were:

• Elodie Saruco (France), former performance coach and neuroscience researcher, who shared her journey of reinvention and spoke about unlocking human potential through self-awareness and personal transformation.

• Pamela Leal Viñals (Sweden), musician and activist, who reflected on the power of music as a tool for community building and the creation of safe spaces within the LGBTQ+ scene.

• Raga D’Silva (India / United Kingdom), LGBTQ+ activist, entrepreneur and founder of OUTspoken Speakers, who addressed leadership, visibility and storytelling as drivers for social change.

• Carmen Tauch (Germany / Spain), founder and CEO of Allies and Rainbows, who spoke about LGBTQ+ mental health, personal growth and the importance of accessible, inclusive support systems.

• Amanda Currie (United Kingdom), prison governor and LGBT advisor, who shared insights from over 20 years of experience working to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ staff and inmates within the prison system.

• Daniela Vallejo Capitán (Spain), Miss Trans Spain and activist, who spoke about resilience, identity and trans empowerment, inspiring the audience through her personal story and advocacy work.

All talks were offered with simultaneous translation in English and Spanish, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for a diverse audience.

The ELLA Talks 2025 edition reaffirmed the importance of sharing lived experiences, amplifying diverse voices and creating spaces for meaningful conversation, contributing to ELLA Festival’s ongoing mission to foster connection, visibility and community.