Joanne Kenney | Research Fellow | University of Edinburgh
I am a Research Fellow at the Hub for Metabolic Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, where I investigate the complex interactions between neuroimaging, genetics, and immunometabolic dysfunction in psychiatric disorders.
My work integrates AI and data science techniques to uncover novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in mental illness. With over 15 years of experience in academic research, I have held positions at Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. My academic background spans Electronic & Computer Engineering, Psychology, Cognitive & Clinical Neuroscience, and Clinical Neuroimaging. I have authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and received multiple research awards, including the Schizophrenia International Research Society Early Career Award (2021) and Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland Research Awards. Having personally experienced bullying and harassment in my scientific career, I co-founded Women in Research, a network supporting women and underrepresented groups in academia. I am deeply concerned about recent DEI policy changes, particularly in the US, where funding cuts have threatened essential research in mental health equity. In response, I co-founded the International Consortium for Equity in Neuroscience (ICEN) with Harvard University, a global initiative committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in science. We have published papers on global trends in academic DEI. I am passionate about using cutting-edge technology to improve mental health research and clinical practice while ensuring that science is inclusive, diverse, and representative.
Khadijat Olorunlambe | Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering | University of Birmingham
Dr. Khadijat Abiola Olorunlambe is an award-winning educator and researcher dedicated to using digital engineering to address complex medical challenges.
She has a passion for engineering educational excellence with a wealth of teaching and supervision experience in higher education teaching, teaching overseas and online teaching. Her current research focuses on using acoustic emission (AE) testing to monitor and interpret tribological phenomena in natural and artificial joints, aiming to provide dynamic and intuitive diagnostic tools for joint pathologies. Khadijat holds a first-class MEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (Biomedical) and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham. Her doctoral research explored the use of AE signals to diagnose tribological phenomena in artificial joint materials, employing machine learning techniques to predict joint degeneration and failure. She was previously a Teaching Fellow and Postgraduate Teaching Associate at the University of Birmingham, enhancing her skills in module development, lecturing, and project supervision. Currently, as an Assistant Professor and Head of Education for Mechanical Engineering, she collaborates with colleagues to enhance teaching and learning by leveraging digital technologies to improve student engagement and academic excellence. She has published in high-impact journals and presented at international conferences. She is an active member of professional organisations such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Higher Education Academy. She is also committed to public engagement through outreach activities, mentoring, and STEM education initiatives.
Nisha Menon | Lecturer of Business Skills | London Southbank University
Nisha Menon is a Lecturer at LSBU Business School, where she plays a pivotal role in guiding Postgraduate students through their internships, helping them identify career opportunities aligned with their strengths and aspirations.
With over 15 years of entrepreneurial experience importing her 2 Food brands into the UK, she brings practical business insights into the classroom, equipping students with real-world entrepreneurial skills. As a passionate advocate for student employability, she has spearheaded initiatives at the university to connect international PG students with employers, creating more job opportunities in this tough market. Her dedication has led to consecutive nominations for LSBU’s Employability Enhancement Awards in 2023 and 2024. As part of the university’s Help to Grow scheme, she has delivered modules and also shared industry insights as a Guest Speaker. She also mentors both Postgraduate and Undergraduate students in starting an Import/Export business in the UK. Beyond academia, she actively supports small businesses through mentoring. In 2023, she served as a mentor for the Boxpark Croydon competition, where her mentee won a pop-up space. In 2020, she launched her You Tube channel (now over 450K views) to support & educate aspiring entrepreneurs with importing goods into the UK. Recognised as a three-time finalist in the Croydon Business Awards, she has also been featured by BBC News, BBC Radio, and various podcasts. She has spoken on various industry panels, including LSBU’s Earth Day event on sustainability and AGCAS’s International Graduate Roundtable on discussing employment prospects for international students.
Elena Brake | Trainee Engineer | Fishtek
I am a trainee engineer at Fishtek Ltd and current Mechanical Engineering Student with the University of Plymouth.
I am a recipient of the Engineering Leaders Scholarship from the Royal Academy of Engineering. I am currently pursuing a career change from a successful career within the arts. I earned a First Class degree in Fine Art in 2016 and built a career as a nationally recognised artist, exhibiting work, securing grants and mentoring young creatives as an art technician. However, a life-changing diagnosis in 2020 led to me becoming disabled, and ultimately inspired me to pursue a career change to engineering, a field with far-reaching societal impact. I have been actively sharing the story of my career change, becoming a chair of trustees for a new up and coming charity ”Construct Ability” which is dedicated to reducing barriers in engineering and construction roles for disabled people, and I frequently collaborate on practical solutions which help create better accessibility in my university and also the wider engineering industry. Overall, my mission is to increase the number of disabled people in engineering, because engineering people can bring with them a unique perspective as well as resilience, courage, and fantastic problem solving abilities. I hope that I can act as a role model for people considering engineering who might not think engineering is for them.
Sherry Gardner | Events Coordinator, RBC Capital Markets | Royal Bank of Canada
Sherry Gardner is a dynamic professional with a strong background in project management, corporate events and diversity initiatives.
Currently, working at the Royal Bank of Canada’s London office as an Events Coordinator in the Capital Markets division, managing high-profile corporate events, across Europe, internal employee engagement events and works as part of the team organising the RBC sponsored charity partnership, Race for the Kids event taking place in every year in Hyde Park which attracts over 2,000 RBC employees along with thousands of general supporters raising money for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. Before transitioning to financial services, Sherry worked full-time as an Executive Assistant to Managing Partners at a top City law firm while earning her law degree. Sherry studied for 4 years on a part-time basis as a mature student at Birkbeck University, demonstrating exceptional dedication and resilience. Passionate about fostering an inclusive workplace, Sherry is also an active member of Mosaic the Diversity Committee at RBC. This employee resource group, drives initiatives that promote inclusion and belonging across RBC regardless of ethnic background or religion.
Christina Taylor | Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Assistant Manager | KPMG LLP
Christina has worked at KPMG LLP for the past two years in the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity team, implementing an organisation-wide domestic abuse strategy in her first year at the firm.
Prior to KPMG, she worked in roles in Corporate Responsibility, DEI, Vulnerable Customer Strategy and Medical Underwriting. She previously co-chaired the Disability network at Aviva, increasing membership by 200% in her first year as co-chair. She is a passionate advocate for speaking openly about mental health and has volunteered as one of Beat's Ambassadors for the last 10 years. This role included recently featuring as the face of their corporate awareness campaign, and speaking on BBC News and at the House of Lords to raise awareness of chronic and enduring eating disorders, as well as training medical students and supporting carers. In 2022, she secured funding of over £80,000 for community charitable causes nationwide and in her hometown of Norwich. She also volunteers as a governor at two local schools, chairing one board and vice chairing another. She leads on SEND and DEI strategy for over 2000 local students in these educational settings, as well as mentoring local talent with neurodiversities and eating disorders.
Fabienne Palmer | Head of Equity and Inclusion | Smart About Health
I am Clinical Psychologist, Cancer Transformation Programme Lead, and Head of Equity and Inclusion.
I also serve as a Clinical and Research Supervisor and an Associate Clinical Tutor on London-based clinical psychology doctoral programmes, supporting and mentoring aspiring psychologists to develop their core professional competences, and also widening access to the profession. As Director of Wise Mynd, I have prioritised training, content creation and therapeutic approaches that name and address systemic and cultural barriers to well-being for underserved communities. I have also worked with forward thinking organisations who are keen to dismantle systemic and institutional injustices within the creative industries, and VCSE sectors. One of the programmes I lead on focuses on the wellbeing of HR, DEI, and wellbeing practitioners; groups often overlooked despite their vital role in supporting others. Combining trauma-informed methods with equity-driven strategies, this initiative blends clinical theories, practice and research to create more inclusive and sustainable workplace environments and practices for all. Drawing on liberation, community and systemic psychology approaches, I am passionate about working closely with communities and people with lived experiences. I also prioritise showcasing the multiple ways clinical psychologists can inspire change both within and beyond the therapy room, harnessing data-driven insights, community partnerships, and reflective practice to create inclusive, transformative solutions across industries.
Natalie Maddox-Hussain | Co-Founder | Women Empowering Defence
I am a highly accomplished and results-driven leader with over 25 years of experience as a civil servant in the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Throughout my career, I have held pivotal roles across Commercial, Human Resources, Programme Management, and Cost Forecasting, leveraging my expertise to drive strategic decision-making and operational excellence. My work has played a crucial role in shaping high-impact defence initiatives both domestically and internationally, where I contributed to mission-critical operations supporting global security efforts. In March 2023, I transitioned into the private sector, joining Mace Group as an Associate Commercial Director. In this role, I apply my extensive experience in commercial strategy, contract management, and programme delivery to spearhead major defence projects. My ability to navigate complex commercial landscapes, foster collaboration, and drive efficiency ensures the successful execution of critical defence programmes. Beyond my professional roles, I am a passionate advocate for leadership, diversity, and inclusion within the defence sector. Recognising the need for an independent platform dedicated to empowerment and representation, I co-founded Women Empowering Defence (WED) in June 2023. This initiative is committed to fostering an inclusive environment, championing the contributions of women in defence, and driving meaningful change through mentorship, advocacy, and professional development. With a career spanning both government and private industry, I bring a unique perspective and unwavering dedication to strengthening the future of defence through leadership, innovation, and inclusion.
Caroline McElroy | Senior Service Designer | Cognizant
Originally from New Zealand, I began my career as a Technology Graduate at a leading bank, Westpac.
Early on, I had the unique opportunity to share my two lifelong goals with our CXO: continuous learning and helping others. These guiding principles bring me immense joy as I work toward them every single day. Whilst working as a Graduate and progressing to a Service Designer at Westpac, to achieve my goals, I became Vice President of Public Relations for our Toastmasters community, promoting and fostering a safe environment where individuals could build confidence in public speaking. I also joined an organisation part time, called The Social Experiment, as a Systems Thinking Facilitator, empowering young learners to take action, grow their confidence and make an impact in the world. Today, as a Senior Service Designer for a global technology consultancy, I champion these values as a STEM and TechSheCan ambassador. This volunteer work includes inspiring students, particularly female students, not only with knowledge about Generative AI but also with the exciting opportunities of careers in technology. Finally, I actively contribute to fostering a positive work culture as a lead member of our social committee, boosting morale and engagement. Additionally, as a member of our employee forum, I serve as a bridge between employees and senior leadership, ensuring open communication and collaborative decision-making. Through these roles, I aim to create environments where individuals and communities thrive, driven by the belief that learning and helping others are essential to meaningful progress.
Krusha Vekaria | Packaged App Development Analyst | Accenture
I am a Software Engineer with over two years of experience, specializing in Front End Development for large-scale projects in the public sector.
My curiosity for technology led me to study computing and mathematics at A Levels, and ultimately culminating in a First Class Master’s degree in Computing from the University of Sheffield. Joining Accenture as a graduate, I quickly immersed myself in the world of software development, gaining invaluable experience on complex public sector projects. Over the past years, I have developed both technically and professionally, now leading teams to deliver innovative solutions. I focus on fostering creativity and pushing boundaries while maintaining a commitment to excellence. With a solid background in both theory and practice, I bring a unique blend of technical expertise and problem-solving skills to every project. My ambition is to continue driving innovation and evolve into a creative technologist, using technology to positively impact individuals and communities. Beyond my professional role, I am deeply committed to advocating for women in STEM. During university, I led the nationally acclaimed Women in Engineering society at my university, reaching hundreds of young girls to inspire them about careers in STEM. At Accenture, I continue this mission as a co-leader of the UK’s first ‘Girls in AI Summit’ in partnership with TechSheCan. This initiative provides a platform to inspire and educate young girls, helping them build the confidence and skills needed to shape the future of technology.