Juliana Smith | Reporting Leader | Costain
Originally from Brazil, my career in tech began in 2007, spanning across multiple sectors.
While studying Oceanography, I learnt Fortran and MATLAB, sparking my passion for data. I then transitioned from research to the Oil & Gas Industry, where I supervised directional drilling operations and served as a Navigator for marine seismic operations. Following a work injury, I shifted to Data Analytics, focusing on Power BI for the past five years. My journey was propelled by receiving the Collaborate to Measurable Impact – Values Hero Award at Deloitte in 2020 for defining data strategy and enhancing H&S compliance audit systems. In 2023, I achieved Chartered IT Professional status from the British Computer Society, and in 2024, I was honoured with the TechWomen100 award. I've demonstrated exceptional stakeholder management skills by collaborating with significant clients globally. My recent focus on digital accessibility has involved leading initiatives to implement accessibility frameworks for Power Platform products and launching a website, sharing insights on how to make dashboards more accessible. As a sought-after speaker, I have presented sessions at conferences and Microsoft User Groups worldwide and was recently accepted into the New Starts of Data programme My leadership extends beyond technical expertise. As board member of NorthWest Women in STEM and an ambassador for DataDNA at Onyx Data, I've championed diversity and inclusion initiatives, mentored junior team members, and secured sponsorships and collaborations. Creating the LinkedIn Newsletter STEM Demystified with over 1,000 subscribers showcases my communication skills and commitment to breaking gender stereotypes in STEM.
Subha Krishnamoorthy | Product Manager | Cognizant Worldwide Ltd.
Subha Krishnamoorthy is a seasoned Product Manager with over 18 years of experience in the technology industry.
Holding an Engineering degree and a postgraduate degree in Information Technology Management, Subha began her career in 2006 as a Quality Analyst in Bangalore, India. She quickly transitioned to a Siebel Functional Consultant, providing her expertise to clients in the USA. Throughout her career, Subha has excelled in various roles, including Business Analyst and Techno-Functional Consultant. She has worked with leading organizations such as Infosys, UST, LnT Infotech, and Cognizant Worldwide, serving global 1000 customers across Public Sector, Retail, Healthcare, and Banking domains. Her work has spanned greenfield implementations, upgrades, and the development of business strategies for retail products. Subha is known for her ability to drive product vision, ensure incremental value delivery, and offer technology advice that considers industry standards, team budgets, user experience, and ROI. She has extensive international experience, having worked with teams and customers in North America, APAC, and the UK. Her strong communication, presentation, problem-solving, and leadership skills have enabled her to thrive in high-pressure and ambiguous environments.
Eve Calderbank | Business Growth Development Manager | Essex County Council
As someone with 10 years experience in the private and public sector, working in finance and analysis, four years ago I made the decision to change careers and look for a role which involved more direct engagement with my local community and customers.
My current role of Business Growth Manager at Essex County Council, helps to ensure that businesses across Essex are receiving all the support they need in order to thrive, grow and support the local economy. A keen networker who believes that building relationships face to face is key to understanding and providing the best support available. Three years ago, based on my own personal experiences, I created a community for women, in order to further this support and provide a platform to celebrate women in business across Essex. This has led to developing a range of personal skills from marketing to event planning, and has allowed me to build an extensive network across Essex. I have also used this passion for improving the working lives of others, to pursue EDI based projects internally within Essex County Council, including roles within the Womens Network and EDI Lead for our Workforce Ambassadors group.
Megha Kashyap | Decolonising Research Fellow | London South Bank University
I am a social scientist with over a decade of experience of working in the development sector and academia in South Asia, parts of Africa and the UK.
My practice and politics is deeply rooted in my lived experiences of various economic, political, social and gendered inequalities. Having grown up in post-colonial hinterlands in Assam, India, I have experienced poverty up close and personal. Throughout my childhood and youth, I navigated unbelievable odds including near death experience when an abusive ex tried to kill me. My feminist awakening happened in the intensive care unit in a hospital I was admitted in. There was no going back after that. Over a decade of work in the gender and development space and now in the UK academia, my personal and professional experiences define me and my feminism. A feminist academic and activist, my mission is to diversify and make education accessible for everyone, especially for racially minoritised communities. My expertise lies in interdisciplinary research, advocacy, influencing and policy. I have led research on issues of inequality, development financing, and decolonial approaches to policymaking. I excel at translating complex social issues into actionable insights. In summary, I am living the dream of my grandmother who was married as a child bride and who couldn't go to school. I am living the dream of my mother who couldn't complete her education due to poverty and inequality. I am challenging patriarchy by refusing to accept traditional social and gender norms. My feminism is intergenerational.
Chloe Lewis | Programme Director | The Catalyst Collective
Chloe started her career in the education sector, working in residential boarding and for education charities, in the UK and abroad.
She has spent the last 6 years working in the public sector holding a range of roles at the Department for Education including Ministerial Private Office, policy, procurement and an Independent Review. Chloe is now the Strategic Adviser to the Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. In addition to this, she founded The Catalyst Collective over 4 years ago. The Catalyst is a non-profit organisation designed to connect young Black women up with professional Black women role models for mentorship and support. Finally, Chloe is a lifelong student, currently completing her PhD in Education at the University of Cambridge.
Dr Bonnie Kwok | Business Development Manager | Greater Cambridge Shared Planning
Dr. Bonnie Kwok MBE, BA(Hons), Dip. Arch, Dip. Strategic Leadership, MA, MSc, PhD, AssocRTPI, Cmgr FCMI, FRSA Dr.
Bonnie Kwok is the Business Development Manager for Greater Cambridge Shared Planning (GCSP), the combined Local Planning Authority for Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council. With over 25 years of experience in architecture, urban design, town planning, strategic leadership, business development, and youth engagement, Bonnie plays a pivotal role in driving growth and enhancing the quality of development projects in the Greater Cambridge region. She excels in identifying growth opportunities, building strong client relationships, and ensuring the successful delivery of placemaking projects. Passionate about youth engagement, in 2017, Bonnie developed a Youth Engagement Framework as part of her PhD research, which has been well received and informs GCSP's youth engagement work. She manages the Councils' Youth Engagement Service (YES) and Design Review Panel, providing bespoke Design Workshops that enable children and young people to contribute to the design and town planning process, fostering their skills and confidence. Bonnie's contributions to young people's education, development, and well-being are widely recognized. In 2024, she was awarded an MBE for her volunteer service to education and community cohesion. She has also received the Women of Influence Award by the Planner Magazine, the CIAC Women Volunteer of the Year Award (2023), the Thornton Education Trust (TET) 'Youth Engagement Practitioner of the Year Award' (2022), and the Blossom Award (Education Category) in 2021 for her outstanding contributions to children's well-being and education.
Mai Kawashima | Vice President | Trinity Investments
As a trilingual professional fluent in Japanese, English, and German, born in Japan and raised in Germany, I've always been a global citizen My career has been driven by a desire to immerse myself in challenging, competitive, and international environments where I can learn and develop my professional skill set alongside talented and driven individuals from around the world.
This passion led me to join Trinity Investments as Vice President of Acquisitions in 2023, transitioning from the hotel investment advisory business, where I had spent the previous decade building my career. I became the second employee in Trinity's London office, working alongside my Managing Partner to establish the firm's European business. In my role, I am responsible for sourcing, underwriting, and executing European hotel transactions, with the mission of contributing to Trinity's growth as the most sophisticated hotel investment firm in the world. Before joining Trinity, I worked as a hotel broker at Savills Hotel Capital Markets and JLL's Hotel & Hospitality Group in both London and Tokyo, advising on complex cross-border hotel transactions totaling approximately €2 billion across Europe and Japan. Earlier in my career, I started as a graduate analyst in the Derivatives desk at Merrill Lynch Japan Securities. Beyond my professional endeavors, I am a mother to a three-year-old daughter, which has further fueled my ambition to empower women in the real estate industry. I actively support career development initiatives through organizations such as Women in Hospitality and Ladies in Real Estate.
Kevina Kakembo | Senior Quantity Surveyor | AECOM
Kevina is a dedicated senior chartered quantity surveyor, passionate about making a meaningful impact in the built environment.
Since entering the industry in 2018, she has worked across South Africa, East Africa, Italy, and the UK, delivering flagship projects for a variety of clients in diverse settings. She began her career as a Candidate Quantity Surveyor in South Africa, gaining hands-on experience that shaped her adaptability and global perspective. After moving to the UK, she successfully transitioned her SACQSP chartership to RICS, quickly adapting to the UK market and earning a promotion to Senior Quantity Surveyor. Kevina is currently focused on building her expertise and preparing for the next stage of her career, actively seeking opportunities to expand her skill set. Kevina has been recognised for her contributions to the construction industry, receiving a Highly Commended award as Young Professional of the Year at the CFCI Design and Construction Awards 2024. A committed advocate for diversity and inclusion (EDI), she has served in various ambassadorial roles, contributing to initiatives that support greater representation in the sector. Most recently, contributing to an important discussion on the RICS podcast about the retention of women in surveying. Mentoring and reverse mentoring have been integral parts of Kevina's career. She has supported early-career professionals while gaining valuable insights from senior leaders. Kevina is also passionate about inspiring the next generation of professionals. As a Form the Future Young Ambassador and a CFCI Next Gen, working to bridge connections between young talent and career opportunities.
Ashleigh Foreman | Site Manager | Barratt London (Barratt Redrow)
My love for buildings and development came after a short work experience and Telfords.
I saw a gap in the industry where women should be and knew I had the skills to bring to the table. I started my career with Barratt London as a trainee site manager in 2021. Since then I have had 2 promotions - To assisted and now to Site manager. At the busiest time I was managing a program of over 100 apartments with a site of around 300 operatives a day. Since beginning my career I have sought every opportunity to upskill, develop my portfolio and broaden my experiences and cv. I have attended training of structural works and engineering insights and improved my computer skills using systems such as Asta and asite to maximise my knowledge and management style. My career - Although focused around health and safety management, mitigating risk to our program and delivering top quality homes to customers, has many more sides to it. I have put myself forwards for the junior board within the East London region, promoting engagement, leading charity events fund raisers, team building and outreach. I have also found so many positives to being a woman in this field - Putting myself forwards as a mental health first aider has been incredible. Together on site and within my company, we are combating mental health stigma and promote and open to talk environment for all directly employed staff and contractors.
Marzia Bolpagni | Associate Director | Mace
Marzia is Civil Engineer specialised in digital technologies.
She is a champion in service excellence and innovation where she supports clients on digital strategy and applications. She does not just deliver excellence in her company: her work has an impact at international level. Lead author of the international standard BSENISO7817-1:2024 on the use of digital engineering to define digital requirements: the only standard in this field lead by such a young woman. Thanks to the popularity of the work, other two parts are now under adoption at international level under her guidance. She is the youngest leader of a 30+experts from 16 countries at CENTC442 and ISO. She coordinates 150+international volunteers in translating complex STEM concepts. She is the youngest ambassador of Nima, promoting the adoption of technologies in the UK Construction. She is Honorary Associate Professor at UCL, Visiting Professor at Northumbria University. She co-authored a relevant UK BIM Framework national guidance. Marzia is Founder of Italians in Digital Transformations UK, a community of 800+ Italian professionals working in the UK. She gave lectures to 28 international universities so far, supervises dissertations and she mentors 20+ a year students to inspire the new generation on STEM career. She is keynote speaker in 250+events in 28 countries, author of 25+scientific articles, a book, included in magazines/journals, podcasts and videos.