Dr. Simone Badal McCreath currently manages the Biochemistry lab at the Natural Products Institute at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica and is overseeing and designing a new cell culture lab at the same Institute. McCreath is an accomplished early career researcher who has been investigating the cancer-fighting properties of Jamaican natural compounds. She will be launching a new Masters degree in Natural Therapeutics at her institute in 2014. She has received numerous awards and has published extensively. McCreath received her BSc, MPhil and PhD from UWI and also undertook an MBA at the University of Wales in Cardiff, UK.

Dr. Susana Arrechea’s research is focused on the potential industrial and environmental applications of materials such as nanoparticles, nanotubes, and graphene, which can be employed in creating more sustainable building materials, in water treatment, and in solar devices and other renewable energy solutions. In addition to contributing to the development of nanotechnology in Guatemala, she is also involved in improving solar electrification, connectivity, and digital and STEM literacy in schools in rural Guatemala, in partnership with New Sun Road and Microsoft. Dr. Arrechea received her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (USAC), and worked there as a professor of physical chemistry before pursuing her master’s degree and doctorate in nanoscience and nanotechnology at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. After graduating Cum Laude, she worked as a visiting researcher at the University of California-Berkeley as part of a Fulbright Nexus project on renewable energy, and later at the Center for Biotechnology Studies of the University of Valle de Guatemala. Her projects have won grants from the National Secretariat of Science and Technology in Guatemala (Senacyt) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), among others, and she has received awards including the 2017 “Guatemaltecos Ilustres” Award and a prize for young scientists granted by TWAS, Senacyt and the Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Guatemala. She has been profiled in national magazines, and in 2018 was named one of 50 Defiant Woman in Central America by the magazine Estrategia y Negocios. She is a member of the Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Guatemala, the International Network of Scientists of Guatemala, the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), and of other scientific networks in nanotechnology and energy.

Dr Marian Asantewah Nkansah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, where she teaches Practical Chemistry, Nuclear/Radiochemistry, Chemistry and Society, and Petroleum Chemistry. In her research, she focuses on identifying and characterizing the presence of both inorganic and organic contaminants in water, food, soil, the atmosphere and other environmental matrices, and on developing strategies for environmental remediation. By preparing and analyzing samples from different environments, she can determine the levels and effects of contaminants such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are generated by urbanization, industrial activities, artisanal activities and mining. She is striving to make the public aware of the risks of heavy metals, which she has found in unexpected places such as spices, lipstick, edible clay and classroom dust

Growing up as one of six children in Ghana during a period when the economy was in a state of collapse, Marian had a desire to help society from an early age. After completing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Chemistry at KNUST, she went to Norway to pursue her PhD in Environmental Chemistry at the University of Bergen. After completing it in 2012, she returned to KNUST where she worked as Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer before being promoted to Associate Professor in 2019, making her the youngest woman at the university to hold this position.

In addition to her research and teaching, Marian has undertaken training in science diplomacy. She is involved in advocacy and initiatives of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, and she mentors school children and younger peers. Her many achievements have brought her international recognition, including the TWAS FM Al-Kharafi Prize in 2016, a feature in the book Women in Science: An Inspiring Story from Africa and a slot on the commemorative Periodic Table of Younger Chemists by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).

Marian has 33 peer-reviewed articles and books chapters.

Dipuo Motshwari is a biomedical scientist and Senior Scientist at the South African Medical Research Council. Her research focuses on genetic and epigenetic drivers of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and related non-communicable diseases among African populations, with the aim of developing affordable, population-specific tools for early detection and prevention. She is part of the CKD in Africa Collaboration, manages a research biobank, and chairs the African Federation of Clinical Chemistry Young Scientists Task Force, supporting capacity building and collaborations across the continent.

Maribel is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cologne investigating molecular mechanisms of plant immunity and their intersection with metabolism. Her work focuses on discovering new metabolites that shape plant–microbe interactions in health and disease. Trained as a biochemist during her PhD at the University of Oxford, she enjoys working at the complex interface of plant genetics, biochemistry, and biophysics. Passionate about widening access to higher education, Maribel mentors young female talents as a convenor of the Female Scholars Network Cologne and is an enthusiastic science communicator and speaker.

Milemo Lusambya leads Let’s Be Transformed (MAGUFINA), established in 2017 serving Dzaleka Refugee Camp’s 56,000 residents. MAGUFINA implemented agriculture programs training 120 women, increasing food security by 30% and establishing four gardens producing 2,400kg vegetables annually. We achieved 85% program completion rates compared to 45% camp average through participatory design. MAGUFINA partners with UNHCR Malawi for policy support, Ministry of Natural Resources for compliance, and Malawi University of Science and Technology for technical validation.

Dr. Thilini Mudiyanselage is a Professor in the Department of Polymer Science at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, and a polymer chemist by training and practice. She earned an Honors degree in Chemistry, which laid a strong foundation in molecular science and led her to pursue a PhD, where she was introduced to the world of polymers and their potential to address pressing sustainability and climate challenges. Her research focuses on bio-based polymers, waste-derived materials, and functional hydrogels for water treatment, agriculture, and nutrient-use efficiency.

Dr. Fadia Alhaj Hussien is an organic chemist from Syria, specializing in green and sustainable chemistry. Her research focuses on recycling steel industry waste into catalysts for clean hydrogen and biofuel production, advancing affordable and sustainable energy solutions. Fadia mentors students in AI-assisted catalyst design, collaborates with industry, and leads environmental awareness initiatives, empowering her community toward a more sustainable future.

Carla Fabiana Crespo Melgar is a biochemist focused on increasing agricultural productivity as a crucial step to alleviate hunger. With her research, she is investigating the potential of using beneficial microorganisms and application protocols as biocontrollers, biofertilizers, bioinoculants and growth promoters for crop production in Bolivia and the region, with the aim of exploring ways that they can be produced locally by communities or small companies, once the technology and application protocols are validated.

Dr Zubeda Ukundimana is a chemical and environmental engineer from Rwanda, working as lecturer and environmental impact assessment consultant in Uganda. Her research has focused on assessing the wetland vulnerability to wastewater and developing treatment processes for abating pollutants concentration to protect receiving water bodies. Currently, Zubeda coordinates the North-South Alliance for Inclusive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (ALL4WASH) — bringing together international partners to confront challenges of water supply and sanitation through mutual cooperation.

Dr Tasrina Rabia Choudhury is a chemist from Bangladesh with expertise ranging from water quality improvement to environmental restoration, from climate change to risk assessment and environmental modeling, and more. She is working to pioneer novel approaches in the remediation techniques of toxic elements from wastewater and drinking water, ensuring the delivery of safe drinking water to underserved communities. Tasrina has actively engaged with local communities, implementing awareness campaigns that educate them about the importance of hygiene and efficient water use.

Ramia Al Bakain holds a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Sorbonne Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Paris, France. She is currently a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Jordan, Amman.

Her research focuses on the application of analytical chemistry to develop innovative methods in water, agriculture, and food security. She also works on green techniques for wastewater treatment and sustainable approaches to preserving natural resources. Ramia maintains extensive international research collaborations with institutions in the USA, France, Italy, Austria, Lebanon, Germany, Slovakia, and the UK.

She leads numerous international scientific projects and supervises interdisciplinary teams of graduate students working on water-food-agriculture security challenges in the MENA region. In addition, she is a member in the editorial board of Journal Sustainable Chemistry One World- Elsevier and Science & Technology Nexus Journal.

Ramia has received several prestigious international honors and awards, including: Elsevier Foundation-ISC3 Green & Sustainable Chemistry Award, L’Ordre national du Mérite – President of the French Republic, the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science and the MIT-Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation Award.

Maria Wilvenna Añora is the co-founder of AtoANI and AtoANI BioPack which seek to provide solutions in the agriculture industry. Currently connected with the University of San Carlos, Maria teaches in the areas of business analytics and operations management along with creating some courses for Pluralsight. With a Chemical Engineering and MBA Degree, Maria has corporate experience working for companies such as Lufthansa Technik Philippines and Procter and Gamble Philippines in the areas of Strategy, Digitalization, Innovation, Finance, Material Management, Quality Assurance, and Project Management. She also has previous freelance consulting experience in the areas of strategy and digital transformation strategies.

Altantuya Ochirkhuyag is a distinguished Environmental Chemist whose academic journey has been marked by notable achievements and contributions to the field. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Environmental Chemistry from the esteemed National University of Mongolia in 2011 and 2013, respectively. Driven by a passion for environmental science, she furthered her education by pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science at the University of Szeged in Hungary, culminating in her successful completion of the program in 2021.

Mokgadi is a self-professed environmental activist with a PhD in Chemistry. She completed her BTech and MTech degrees in Chemistry, both with cum laude, showcasing her dedication and academic excellence. Her research focuses on sustainable strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on medicinal plants.

Dr. Pooja Singh is currently associated with Symbiosis Centre for Waste Resource Management (SCWRM) of the Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune India, as an Assistant Professor. She is CSIR-NET-JRF qualified, has 4 patents filed and over 30 research publications and book chapters to her name. She was the recipient of the DST-WOS-B grant (2017-2020) and was associated with Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences (SSBS) as a DST Woman Scientist.

Reem Obaydo is a Syrian pharmaceutical analytical chemist and educator who, despite the hardships of war, economic constraints, and a lack of research infrastructure, remains committed to advancing scientific knowledge and mentoring young researchers, particularly women. Her research focuses on green analytical chemistry, where she develops sustainable, eco-friendly methods for pharmaceutical analysis. By reducing the use of hazardous chemicals in drug testing, her work ensures the safety and efficacy of medicines while minimizing environmental and health risks. She also integrates sustainability assessment tools to evaluate the environmental and health impact of her analytical methods, ensuring they adhere to green chemistry principles. Dr. Obaydo’s research plays a vital role in improving public health by reducing exposure to harmful substances in pharmaceuticals. By developing greener quality control techniques, she enhances drug safety and prevents the introduction of toxic residues into the environment. Her work also fosters safer laboratory environments by reducing researchers’ exposure to hazardous chemicals. Beyond pharmaceutical sustainability, Dr. Obaydo has supported Syrian women in conflict-affected areas by providing digital guidance on mental health management, ensuring accessible care for those in need. She has fostered international collaborations with researchers from Egypt, Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United Kingdom. Due to travel restrictions imposed on Syrian scholars, she has participated in international conferences online to promote green analytical chemistry, advocating for sustainable scientific research and safer practices in pharmaceutical laboratories worldwide.