Female Founders Day: Peer Mentoring

Dr Jennifer Waller Martin is an International education leader with a passion for learning, traveling and experiencing everything the world has to offer. Frequently traveling to all parts of the globe and driven by inspiring others to learn. Experience of managing international teams and working in Asia, Middle East, North America and Europe, as well as senior management experience in teaching, academic research, marketing, sales and operation functions all in Higher Education environments. Loves challenging growth environments, KPI Management and continuous development.

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.

Dr Sarah Mardle is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in healthcare, from scaling start-ups to executive roles in multinational organisations.

After many decades in the industry, she founded Alma Business Consulting to empower entrepreneurs through tailored consultancy and coaching, combining strategic insight with hands-on expertise.

A certified coach and dedicated mentor, Sarah contributes to the University of Cambridge’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting programmes like Cambridge Judge Business School’s Ignite and Accelerate. Her passion for fostering resilience and leadership in entrepreneurship is grounded in a career marked by innovation and sustainable growth.

At LeafyColl, we are revolutionising skincare and medical treatments with our plant-made, human-identical collagen. Founded by entrepreneurs from the University of Edinburgh and Imperial College London, we are committed to meeting the global demand for ethical, sustainable raw materials, breaking price and scale barriers in the £47 billion recombinant collagen industry.