Meet The Team

Our Board

The Women in STEM Network is guided by a dedicated global team of professionals and volunteers who share a common vision, to create an inclusive, international space where women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can connect, grow, and thrive.

Our leadership and volunteer teams represent a wide range of disciplines and countries, reflecting the diversity and global reach of our community.

Shara Cohen

Country: Afghanistan:Afghanistan

Field or Discipline: Life Sciences (Immunology), Science Communication, Entrepreneurship, STEM Education, HealthTech, Patient Advocacy

Links:
Website
LinkedIn

Dr Sharon Brookes

Non-Executive Director

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Distinguished life scientist with a career spanning over 30 years

Links:
LinkedIn

Tim Gellman

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Chartered Accountant. Bringing over two decades of strategic financial leadership across various sectors

Links:
LinkedIn

Molly Cohen

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Specialising in Commercial Law, having worked at Slaughter and May, Clifford Chance and currently TLT London

Global Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors are passionate advocates who are helping to build a global movement for women in STEM. These dedicated volunteers are spreading the word about the Women in STEM Network, ensuring that professionals across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics connect, thrive, and shape the future of STEM. In addition, they have specific roles within the network, as below.

Social Media Managers

Playing a vital role, our volunteer Social Media Managers help maintain a vibrant and supportive online presence. This dedicated team creates and shares high-quality, engaging images and content across all our social media platforms, ensuring that our brand voice is consistently represented. They also interact with our audience by responding to comments and messages, acting as ambassadors for the network and upholding our values of inclusivity and empowerment. Through their time and skills, they help us reach and support women in STEM worldwide, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

Maimoona Waseem

LinkedIn Engagement Coordinator

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Doctoral Researcher in Management

Links:
LinkedIn

Izzy Walford

Twitter Manager

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Human Biology Graduate

Links:
LinkedIn

Kira Ward

Facebook Engagement Coordinator

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Astrophysics, Exoplanet Research

Links:
LinkedIn

Salma Ahmed

Country: United Arab Emirates

Field or Discipline: Statistics & Data Analytics with a future focus on Health Data.

Links:
LinkedIn

Yoyo Yung

Facebook Engagement Coordinator

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Strategic Planning Project Management Presentation Design User Research Certified Positive Discipline Education/Facilitator Certified Playgroup Tutor

Links:
LinkedIn

Kaosolu (linda) Chinwuba

Facebook Engagement Coordinator

Country: Nigeria

Field or Discipline: Digital Marketing Manager, IT Specialist, and Educator

Links:
LinkedIn

Rose Mutende

Facebook Engagement Coordinator

Country: Kenya

Field or Discipline: Intersection of teacher preparation, digital pedagogy, and education equity.

Links:
Website
LinkedIn

Sophie Maliakal

Facebook Engagement Coordinator

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Biochemistry

Dr. Ikram Mahmoudi

Country: France

Links:
LinkedIn

Riya Gill

Country: Australia

Links:
LinkedIn

Carolina Endara

Visual Artist | Spotlight Moderator

Country: United States

Field or Discipline: Journalism, Marketing and Communications

Links:
Website
LinkedIn

Events Management Team

Our volunteer Events Management Team is essential to the success of the Women in STEM Network’s events. Through collaborative effort, this dedicated team ensures the smooth delivery of our webinars and other initiatives. Each member brings their own strengths to the process, researching and securing high-quality speakers, arranging and moderating events, providing technical support, and managing post-event tasks such as follow-up communications and evaluation. Their teamwork helps us consistently deliver engaging, empowering experiences that support and inspire women in STEM worldwide.

Hannah Mikkelson

Team Leader

Country: Australia

Field or Discipline: Environmental Science, Engineering

Links:
LinkedIn

Suneeksha Shinde

Moderation Coordinator

Country: India

Field or Discipline: Data Engineer | Cloud Technology | Consulting

Links:
LinkedIn

Taisiia Mukii

Community Event Coordinator (Ukrainian Women in the UK)

Country: Ukraine

Links:
Website
LinkedIn

Sonal Gupta

Event Moderator

Country: India

Field or Discipline: Material science, polymer chemistry, photonics, nanophotonics, biophotonics, and electrochemistry

Links:
Website
LinkedIn

Faith Egbuka

Event Moderator

Country: Afghanistan:Afghanistan

Field or Discipline: Mass Communication (B.Sc.) with focus on Digital Media, Content Creation , Communication Strategy and using AI to make Africa Content that pivot social change amongst youth.

Links:
LinkedIn

Vasiliki Kalodimou

Event Moderator

Country: Afghanistan:Afghanistan

Field or Discipline: Biotherapies, cellular therapies, regenerative medicine, cellular standards, AI, stem cell applications, research, organ 3D printing

Links:
LinkedIn

Faiqa Shahzadi

Event Moderator

Country: Pakistan

Field or Discipline: Audiology

Links:
LinkedIn

Silmara Furtado Da Silva

Event Moderator

Country: Brazil

Field or Discipline: Chemical Engineering, Green Chemistry, Techno-Economic Assessment, Teaching

Links:
LinkedIn

Silmara Furtado Da Silva – Biography

As a chemical engineer, I drive sustainable innovation through cutting-edge research, industry collaboration, and STEM education. Currently pursuing my PhD in Chemical Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), my research focuses on the catalytic conversion of bioethanol into olefins, combining process simulation, techno-economic analysis, and sustainability assessment to support low-carbon, circular technologies.

I hold a Master's degree in Technology of Chemical and Biochemical Processes from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), where I specialized in developing and optimizing chemical processes. My experience includes contributing to three Petrobras R&D projects, where I:
🔹 Optimized diesel-biodiesel blends for fuel performance
🔹 Developed novel stability testing methodologies
🔹 Designed catalytic pathways for bioethanol-derived olefins using PID Eng & Tech tools

These experiences deepened my commitment to bridging academia and industry for practical climate solutions.

As an educator and mentor, I have a strong background in STEM engagement. From 2015–2020, I taught Chemistry in university entrance prep courses, promoting problem-solving and critical thinking. At UFRJ, I coordinated the Green Chemistry mentorship program, guiding undergraduates to propose sustainable process alternatives through industry-focused case studies. In 2023, I joined LatinHire as a STEM Education Program Specialist, tutoring Hispanic students from Chemical Engineering courses in U.S. universities.

Between 2018-2020, I contributed to the 'Catalyzing the Circular Economy' project, co-authoring 3 digital books, organizing events, and disseminating key concepts in circularity. As chair of the ACS UFRJ Student Chapter (2019–2024), I led outreach, research engagement, and global collaborations -expanding the chapter's reach and impact in Green Chemistry.

Currently, I'm actively involved in LatinX in AI, LatinXChem, Latinas in STEM, and LatinX in ChE, where I help promote diversity, representation, and professional development among Latin American researchers in science and engineering worldwide.

I've received 7 awards from the American Chemical Society for my contributions to Green Chemistry and outreach. With a deep passion for creating sustainable solutions, I'm committed to advancing chemical engineering for societal benefit.

Let's connect if you're working at the intersection of sustainability in chemical engineering, innovation, and education - or if you're passionate about making science more inclusive and impactful!

Jaci Harman

Live Events Manager

Country: Afghanistan:Afghanistan

Field or Discipline: Travel Specialist | Former Family Therapist | Life Coach | Event & Project Coordinator | Women in STEM Network Mentor

Links:
Website
LinkedIn

Hawraa Ghandour

Event Moderator

Country: Lebanon

Field or Discipline: Education and Learning Sciences, EdTech and AI Integration, Media Literacy, Coaching for Empowerment, and Social Entrepreneurship — bridging innovation, empathy, and impact across the MENA region.

Links:
LinkedIn

Snizhana Oliinichenko

Ukrainian Events Assistant

Harshini Kamalakannan

Event Moderator

Dr.shilu Mathew

Event Moderator

Country: Qatar

Links:
LinkedIn

Dr.shilu Mathew – Biography

Shilu Mathew is the first founding member of Women in Science. Raised in the Gulf countries, she was inspired by her professors to become a biological and bioinformatic scientist. Her mother was a significant influence, encouraging her to pursue a multidisciplinary research career. With 14 years of experience, she is a multidisciplinary researcher specializing in genomics, bioinformatics, biotechnology, microbiology, virology, nanotechnology, biostatistics, biobanking, and public health.
Her Bachelors was in biotechnology and she holds a dual Master’s degree one in medical nanotechnology and bioinformatics. After completing her collaborative PhD at Bharathidasan University, she continued her research as a postdoctoral fellow at Qatar University, where she worked on a project funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). Following her postdoctoral tenure, she joined the Hamad Medical Corporation as a Research Associate in the ITRI department, where she expanded a project focused on CRISPR, microbes, and cancer.
Shilu is particularly passionate about advanced molecular biology technologies, including next-generation sequencing using SOLiD and Illumina platforms, Affymetrix and Agilent microarray technologies, Bioanalyzer, and the Sanger sequencer. She enjoys her extensive bioinformatics expertise covering protein modeling, molecular docking, molecular simulations, drug screening, next-generation sequencing using CLC Genomics Workbench and Geneious Prime, and expression analysis using tools such as Genespring and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis data analysis.
Shilu has authored 50 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and has given 16 conference presentations, particularly in BMC Genomics. Additionally, she serves as a reviewer for reputable journals such as Bioinformatics Insights and Computers in Biology and Medicine, and she is currently on the Editorial Board of The Open Bioinformatics journal published by Elsevier.
She is eager to work in a multidisciplinary field of science where computational research can be applied more broadly so it precisely approaches the wet lab work and provides a prompt solution to clinical research.
She is passionate about helping and being a shoulder to women and mothers in the STEM field. She holds the belief that a mother's kindness possesses the capacity to overcome any obstacle. She is the mother to a daughter.

Salwa Mabrouk

Event Moderator

Country: Tunisia

Field or Discipline: Teaching

Ruth Morse

Events Features Writer

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Human Genetics

Links:
Website
LinkedIn

Zakia Alioua

Country: Algeria

Field or Discipline: Marine Biologist, Climate Researcher, Environmental Scientist

Links:
LinkedIn

Ing. Gloria Sitsofe Selase

Community Event Coordinator (African Women in STEM)

Country: Ghana

Field or Discipline: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Links:
Website
LinkedIn

Vilashini Saravanan

Country: Malaysia

Field or Discipline: Pharmacist, MSc Digital Health Student, Advocate for FemTech and Equitable Healthcare Innovation

Ron Thomas

Country: Jamaica

Pushpa Thapa

Country: Nepal

Field or Discipline: Infectious Disease & AMR Researcher | Medical Microbiologist | Advocating for Innovation in Diagnostics, Nanomedicine & Bioinformatics

Links:
LinkedIn

Eeda Rijal

Country: United States

Elizabeth Kuponiyi

Post-Event Technical Support

Country: Nigeria

Field or Discipline: IT support

Links:
LinkedIn

Sunbin Samin

Country: Bangladesh

Field or Discipline: Life Sciences- Biotechnology , Cancer Biology , Drug Development

Polina Aliev

Country: Israel

Nina Rezec

Event Setup & Promotions Coordinator

Country: United Arab Emirates

Field or Discipline: Diversity & Inclusion Advocate

Links:
LinkedIn

Additional Ambassadors

Dr. Marisa Amato

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Connecting Researchers and Clinicians with Cutting-Edge Solutions | Science Communicator

Links:
LinkedIn

Sandra Cancino

Country: Colombia

Field or Discipline: Electronics Engineering

Links:
LinkedIn

Isabel Puig

Country: Dominican Republic

Field or Discipline: Business and compliance

Links:
LinkedIn

Ludo Kenosi

Country: Botswana

Field or Discipline: ICT - Digital transformation strategies, Application development, IT Governance, AI & Robotics Business Analytics • Project Management • IT Consulting • Strategic Planning

Links:
LinkedIn

Esther Dujambi Tuweyo

Xhensila Shkembi

Dr. Yvonne Anesta

Country: Sri Lanka

Field or Discipline: Medical Professional, Academic Lead. Co-Founder and Mentor of Alpha Achievers

Links:
LinkedIn

Dr. Liesl Arendse

Country: South Africa

Field or Discipline: Infant Growth Analysis | Forensic Anthropology: Medico Legal Investigations | MedSci and Environmental Research Aide | Science Education Professional

Links:
LinkedIn

Rita Pikrou

Mireille Barsoum

Country: Egypt

Field or Discipline: Entrepreneurship, Gender Studies, Women’s Empowerment, Women in Business, Business Strategy, Strategic Marketing

Links:
LinkedIn

Helen Li

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Life Scientist, bioinformatics

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Ekroop Grewal

Country: Canada

Field or Discipline: Advocate for Health Equity, Researcher, Educator

Links:
LinkedIn

Claudia Amaya

Country: El Salvador

Field or Discipline: Mathematics - Theology -Educator

Links:
Website
LinkedIn

Victoire Mukamitari

Country: Rwanda

Field or Discipline: Resident, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Women in Surgery Africa (WiSA)

Links:
LinkedIn

Segen Kubrom

Country: United States

Field or Discipline: Aspiring Medical Professional

Links:
LinkedIn

Catherine Maina

Country: Kenya

Field or Discipline: Advocate for Gender Equality in STEM, Education, and Employment

Links:
LinkedIn

Nesredin Hassen Yesuf

Country: Ethiopia

Field or Discipline: Medical Writer · Peer Reviewer · Aspiring Researcher · Global Health Advocate

Links:
LinkedIn

Kamila Morad

Country: Canada

Field or Discipline: Chemist, Project Management

Links:
LinkedIn

Diksha Diundi

Non-Profit Liaison Manager

Country: United States

Field or Discipline: Clinical. Regulatory. Pharmaceutical Writing I Toxicology | Clinical PK-PD I Pharmacometrics

Links:
LinkedIn

Heba Nashid

Country: United Kingdom

Field or Discipline: Medical Neuroscience Professional

Links:
LinkedIn

Tracey Martin

Country: Australia

Field or Discipline: Policy Advisor, Lawyer, International Policy Committee Chair

Links:
LinkedIn

Candy Muthoni

Country: Kenya

Field or Discipline: Strategy Professional, Social Impact Leader

Links:
LinkedIn

We are deeply grateful for our ambassadors and volunteers who drive change, foster collaboration, and promote diversity in STEM. Their efforts strengthen the foundation of this international network and help expand opportunities for women at every stage of their careers.

We welcome new ambassadors, mentors, and volunteers from around the world.

to learn how you can contribute to the Women in STEM Network.

Meet The Team

Our Board

Shara Cohen

Dr Sharon Brookes

Dr Sharon Brookes – Biography

Tim Gellman

Tim Gellman – Biography

Molly Cohen

Molly Cohen – Biography

Global Ambassadors

Maimoona Waseem

Maimoona Waseem – Biography

Izzy Walford

Kira Ward

Salma Ahmed

Salma Ahmed – Biography

Yoyo Yung

Yoyo Yung – Biography

Kaosolu (linda) Chinwuba

Rose Mutende

Sophie Maliakal

Sophie Maliakal – Biography

Dr. Ikram Mahmoudi

Dr. Ikram Mahmoudi – Biography

Riya Gill

Riya Gill – Biography

Carolina Endara

Hannah Mikkelson

Hannah Mikkelson – Biography

Suneeksha Shinde

Taisiia Mukii

Sonal Gupta

Faith Egbuka

Vasiliki Kalodimou

Faiqa Shahzadi

Faiqa Shahzadi – Biography

Silmara Furtado Da Silva

Silmara Furtado Da Silva – Biography

Jaci Harman

Hawraa Ghandour

Hawraa Ghandour – Biography

Snizhana Oliinichenko

Harshini Kamalakannan

Dr.shilu Mathew

Dr.shilu Mathew – Biography

Salwa Mabrouk

Ruth Morse

Ruth Morse – Biography

Zakia Alioua

Zakia Alioua – Biography

Ing. Gloria Sitsofe Selase

Vilashini Saravanan

Vilashini Saravanan – Biography

Ron Thomas

Ron Thomas – Biography

Pushpa Thapa

Pushpa Thapa – Biography

Eeda Rijal

Eeda Rijal – Biography

Elizabeth Kuponiyi

Elizabeth Kuponiyi – Biography

Sunbin Samin

Polina Aliev

Polina Aliev – Biography

Nina Rezec

Nina Rezec – Biography

Additional Ambassadors

Dr. Marisa Amato

Dr. Marisa Amato – Biography

Sandra Cancino

Isabel Puig

Isabel Puig – Biography

Ludo Kenosi

Ludo Kenosi – Biography

Esther Dujambi Tuweyo

Xhensila Shkembi

Dr. Yvonne Anesta

Dr. Yvonne Anesta – Biography

Dr. Liesl Arendse

Rita Pikrou