EnterpriseTECH programme team

Rebecca joined CJBS at the beginning of 2018 to design and develop entrepreneurship programmes for the Cambridge research community. The first of these was EnterpriseTECH that launched in Spring 2018 and now has over 1,000 alumni across 16 cohorts. In 2019, she launched a second programme, EnterpriseTECH STAR to help researchers build a first narrative around their own business ideas. It has 70 alumni across four cohorts. Most recently, she redesigned EnterpriseWOMEN in its new form for 2024 and secured funding to pilot it from 2023-25 from HEIF.

Early on in her career, Rebecca worked in the advertising industry in central London, around the time her two children came along. This marked a transition point for her. With two under-fives, she embarked on her chemistry career at 29 starting with an BSc (Hons) degree in Chemistry from Imperial College (94-97). She followed this with a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Cambridge (97-01), where she studied under the late Prof Chris Abell FRS. She then became a Senior Research Associate in the research group of Prof Steven V. Ley CBE FRS (01-17) remaining in the Department of Chemistry at Cambridge. During this time, she was also the Associate Director of the Cambridge-CRUK PhD Training Programme in Medicinal Chemistry (06-16), and was instrumental in building and shaping this pioneering chemistry-biomedical programme, led by Prof Sir Shankar Balasubramanian FRS.

In her spare time, Rebecca has undertaken over 1000-hours of basic and advanced yoga teacher training and, up until the pandemic, had a busy decade-long teaching commitment around the Cambridge yoga studios.

With 30 publications, including book chapters, reviews, and articles in organic, medicinal, and natural product chemistry, Rebecca is passionate about creating impactful research and fostering opportunities for researchers to thrive beyond academia.

Olivia Cutmore is a skilled Programme Administrator, playing an instrumental role in the seamless operation of EnterpriseTECH, EnterpriseTECH STAR and EnterpriseWOMEN at Cambridge Judge Business School’s Entrepreneurship Centre. Since joining the Education Team in January 2020 she has contributed significantly to the success of these innovative educational programmes.

Beginning her administrative career in 2014 as a hotel receptionist, Olivia honed her exceptional organisational and interpersonal skills. Following a two-year adventure in Australia, she returned to her hometown of Cambridge and gained valuable experience in office-based roles within the construction industry.

In her current position, Olivia leverages her technical expertise and efficient management skills to ensure a high-quality learning experience for participants of our programmes within the Education team. She is committed to streamlining procedures, collaborating closely with diverse student communities, and engaging empathetically with stakeholders.

Outside her professional pursuits, Olivia has expanded her skillset by completing an Executive Personal Assistant online course. Her passion for personal and professional growth has made a significant impact on connecting individuals, sharing insights, and providing necessary tools and support for career development for all of our participants.

Dr Ghina M Halabi is an inspiring astrophysicist and social entrepreneur. With a passion for unravelling the mysteries of the cosmos, her research explored the structure and evolution of stars, probing their life cycles and the physics that governs their behaviour to provide insights about the universe and our place in it.

Demonstrating her adaptability and keen insight, Ghina transitioned from the enigmatic world of astrophysics to the dynamic and disruptive realm of entrepreneurship.

Leveraging her expertise at the intersection of space science and commercialisation, Ghina joined the Education Team at the Entrepreneurship Centre, where she has played a crucial role in the creation and management of transformative programmes that empower academics to commercialise their research and flourish beyond the lab.

As an advocate for gender representation, she designed and leads EnterpriseTECH and EnterpriseWOMEN, an innovative entrepreneurship development programme specifically tailored for early-stage women entrepreneurs, founders and CEOs. Since 2022 she has completed executive education courses on VC, Fund Management, and SME growth at Imperial College London and University of Bath School of Management.

In a remarkable achievement, Ghina became the first individual to earn a PhD in astrophysics from a Lebanese university.

Driven by a commitment to promoting STEM and advocating for women in science, she founded She Speaks Science, a multi-lingual social enterprise dedicated to fostering a positive STEM identity among young people and amplifying the voices of women scientists through storytelling. She Speaks Science has received funding and support from prestigious organisations such as the International Astronomical Union and University of Cambridge.

Prior to her current endeavours, Ghina held positions as a postdoctoral research associate at the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge, a fellow at Wolfson College, and a lecturer at the American University of Beirut. She has spoken at international conferences and global forums, including UN Women, UNOOSA, and TEDx, and has featured in various media outlets. She currently mentors on UK Space Agency accelerator Entrepreneurial Spark.