Leadership Course on Intellectual Property, Science and Innovation for Women Scientists and Innovators

Prof. Chan is a Senior Researcher at CONICET-Argentina, Senior Lecturer at UNL, and Director of the Agrobiotechnology Institute. Her research focuses on plant adaptation to environmental stress, starting from molecules such as transcription factors characterised in the laboratory until modified crops in field trials. She has directed the work of 18 PhD students and currently advises an additional five PhD Theses. Among those, several were awarded by different public and private organisations. She is a member of several Science Academies and has received recognition and awards. Among them, the L'Oréal-UNESCO Prize For Women in Science for Latin America and Caribbean in 2026.

Prof. Jacka is a leading researcher in nutritional psychiatry and Director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, Australia. Her pioneering research explores the links between diet, gut health and mental health and has played a major role in establishing nutritional psychiatry as a new field of research. Her work focuses on translating scientific evidence into practical approaches to the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders. She is the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate for Asia and the Pacific.

Prof. Zühlke is Vice-President of the South African Medical Research Council’s Extramural Research and Internal Portfolio and Director of the Children’s Heart Disease Research Unit, where her work focuses on family-centred research into congenital and rheumatic heart disease in Africa. She is the 2026 L’Oréal - UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate for Africa and Arab States and has received major awards for public engagement, public health leadership, and science leadership in Africa. She is passionate about the prioritisation of women and children in the global health agenda, both as co-creators and recipients of efforts to improve the lives of women and children across the world.

My research focuses on childhood-onset heart disease and ensuring that no child should die of a preventable heart condition, nor of one we already know how to treat. Thank you to FWIS for recognizing our work and for highlighting the importance of social justice and equity informing scientific endeavour. My advice to anyone starting on this journey would be "Dream Big, Plan, Pray and Pass it on".

Ms. Welchen is a researcher at CONICET’s Institute of Agrobiotechnology of the Litoral in Santa Fe, Argentina, and teaches at the National University of the Litoral. Her research explores how plants use mitochondrial energy to balance growth and defense, working with Arabidopsis and key crops including soybean, maize and rice. Her work has resulted in numerous publications in leading scientific journals.

Science rewards the stubborn. Keep asking the question everyone else stopped asking.

Ms. Aslam is an early career Research Fellow at the Food & Mood Centre, Deakin University, Australia, and a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) specialising in diet, mental health, and metabolic health. Her research spans epidemiology, clinical trials, and dietary therapy development. She holds a PhD from Deakin University, co-led an industry-funded clinical trial, and holds a patent for a novel prebiotic formulation. As a Dean's Postdoctoral Fellow, she developed a sustainable, gut-targeted dietary supplement, and evaluated it in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Hajara is driven by a commitment to translating scientific innovation into sustainable strategies that improve mental and metabolic health, strengthen disease prevention, and support public health.

By pushing the boundaries, women scientists lead the way to breakthrough innovations.

Ms. Patel is a Project Manager in the Grants, Innovation and Product Development Unit at the South African Medical Research Council. Her work focuses on supporting the management of health innovation projects, intellectual property, and technology transfer initiatives. With a PhD in Pharmacology from Stellenbosch University and ongoing training in IP management, she collaborates closely with researchers, institutional partners, and funders to help guide early-stage health research through grant processes and toward practical, real-world application.

Approach every project with humility, rigor, and a shared commitment to improving public health.

Ms. Abdulhakim is a Saudi plant scientist specializing in plant immunity, stress responses, and plant biotechnology. She currently leads one of Saudi Arabia’s largest plant tissue culture laboratories at the National Seed Production Company (NSPC), overseeing the large-scale production of disease-free potato plantlets for seed potato production and contributing to local seed production and sustainable agriculture in the Kingdom. Her work bridges scientific research with practical agricultural innovation. She was recognized as a 2025 L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Young Talent for her contributions to plant science and agriculture.

Science becomes truly meaningful when discovery moves beyond the laboratory and grows into solutions that strengthen our communities and shape a more sustainable future.

Ms. Al-Ghadani is pursuing a PhD in Environmental Engineering at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. Her research focused on sustainable agriculture, food preservation, packaging, and postharvest technologies. She received the 2025 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award and has also earned recognition for her academic excellence. Beyond her academic work, she served as head of the Agricultural and Marine Science Society at Sultan Qaboos University, reflecting her commitment to strengthening women’s presence in leadership positions within science and academia.

To all women chasing a dream: you do not have to be fearless or have everything figured out. You deserve support, space to grow, and the chance to discover how far your dream can take you.

Ms. Dahnum is a researcher at the Research Center for Molecular Chemistry, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia. Her research focuses on the development of advanced functional materials for sustainable energy, with particular emphasis on Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and their applications in biofuel production. Her work explores the design, synthesis, and development of innovative porous materials and catalysts for the conversion of renewable and waste-based oils into high-value hydrocarbon biofuels. Her commitment to scientific innovation and sustainable research earned her the L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Award, Indonesia, in 2024.

Science becomes real for people when it transforms knowledge into health.

Ms. Hujerová (née Klicova) is an award-winning nanotechnologist, researcher at the Technical University of Liberec, and founder and CEO of Nanoflexion, a medtech spin-off. Her work focuses on developing nanofibrous biomaterials to improve healing after gastrointestinal surgery and translating them into clinical practice. Her international research experience includes Harvard Medical School, Institut Pasteur, and the University of Cambridge. Recognized by L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Program and Forbes 30 Under 30, she connects science, innovation, and entrepreneurship to help promising discoveries become solutions that improve patients’ lives.

I believe science creates its greatest impact when a discovery leaves the laboratory and becomes a solution that improves patients’ lives.

Ms. Mbouteu is a postdoctoral researcher at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), having completed her PhD in Physics (Energy Engineering) at the University of Nairobi as an RSIF-PASET Scholar. She designs hybrid renewable energy systems for African energy access and has introduced original evaluation methods, including new metrics for hydrogen-supply reliability and cost, now used to assess sector-coupled systems. A first author of various papers in leading energy journals, she works to turn novel modeling tools into bankable, policy-ready clean-energy solutions across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Innovation in science isn't only discovery. It's building the tools that let good ideas reach the people who need them.

Ms. Nthontho is a PhD student at the University of Botswana, pursuing her research on breast cancer pharmacogenetics. Her research interest lies in exploring the genetic makeup of African patients and how anticancer drugs are metabolized by the body according to different inherited variants. Her curiosity was fuelled by how genetically diverse African populations are, yet there is heavy reliance on medications that were clinically tried and tested on non-African populations. Her goal is to potentially develop and validate a clinical-genetic model for clinicians before treatment administration.

From genes to better cancer treatment, no population left behind in precision oncology.

Ms. Rongrong is a Researcher and Research Group Leader of the Renewable-Rechargeable-Reliability Laboratory at Chulalongkorn University's Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute. She pioneered perovskite solar cell encapsulation during her Ph.D. at Stanford University. She now pushes that commitment to durability further in her home country by engineering locally abundant, sustainable materials into perovskite solar cells for hot climates and non-lithium batteries for safe operation, advancing energy access and independence for all. She collaborates internationally, actively supports fellow women in STEM, and trains the next generation of young researchers.

Do your best, embrace surprises, never forget your purpose.

Ms. Seglah is a fish geneticist applying genomic tools to address biodiversity loss and sustainable resource management in West Africa. Her research tackles threats like IUU fishing and climate change. By bridging science and policy, she contributes to safeguarding food security and supporting local livelihoods. Beyond research, Juliet is a passionate advocate for gender equality in STEM, organising outreach activities for women and girls in science and mentoring young girls. She also engages communities through marine biodiversity education and demonstrating her commitment to using science for societal benefit.

Science is about employing new innovations to improve our world; it's not simply about what we know or see. I find it most fulfilling to share this journey with other women in various scientific fields since it makes the experience feel far more complete.

Ms. Seoke is a virologist and Senior Research Scientist at the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) where she leads vaccine research and development programs targeting veterinary pathogens, including foot-and-mouth disease, lumpy skin disease, and other emerging priorities. She also drives the development of research governance systems that strengthen the quality, oversight, and management of research and innovation activities at BVI. Through her work with WOAH and Africa CDC, she contributes to international scientific standards and technical guidance, with a focus on animal health, biosafety, and biosecurity.

When women have the opportunity to sit at the table, it makes the table even better.