Silvie Koanda is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Sound Waves Foundation, a charity dedicated to empowering deaf children and young adults. Through innovation, creativity, and technology, the foundation celebrates deaf identity and raises awareness about deafness, accessibility and inclusion.
Silvie also works as a Picture Editor at The Economist and the Booker Prize, where she expertly curates powerful imagery that complements some of the world’s most influential journalism and literary achievements. Bringing together a unique blend of creativity and leadership, Silvie thrives at the intersection of culture, visual storytelling and social impact.
Four kids, three jobs, and a hearing dog for the deaf—Silvie is no stranger to the demands of a 24/7 lifestyle. Joining us to for an afternoon speaker session at Brighton Summit, Silvie will share her personal journey of co-founding Sound Waves Foundation, all while navigating the high-pressure world of international media.
From covering conflict zones and global events to lobbying members of parliament and picking the kids up from school – after a life-changing event, she was driven to launch the foundation, channeling her passion for equality into action. Join this session to hear how she turned challenges into opportunities, and how her relentless commitment is creating a more inclusive future not just for deaf children but all children. And that sometimes in life you can’t have it all…
