Join us for the Australian premiere of NGV x Kérastase Power Talks. In this exclusive after-hours cocktail event, international activist, model and mental health advocate Adwoa Aboah speaks with Fashion Director Vogue Australia, Kaila Matthews, sharing insights into navigating an ever-evolving industry and finding confidence in her career defining moments.
Experience the NGV after hours, as the evening unfolds hearing from Adwoa Aboah, alongside food, drinks and a DJ performance.
This program is presented as part of Power Talks.
Adwoa Aboah is an activist and model who has become internationally renowned for her unique talent and fearless leadership and recognised as a ‘Next Generation Leader’ on the cover of Time Magazine. Born and raised in West London, Adwoa trained with the National Youth Theatre before earning a degree in Modern Drama from Brunel University. Adwoa’s groundbreaking modelling career and tireless advocacy through her mental health organisation, Gurls Talk, have elevated her to one of her generation’s most influential voices.
Adwoa made her acting debut in the fourth season of Netflix’s acclaimed series Top Boy, reprising her role as Bex in the show’s fifth and final season. She also starred as Scorpia in Disney+’s Willow, appeared in Lena Dunham’s Netflix series Too Much, and starred in Satisfaction, which premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival. Alongside her acting career, Adwoa remains one of fashion’s most recognisable figures. She has appeared on the covers of and in editorials for Vogue, W, i-D, Dazed and ELLE, fronted campaigns for Dior, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Swarovski, and Rimowa.
Adwoa has become one of the leading global voices on young women’s mental health. In 2015, she founded Gurls Talk, a non-profit organisation providing early, accessible mental health support for girls and young women through evidence-based programs, trusted resources and community.
A sought-after speaker, Adwoa delivered her first TEDx talk in 2025 and has appeared at events including Women in the World Summit, WE Day, and Google Zeitgeist, sharing stages with leaders such as Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, Salma Hayek, Idris Elba, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
Kaila Matthews is Vogue Australia’s fashion director. She joined the magazine almost a decade ago, bringing a contemporary eye to fashion storytelling and collaborating with Australia’s leading photographers and creatives to develop impactful imagery with a considered visual narrative. Her work sits at the intersection of fashion, music, beauty and culture, with a particular interest in spotlighting Australian designers and talent. Her Vogue cover portfolio includes Rose Byrne, Sarah Snook, Troye Sivan and Adut Akech.
NGV x Kérastase Power Talks is a biannual event where highly passionate, leading female voices in art, design and culture share their important stories and issues of contemporary life. Power Talks convenes those whose ideas are shaping what comes next, recognising not only their work, but their contribution to the cultural landscape.
NGV x Kérastase Power Talks is an inspiring global program that will be presented exclusively in Australia for the very first time in Melbourne, with thanks to the NGV and Kérastase.
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