Watch: Women in Science: Building Careers, Shaping Futures
Our first Women in Science: Building Careers, Shaping Futures online event took place on 25 November 2025 and brought together leading academic and industry experts who shared their career journeys, the challenges they had navigated, and practical advice on building confidence, setting goals, and developing the skills needed to progress in science.
During the session, speakers offered honest, practical insights into building a career in STEM, from taking the first steps to progressing into leadership roles. Attendees were also able to pose questions before and during the event, creating a dynamic and engaging discussion.
A strong theme throughout the ‘Women in Science: Building Careers, Shaping Futures’ online event was the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion. Speakers emphasised the need to remove barriers, foster supportive networks, and drive positive change across the scientific community. Their reflections highlighted how inclusive environments and collective action can shape a more inclusive future in science.
Whether participants were just starting out or already established in their careers, the event provided valuable takeaways to boost confidence, refine career aspirations, and strengthen professional skills.
The recording is available on YouTube, and you can find the slides for each presentation below.
Thank you to our ‘Women in Science: Building Careers, Shaping Futures’ speakers
Kirsty Salmon – Chief Scientist and VP Bioenergy & Hydrogen at bp
Talk title – Don’t Just Work, Thrive: Building a Fulfilling Career
Kirsty Salmon is bp’s Chief Scientist and Vice President of Bioenergy & Hydrogen Technology. Since joining bp in 2011, Kirsty has been responsible for leading global research teams across the United States, United Kingdom, China, and India. Her team is dedicated to the development of low carbon, sustainable technologies. Throughout her career at bp, Kirsty has held various leadership positions in research, including Head of Research for bp biofuels, Director of bp’s biosciences center, and Senior Advisor for biosciences, low carbon technologies, and the circular economy. Kirsty holds a PhD in Microbiology & Immunology from McGill University in Canada and has prior experience in both academia and a biotechnology biofuel/biochemical startup.
Asma Ahmed – Associate Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham
Talk title – Going with the Flow: A Journey Through Careers, Continents, and Wastewater Biofilms
Dr Asma Ahmed is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham, where she leads research on developing sustainable and novel processes for the treatment and valorisation of industrial waste streams using fungal biofilms and microalgae. She has diverse experience across academia and industry in three countries, having previously held research and academic positions at OSU (USA), BITS Pilani (India) and Canterbury Christ Church University (UK), and led upstream bioprocess development at Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (India).
Lydia Mosi – Deputy Director Administration at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP)
Talk title – The Path to Career Independence: Capacity Building Lessons From Buruli Ulcer Research
Professor Lydia Mosi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology and Deputy Director for Administration at the West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens at the University of Ghana. Her research focus is unearthing transmission of the neglected tropical skin disease Buruli ulcer (BU), caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), developing early diagnostic tools for the disease, and studying antimicrobial resistance in secondary infecting bacteria. Prof Mosi attained her BSc in Biochemistry and Zoology in 2003 from the University of Ghana and a PhD in Microbiology in 2009 from the University of Tennessee.
Claire Hodge – Regional Agriculture Director, Scotland & Northern Ireland at HSBC
Talk title – Building a career in Science and Agriculture
Claire Hodge’s career has been rooted in agriculture from the ground up, shaped by her upbringing on a dairy farm in the Scottish Borders. Passionate about connecting science with real-world farming, she has worked across the potato industry, research, and agri-tech, always focussed on turning innovation into practical solutions. Her Nuffield Scholarship gave her a global perspective on food systems and the importance of future focussed farming. Today as Regional Agricultural Director for HSBC in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Claire supports farmers and agri-businesses to adapt, grow and thrive, helping ensure agriculture remails resilient for generations to come.