Our Patrons

Jo Brand

Comedian Jo Brand has appeared on comedy panel shows such as Have I Got News For You? and QI. Her stand-up acts include themes of radical feminism and current celebrities. She became the first patron of Derby Women’s Centre in 1994.

In 1997, she staged a controversial ‘women-only’ charity event at Derby Assembly rooms to raise funds for the Derby Women’s Cenre counselling service and advice line. This was a big success in raising funds for DWC and increasing the charity’s profile whilst highlighting the inequalities faced by women.

Kavita Oberoi

Kavita Oberoi became a patron of the Women’s Centre in 2010. She is Derbyshire’s leading female entrepreneur and founder and Managing Director of Oberoi Consulting, an IT and Business Healthcare Consultancy business. She was raised in a traditional Indian family. Infused with her mother’s drive and her father’s entrepreneurial ambition, she became the first woman in her family to gain a university degree.

Kavita is best known for her appearance on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire and credits this as inspiring her to become more involved with charity work. She is deeply passionate about supporting women to challenge barriers in the workplace and to break the “glass ceiling”.