Isabel Candir | Medical Student | University of Leeds
Isabel Candir is a fourth-year medical student, a passionate advocate for social mobility, and the founder of the Leeds Access to Medicine Society (A2M) which was awarded Best New Society at the University of Leeds.
Coming from a low socioeconomic background as a first-generation university student, Isabel understands first hand the barriers that aspiring doctors face. This inspired her to create opportunities for students from all backgrounds, ensuring accessibility in medicine and empowering them to pursue their ambitions. Through Leeds A2M, Isabel and her team have supported hundreds of students by providing support, application workshops, mock interviews, and personal statement guidance. The society has also run free events to support both aspiring medical students and current medical students with their studies and career prospects. While winning Best New Society was a significant achievement, Isabel believes the real success lies in the barriers they have broken and the futures they have helped shape. Beyond her work in widening participation, Isabel is a member of the RAF University Air Squadron, where she has developed resilience, teamwork, and decision making skills under pressure. This has pushed her beyond her comfort zone and shaped her leadership style emphasising adaptability, empathy, and a commitment to the bigger picture. Isabel is passionate about creating opportunities for others and making a lasting impact. At the heart of everything she does is a belief in paying it forward ensuring that those who come after her have the support, confidence, and opportunities to succeed, just as others have inspired her.
Umme Kalsoom Alam | Director | In2MedSchool Acceleration Programme
I am a final-year medical student committed to widening access to medical education for underrepresented students.
My own challenges in applying to medical school inspired me to found the In2MedSchool Acceleration Programme (IAP) in 2021, an initiative designed to provide mentorship, academic support, and public health education to students aged 16-18. What started as a small programme supporting 18 schools has grown to over 80 schools and 1,000 students across the UK. In addition to leading IAP, I have worked to develop a structured curriculum, recruit a team of 97 volunteers, and build partnerships with key organizations, all while balancing the rigorous demands of medical school.
Jen Moore | Campaigner | Jen Moore
In 2021, due to the increasingly debilitating symptoms of endometriosis and adenomyosis, I was forced to give up my business of 8 years, a successful wedding cake company.
While waiting for answers, and with my mental health rapidly declining, I set up an Instagram page (@jen.dometriosis) to share what was happening in the hopes of connecting with someone who could ”get it”. The account blossomed into an international community, and then became a platform to take my advocacy and education work offline. I work to educate patients, the healthcare sector and wider society about endometriosis and adenomyosis, and encourage systemic change that is long, long overdue. I fell into this work in between two major surgeries, but it has become my life’s passion. I thought my life was ending, but it was just beginning.
Hannah Matthews | IT Site Delivery Manager | Johnson & Johnson
I began my career in IT recruitment, working for several agencies before moving to an in-house role at a FTSE 100 company.
There, I achieved a significant milestone as the highest biller in the organization’s history, generating over £400k in revenue in a single year. This success enabled me to influence the recruitment strategy for a workforce of 5,000 within a larger organization of 52,000 employees. After collaborating closely with the leadership team, I transitioned into my first IT Service Manager role, where I focused on external customers. Over the past decade, I have worked in both Managed Service Providers and corporate environments, holding leadership positions managing teams of up to 50 across EMEA, North America, and APAC. My experience encompasses leading diverse teams across several domains, including service management, first and second line support, problem management, change management, DEX, and operations. Currently, I serve as the Site Delivery Manager for a major global pharmaceutical company, leading 20 sites across EMEA through five Site Delivery Leads. in addition, I am launching a tech sustainability interest group and co-managing the EMEA Culture Chapter for the Global Innovation Council, while acting as the EMEA stakeholder for DEX tool and Operations. I joined Sepsis Research as a Trustee and Fundraising chair, motivated by my husband’s recovery from Sepsis in 2023. I am proud of my career, particularly as I have achieved this without a degree. Throughout my journey, I have consistently added value, prioritized people, embraced learning, and had fun along the way.
Dr Marjani Orchery | Dentist and Medical Doctor | SMILEquity
Dr Marjani Orchery is a passionate advocate for health equity, dedicated to ensuring that healthcare education is accessible to all individuals, regardless of background.
As a dual qualified medical doctor and dentist, she brings a unique, holistic perspective to health promotion; recognising the vital connection between oral health, physical well-being and mental health. Her career has been shaped by a commitment to bridging gaps in healthcare access, leading her to establish SMILEquity; an organisation focused on delivering culturally tailored, accessible health education for everyone. Under her leadership, SMILEquity builds sustainable partnerships and innovative outreach programmes, ensuring that preventative healthcare knowledge is accessible to all. Her efforts were recognised with the CAHN Dentist of the Year 2024 award for her exceptional contributions to innovative community health education. Dr Marjani has expanded her outreach through collaborative efforts with childcare facilities and organisations supporting marginalised communities. She also developed a bespoke oral health programme for psychiatric inpatients, addressing the significant impact of oral hygiene on mental well-being. Through interactive workshops and tailored resources, she empowers individuals to take control of their health, breaking down barriers to preventative care. Driven by a firm belief in health equity, Dr Marjani’s work continues to focus on empowering all individuals through education, ensuring that everyone has the tools and knowledge to lead healthier lives.
Alice Huang Miller | Healthcare and Design Student | Imperial College London
A dedicated working professional venturing into healthcare studies, driven by a passion for tackling health inequalities.
With years of experience in media agencies and professional services, I leveraged my platforms to champion various meaningful initiatives close to my heart, including diversifying stem cell registry, neurodiversity empowerment and addressing gender health gap at work. This passion inspired me to pursue a degree in Healthcare and Design at Imperial College London, marking a new chapter in my career as a student. I now focus on creating platforms that amplify the voices of invisible women, ensuring their stories and challenges are heard and addressed. As the organizer for the 2025 TEDx Square Mile Women event, I carefully selected the theme to be . I drove the collaboration between Wellbeing of Women and my company’s Gender Balance Network to curate an impactful event, which is one of our firmwide initiatives and a top-recommended event for this International Women’s Day.
Heather Hryczanek | Team Leader | GSK
I joined GSK as a Graduate Chemist in 2016, after achieving a 1st class Masters in Chemistry at the University of St Andrews.
I was promoted to Senior Scientist in 2018, following completion of the GSK/University of Kent Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development. In 2022, I was promoted to Investigator, and was awarded my PhD in 2023, through a collaborative programme between GSK and the University of Strathclyde. In 2024, I had several life milestones – getting married in June, buying a house with my husband in August, and being promoted to Principal Investigator in November. This year, after just 8 years at GSK, I obtained a Team Leader position. I now have five direct reports who I support in their professional and scientific development. Throughout my career, I have developed into a highly skilled and trusted medicinal and synthetic chemist. I have had significant impact on a variety of projects, across multiple therapy areas and routes of administration, including identifying potential drug candidates for debilitating lung diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. I willingly embrace new technologies, which enables me to fuel my passion for the discovery of new medicines. I am a superuser for several pieces of advanced laboratory equipment, including flow chemistry reactors. I have shared my expert knowledge of this equipment with others, training multiple lab scientists. I also consistently applied cutting-edge AI/ML drug design approaches to my work, which has accelerated drug discovery project timelines as well as contributing to the development of these emerging tools.
Vanessa Green | Well-being Advocate and Coach | Habit Heartbeat
Vanessa Green is a passionate wellbeing advocate, coach, and speaker dedicated to helping individuals take control of their health and happiness.
As a qualified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor. She has spent over nine years supporting clients across London in achieving their fitness goals through group exercise and personal training, all while balancing a full-time career. Her clients have not only experienced weight and fat loss but have also built long-lasting fitness habits, with 80% continuing their routines to this day. Vanessa’s journey into wellbeing coaching was deeply personal. After overcoming her own battle with severe anxiety, she became committed to helping others create sustainable, fulfilling lifestyles. She specialises in empowering women to develop intentional habits that support anxiety management, productivity, emotional resilience, and physical wellbeing. So they can perform at their best, reduce stress, and lead more fulfilling, purpose-driven lives both professionally and personally. Driven by this passion, Vanessa founded Habit Heartbeat, a platform designed to inspire individuals and organizations to unapologetically prioritize wellbeing. Her mission is to help people build a balanced approach to life one habit at a time.
Bethan Garland | Senior Brand Manager | GSK
I am a passionate marketing and communications professional with a strong background in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and healthcare industries.
My journey has been driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact through innovative strategies and effective engagement. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work on exciting projects, such as launching new products and creating customer-centric strategies. In addition to this, I am incredibly passionate about driving inclusion and co-lead the UK Women’s Leadership Initiative at GSK, and I have been honoured with several awards, including ’Women’s Leadership Initiative Rising Star’ and recognition for my impact on inclusion at GSK. I am proud of the work I have done and the teams I have been a part of. My career has been a journey of continuous learning and growth, and I’m excited about the future and the opportunities to make a positive difference in the healthcare industry.
Kanchan Chandegra | Volunteer | London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
I am currently retired after working for 34 years with the NHS at Central Middlesex Hospital as a phlebotomist and in admin.
I was not retired for long, when in 2023 I jumped at the opportunity to become a ‘Butterfly’ volunteer at Northwick Park Hospital, providing end of life care to patients. I have always wanted to give back to the dying, something I have been conscious of since my sister passed away 25 years ago at the age of 38. The work is mentally exhausting but so rewarding. I sit with the patients, talk, play music, sing and give them hand massages to help their tired muscles. I believe they are aware of my company. I feel privileged to be able to help the exhausted families, giving them some respite. In 2024, our volunteer team won the Beryl Carr Volunteer of the Year Award for our efforts in this end-of-life care. I married at 16 and migrated from Tanzania to London, not being able to complete any further education. I always wanted to work in the medical field and the lack of a degree did not stop me. I have always ensured I am learning, growing and giving back. There is no end to my love for caring and giving to others. I lived in a joint family until I was 50, through which I acquired strong caring and sharing skills. I cared for my mother-in-law who was bed bound on top of three children.