Assia Aboubakar Mahamat is a prominent post-doctoral researcher at the École Nationale Supérieure des Travaux Publics (ENSTP) of N’Djamena, Chad. She is a civil engineer and materials scientist specializing in sustainable construction applied Artificial Intelligence (AI). She was honoured with the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science prize and the Schlumberger foundation faculty for the future. Currently, a lecturer at ENSTP (Chad) and African University of Science and Technology (Nigeria), she develops eco-friendly materials from plastic and agro-waste, integrating AI for forecasting. With over 30 published articles and membership in societies like RILEM, OWSD and ASTM, she is a dedicated mentor and a passionate advocate for women in STEM. She has founded initiatives to carry out outreaches programme for inspiring girls/women to build Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based career.

Ayse Kose is a bioengineer specializing in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Her research focuses on mimicking bio-piezoelectricity to improve bone and cartilage repair. She works at the intersection of material design, biomimetic intermediates, and animal-free science. She develops novel sustainable regenerative approaches to bridge biology and engineering in biomedical sciences by using organ-on-chip models, bio fabrication, bioprocess tools, and beyond. Ayse also mentors female students through The Bilim KızıTM (Science Girl) Project in Türkiye to support women’s empowerment in STEM.

Chi Ying Lam is a researcher-practitioner working at the intersection of music education, community music, and healthcare. Her research takes an evidence-informed, interdisciplinary approach to examining how music supports wellbeing, social inclusion, and community development, particularly with migrant and marginalised communities. Chi Ying is a Lecturer in Community Music and Social Justice at the University of Southampton and Director of the Southampton Centre for Music Education and Social Justice. She is also a Neurologic Music Therapy Allied Professional (NMTAP) and a member of the UK Young Academy.

Cynthia is a social entrepreneur and PhD candidate at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria. As a researcher, she is passionate about finding sustainable and climate-smart solutions to global water challenges. She and her team are currently working on producing biomaterials from renewable waste sources to provide solutions that extend our water resources, reduce waste, and promote a circular economy.

She has a strong interest in engineering education and is a student at the African Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education, ABU. In her spare time, she volunteers with the Centre of Water and Environmental Development in Kaduna, where she contributes to community-based tree-planting initiatives and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programmes.

Cynthia is a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Fellow, an alumna of the CLS-SustainFood Network, a member of the International Water Association, and Vice President of the Nigerian Youth Parliament for Water.

Deborah Braide is a PhD candidate in Materials Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal where she conducts research at the Engineering and Process Intensification (EPIC) lab. Her research focuses on membrane-based, process-intensified carbon dioxide conversion to clean fuels, leveraging sonochemistry to advance membrane synthesis, optimize separation performance, and enable sustainable processes. Deborah holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) in Chemical Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and a Master of Science (MSc.) in Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. Deborah has received several academic awards including the British Chevening Scholarship (2018), the Tyler Lewis Clean Energy Research Foundation Research Grant (2024), and the Hydro Quebec Excellence Scholarship (2025). Beyond academia, she engages in energy and sustainability initiatives through consulting and outreach, with a strong interest in translating research into real-world solutions.

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.

Hawa Camara is a global health researcher, and implementation scientist committed to advancing women’s health globally. Currently, she is a postdoctoral Cancer Prevention Fellow at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) where she explores how cervical cancer prevention innovations, such as HPV self-sampling and point-of-care diagnostics, can be integrated and sustained in limited resource settings. She holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She also brings over a decade of public health experience across Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the U.S. She aspires to positively change people’s lives as she accompanies them in their professional and personal journey.

Iris Blom is a medical doctor, climate-health researcher and policy expert. She recently completed her PhD at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, focusing on greenhouse gas mitigation in healthcare systems and its intersection with climate change adaptation, with a specific focus on Kenya. A Schwarzman Scholar with a master’s in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University, she brings a transdisciplinary lens to climate and health. Iris currently serves as Penholder of the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health at WHO Europe, Working Group Co-Chair for the Lancet Commission on Sustainable Healthcare, and Research Consultant for LSHTM’s Pathfinder Initiative.

Loki is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Heriot-Watt University working in the experimental medicine domain of the U-Care project in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh. Her work integrates advanced manufacturing, biomedical engineering, and clinical application, with a focus on translating laser-based technologies into impactful diagnostic and surgical tools.

In her current role, Loki leads the fabrication of micro-optical components using two-photon polymerisation (2PP) to enable imaging of far-field lung cavities, supporting improved access to previously unexplored regions of the lung. Alongside this, she is developing novel tissue-sampling tools using advanced laser-based fabrication techniques to enable high-precision, repeatable biopsy procedures.

Loki received her doctorate in 2024 from Heriot-Watt University, where she worked on an EPSRC-funded adventurous manufacturing project focused on laser-based fabrication of shape memory alloys for minimally invasive surgery. Her research demonstrated new manufacturing pathways for NiTi-based micro-scale components using laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT). She previously completed a joint master’s degree from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Aix-Marseille University, specialising in photonic materials and devices.

Beyond research, Loki is a committed STEM ambassador and mental health advocate. She is passionate about inclusive leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and building supportive research cultures.

Maria Nelago Kanyama is a UKUDLA Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of the Western Cape. She holds a PhD in Computer Science, a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications, and a Master’s degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering. In her research, she applies artificial intelligence and data-driven systems to address challenges in water management, climate resilience, food systems, and critical infrastructure. Her work integrates advanced machine learning techniques with questions of governance, ethics, and public-interest outcomes, with a strong focus on real-world deployment in resource-constrained settings. Drawing on experience in safety-critical environments and community-oriented research, Maria works toward developing inclusive and trustworthy technologies that support sustainable decision-making. Alongside her research, she contributes to capacity building and inclusive innovation as a founding member of Women in AI Namibia, where she supports the growth of diverse and responsible AI ecosystems.

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.

Nathasia is a postdoctoral researcher at the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London and an Alzheimer’s Research UK Fellow. She studies how toxic tau protein disrupts brain cell communication in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. A dedicated advocate for health equity, she leads dementia-focused outreach and public engagement with Black communities across the UK, earning her the 2025 UK DRI Engagement Award. She co-founded Visibility STEM Africa to amplify African voices in STEM and is a Fellow of the Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences, bridging the gap between laboratory science and societal impact.

Olka Missaghimamaghani is a PhD student in Experimental Medicine at the University of British Columbia, studying epigenetic changes underlying lineage plasticity in prostate cancer, with a focus on enhancer regulation in neuroendocrine prostate cancer. She completed her master’s research at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Germany, investigating translational regulation in microglia during aging and Alzheimer’s disease. She earned her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Middle East Technical University as a top-ranked student. Alongside research, she works to bridge academia and industry and support graduate career development.

Resshaya is a geroscientist and currently a Research Fellow at TUMCREATE, Singapore. with a focus on intervention development to support healthspan rather than just lifespan. Her work focuses on preventive medicine and health promotion, using digital and behavioural approaches to improve healthy ageing. She is particularly interested in practical, real-world interventions that can be integrated into everyday life.

Sawsan Abdul-Jalil is a PhD candidate in Agricultural Economics and Governance at Humboldt University in Berlin. She holds a Master’s degree in International and Development Economics from HTW Berlin and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Economic Development from the University of Khartoum. Alongside her doctoral studies, she is on leave from her position as a Lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Khartoum.

Her research focuses on development economics, agricultural and environmental economics, and public policy analysis, with a particular interest in economy-wide modelling of ecosystem restoration and its economic and distributional impacts. She employs quantitative economic modelling and policy evaluation tools to assess sustainable development strategies in fragile and low-income contexts.

Sawsan has extensive experience working with international and multilateral organizations, including the World Bank Group, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), and Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. Her work spans public finance management, labor market analysis, education finance, and socioeconomic policy reform. She has presented her research at conferences internationally.

In addition to her academic and policy work, Sawsan is committed to advancing gender equality in economics. She is the founder of the Sudan Women Economist Association and actively works to support and mentor women in the field.

Selin Akpinar Adscheid is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Her EU-funded training includes a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Industrial PhD and an Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Nanomedicine for Drug Delivery; she also holds a BSc in Chemistry from METU, Türkiye. Trained across ten institutions in seven countries, she has academic and industrial expertise in drug delivery, scalable nanoparticle production, and neurodegeneration. She also serves as national co-director of Activator at Nucleate Germany, where she volunteers to support researchers and founders in building impactful biotech startups.

Temitope Adeniyi is a PhD researcher at Cleveland State University working at the intersection of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and data-driven healthcare. Her research focuses on quantum sensing, reinforcement learning, and machine learning for early disease detection. She is the Programme Lead at the Africa Quantum Consortium, advancing talent development and research collaboration across Africa. Her work has been recognized through selection to UNESCO’s Quantum 100 and as the 2024 Femtum Quantum Rising Star Award winner, and she actively supports quantum education through university teaching and high school outreach initiatives.

Tumai is a PhD candidate at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, advancing African precision public health through integrated disease modelling using machine learning. Her research develops Africa-specific cardiometabolic disease risk prediction models that challenge Eurocentric approaches, which leave African populations underserved by global health innovation. As DS-I Africa Partnership and Outreach Working Group Co-chair (2026), she fosters collaborations between the consortium and key data science players across Africa. She is also passionate about mentoring young scientists.

Velma is a PhD candidate in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology at Makerere University, Uganda. She develops disease-resistant groundnut varieties using genomic tools to address critical agricultural challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. She is also a Project Coordinator at the JR Biotek Foundation where she supports agricultural innovation, farmer engagement, and scientific project coordination contributing to climate-resilient food systems across Africa. She has served as a Junior researcher with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and contributed to projects with Innovations for Poverty Action aimed at improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.