Hannah Spence | Founder and Social Media Strategist | Clockflower Solutions
I am a dedicated social media entrepreneur with a diverse background that spans education, social impact, and business.
After spending over 10 years as a primary school teacher and an asylum caseworker, I transitioned into the entrepreneurial world in 2023. Driven by a desire for more flexibility and financial freedom for my two children, I founded a business that helps female entrepreneurs raise their visibility on social media platforms. During the COVID pandemic, Hannah founded an online tutoring business, aimed at supporting children from the BAME community, helping them gain access to top 11+ grammar and independent schools. My focus on educational equity and social mobility led me to empower underrepresented children by providing tailored academic support, ultimately helping many secure places at prestigious schools such as Croydon High GDST, Trinity Croydon and Wilsons. Alongside running my social media business, I am a board member for the University of Greenwich Business Generator, where I support aspiring entrepreneurs. I also organise events designed to foster a supportive network of women in business, creating opportunities for collaboration and growth. Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated a commitment to uplifting others. Whether as an educator, mentor, or business leader, I have dedicated myself to supporting communities, especially those facing systemic challenges. My experience across multiple sectors, combined with an entrepreneurial spirit, makes me a trailblazer and an inspiring role model in the business world.
Grace Smith | Founder | Forge Female Fitness
Grace is the founder of Forge Female Fitness, Northern Ireland’s No.1 Female Health Studio, dedicated to transforming women’s health across every stage of life.
Her journey is one of extraordinary resilience and transformation—after losing 156lbs in 12 months, she overcame debt, depression, and homophobia to build a multi-award-winning business that has helped thousands of women locally and globally. With zero funding, zero mentoring or help, just a determined attitude to use her transformation to inspire others to change their lives and be a positive force in women health and wellness. From struggling with confidence and self-worth to becoming a Guinness World Record holder, National Weightlifting Champion, and Ireland Cycling Representative, Grace has proven that strength is more than just physical. She built Forge Female Fitness to provide a safe, empowering space for women of all backgrounds, abilities, and ages to reclaim their health. Her work has been recognised with multiple industry awards, including Gym of the Year Northern Ireland, Best Female Coach Northern Ireland (twice), and Great British Entrepreneur of the Year. She has also raised £9,000 for local charities, including funding a custom sports wheelchair for an athlete now competing at the national level. Her story is proof that adversity can be turned into impact—helping others to find their own strength, inside and out.
Sajna Rahman | Co-Founder | Tomorrow Meets Today
A pivotal moment in my journey was when I read Heels of Steel by Vanessa Vallely. The book resonated deeply with me, inspiring me to take ownership of my career and ambitions.
Around the same time, I participated in a workshop called Project You, which challenged me to think bigger about my impact. This experience led me to create Tomorrow Meets Today in 2015 as a side hustle, addressing the lack of women and ethnic minorities in senior positions. What started as a networking initiative quickly evolved into a powerful platform that not only connected future leaders with executives but also became a sustainable revenue stream. From Tomorrow Meets Today, I expanded into public speaking, corporate workshops, and facilitating leadership programs. I developed the Global Leadership Program for Women, helping professionals advance in their careers, and later built a customer service training and consultancy business, embedding DE&I principles to drive cultural change. This journey—from a single idea sparked by a book to a thriving entrepreneurial career—has reinforced my belief in the power of community, visibility, and strategic networking. Every initiative I’ve created stems from the same mission: to empower individuals and organizations to excel, create more compassionate leaders, and drive meaningful change in workplaces
Bella Reid | Founder, Product Designer | Clens Cosmetics
In my early twenties, I worked as a commercial MUA at counters within department stores, as a freelance MUA, working with photographers, theatres and magazines.
This gave me huge experience and understanding of the market as a B2C consumer and as a B2B worker. Over the years working in this industry the lack of innovation and focus on the prevalent issue of hygiene frustrated not only me but other MUA’s and domestic users. Graduating Brunel University’s Industrial Design & Technology course, worked a placement year with AV Specialist Green Hippo, PhD within the Human Centred Design Institute London working with Jaguar Land Rover on ”Autonomous vehicles & how do we trust them”. I lectured & taught Graphic Communications, 3d software Solidworks and Rhino, Design for Manufacture & loved every second. Due to a flare up of my chronic illness, I was hospitalised for 2 years, meaning I had to stop my PhD, my job lecturing and I lost everything and had to start over. This led me to found Clens Cosmetics. Blending my background as a Makeup Artist from my early 20’s, with my engineering background at Brunel University, and my deep understanding of healthcare, Clens Cosmetics was born.
Emily Bailey | Co-Founder | GREEN-BiT Software
Before games, Emily’s history spans from working in the NHS to powerhouse marketing giant Red Bull.
Over the course of her six years of being in games, alongside being Co-Founder & CEO of award winning game developer Antler Studios, Emily previously led BD & Ops at CULT Games, participating in two private equity fundraising rounds and signing powerhouse Developers including BAFTA winners Witchbeam. She has worked on games such as Galacticare (Brightrock Games, 2024) and Tempopo (Witch Beam, 2024 ETA). Em is currently on the Board of Code Coven CIC, a non-profit which focuses on introducing and elevating underrepresented persons into the games and tech industry, as Director of BD she has been instrumental in introducing additional revenue streams to future-proof the org in a period of flux in both games and the DEI space. In 2023 she Co-Founded Greenbit, a new software company with a mission to decarbonise the software industries by innovating with automated optimisation tools for developers and tools for users to understand their energy costs and consumption. Em is a BAFTA Member, becoming a Juror in 2024 for the Multiplayer category, as well as being selected for Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list. By age 29, Emily has fundraised over £2m+ throughout her six-years in the industry across private equity, grants and crowdfunding.
Isha Nawaz | Information Security Lead | bp
I currently work for bp and joined just over 18 months ago. My role is to help mitigate risk associated with cyber security and the ever-changing threat landscape.
I am currently studying a Coaching apprenticeship. I am a passionate diversity champion, advocate for mental health and a keen volunteer. I am a mother of two and for fun I enjoy Reformer Pilates, reading, creative writing and travelling. I believe my purpose is to empower others to identify their potential and support them in achieving it.
Camilla Burdekin-Roberts | Business Assurance Manager | SSE plc
I completed my degree in International Business in 2013 and joined a large energy company on their graduate scheme.
This allowed me to see different areas of the business while also undertaking a diploma in Business Management. I was fortunate in requesting my placement selection led me to the Internal Audit team. After 2 weeks, I found this was a great fit for me as I was able to analyse data, communicate with senior management, learn about the whole business and gain a broader understanding of the risk and control environment. At the end of the scheme a job was advertised in the Audit team and I was successes in gaining the position as a trainee Internal Auditor, where I was fortunate enough undertake my Diploma in Internal Audit and become a Certified Internal Auditor. I undertook many audits across the business and was frequently nominated for ”audit finding of the month” as I had a passion for finding control weaknesses. I progressed to Auditor and then to Senior Auditor which allowed me to spend more time supporting others in the team and collaborating on audits. A new Business Assurance team was created in one of the business units and I saw this as an opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills into a business unit which was starting from scratch in their journey and ”get my hands dirty” and support the business in providing management with Assurance, its been a busy 4 years, no 2 days are the same.
Natasha Feldman | Gas & LNG Analyst | Macquarie
Having completed my Economics degree at UCL, I began my career as a graduate in the Gas & Power team.
Over the past six years, I have focused on gas analytics, establishing myself as the leading expert on gas markets within my team. My work is driven by the fast-paced environment and the dynamic geopolitical landscape that shapes the energy sector. The analytical aspects of my role allow me to refine our market predictions and decision-making processes. Engaging with clients and expanding my skill set across various facets of the business has been equally rewarding, contributing to our collective success. Throughout my career, I have been committed to supporting other women in the energy business and within my company. I have participated in speaking and networking events, sharing my career journey in the energy sector within finance. Additionally, I have been involved in mentorship programs, guiding female interns and graduates, something I believe in strongly.
Rebecca Lobb | Senior Well Site Leader | BP
Rebecca started her career at Shell as a Graduate Well Engineer. She was the first generation of her family to go to University and through an interesting turn of events ended up studying Engineering.
She went on to work offshore for Apache, Chrysaor (now Harbour) and finally with BP. She worked my way from being a trainee to Senior Well Site Leader (drilling supervisor) supervising a team offshore to execute well drilling operations. Having always been aware of how valuable advice is for young people, she supports Wells Graduates to succeed offshore during year 1 and settle to the world of work. She also support recruitment by going to Universities to talk about my path and what exciting careers BP can offer to widen access to opportunities. This doesn’t stop at recruitment. She developed a North Sea Wells Onboarding programme to convey basic knowledge to new Graduates before going offshore and acts as a mentor to new Graduates. Having worked in a male dominated role, she understands the challenges women face working in male dominated fields - especially working on an Oil Rig offshore. She has made changes to help to facilitate women being offshore and supporting new women entering the industry. She also co-leads the Women in Wells network in the North Sea and sits of the North Sea Women’s Network committee.
Natasha Khan | Nuclear Safety Engineer | Mott MacDonald
Natasha currently works as a Nuclear Safety Engineer within the Nuclear division at Mott MacDonald.
She is experienced in technical advisory, stakeholder engagement and production of technical documentation with a focus on new nuclear development. She has a bachelor’s degree in physics and is a Member of the Institute of Physics. Prior to Mott MacDonald she worked in the NGO Sector within International Development as a Climate Action Intern. She is Early Career Professional Small Modular Portfolio Lead for Mott MacDonald, co-Programme Manager for Mott MacDonald Women in Nuclear and Co vice-chair of the Europe & UK Advancing Race and Culture Network. She is passionate about ED&I and increasing representation across the sector and has recently been awarded Graduate of the Year in the UK Nuclear Skills Awards 2024 and Champion of the Year in the Women in Nuclear UK Awards 2024. As a Muslim female South Asian Engineer Natasha is well aware of the importance of visibility in increasing diversity.