#NorthInnovationWomen 2023 list revealed

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We are shining the spotlight on hundreds of innovative women today as we publish the annual #NorthInnovationWomen list.

The Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) and N8 Research Partnership have published a list of more than 200 women who are pushing the boundaries of innovation in their chosen fields to mark International Women’s Day. 

The #NorthInnovationWomen campaign, back for its sixth year, provides an informal and supportive platform for women to be acknowledged and celebrated.  

 

The social media campaign relies on Twitter users to suggest women they want to see included in the list – there are no strict criteria or voting systems.This year’s list features hundreds of women who are achieving great things and inspiring those around them across the North of England, as recommended by our Twitter followers. 

 

Hannah Davies, NHSA Head of External and Public Affairs, said: “We are thrilled to reveal the 2023 #NorthInnovationWomen list. The response to the campaign never ceases to amaze me and this year is no exception. It’s clear that there is a real appetite to celebrate and support women who are excelling and innovating, and we’re proud that #NorthInnovationWomen provides an opportunity to do this. 

 

“We stand side by side with people across the globe today who are celebrating International Women’s Day as we all make a collective effort to champion women and work towards creating a world that is equal and inclusive.” 

 

Dr Annette Bramley, Director of the N8 Research Partnership, said: “It is great to see that in its sixth year, the #NorthInnovationWomen campaign has had such a brilliant reaction! It is great to take a moment to reflect upon some of the great work researchers are delivering, right across the North of England, so we thank all those who have taken part this year.”  

International Women’s Day is a global day, marked annually on March 8, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Find out more about the day and how to support, at: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/  

 

All #NorthInnovationWomen can download a Twitter card to share on their social media channels here.

 

*NOTE: Names and job information listed below have been taken from Twitter bios and/or from details included in the post of the person making the recommendation. 

* If we have missing any of your #NorthInnovationWomen off the list, please do get in touch and we will update the list. Either tweet us or email ruth.boston@thenhsa.co.uk 

 

The NHSA and N8 Research Partnership are proud to present #NorthInnovationWomen 2023 

 

A 

Alexis Darby/ Senior Public Affairs Manager/ Northern Health Science Alliance / @alexis_darby 

Adele Bunch / Head of Portfolio – Health Inequalities, Mental Health & Patient and Public Involvement at Yorkshire & Humber AHSN / @AdeleBunch 

Alethea Melling / @AletheaMelling 

Alexisen Jane  

Alison Jane Yarnall / Consuktant Geriatrician and researcher / BRC / @AlisonYarnell 

Amanda Ellison / @ellison_brain 

Amanda Winter / Biomedical Scientist / Innovation Lab / @AWinterNUTH 

Amy Lochtie / Nurse| Innovation Hub Director- WYH|Author|TedTalker|Trustee & NED |NHS Assembly Member|NW Senate| FRSA| FSBP| @AmyLochtie 

Dr Amy Vincent / Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow / Newcastle University  

Anastasia Topalidou/ Research Fellow/ @UCLan / @Anastasia_Top13 

Andrew Wigfield  

Angela Jean-Francois / Director of Operations / NWL Pathology / @AngelaJeanFran1 

Dr Anna Hogg/ Founder of Space Hubs York/ Leeds University  

Anne Halstead / Project Manager / NIHR Newcastle IVD Co-operative  

Anne Richardson / Project Support Officer / @AHSN_NENC / @69oakfield 

Asimakopoulou Eleni/ Lecturer/ UCLan / @elasimak 

Audrey Barton / Communications Manager / Newcastle Hospitals  

Professor Avan Sayer / AGE Research Group Newcastle / Director NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre / @AvanSayer 

 

B 

Barbara Conneely / Head of Portfolio (Workforce) / Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network  

Barbara Hanratty / @Barbara Hanratty 

Beth Halliday/ Speech and Language Therapist/ / South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust  

 

C 

Carol Holland / @CarolHolland286 

Caroline Rudland  

Caroline Wilson / Immunologist and Principal Scientist / Integrated COVID Hub North East / @wilson_cazza 

Caroline Wroe / Clinical Director / NIHR CRN North East and North Cumbria / @CarolineWroe1 

Ceri Batchelder / Creating connections and building innovation ecosystems / @WeAreTeamSY @capenterprise @Barnsley_DMC @sheffielduni / @ceribatchelder 

Charlotte Clarke  

Charlotte Fox / Business Innovation Manager with @NcleNHSCET / @CharlotteFoxNHS 

Charlotte Mutton / Bereavement Lead Midwife/ South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust @RI_STSFT 

Chiko Mutepfa / Methodologist / NIHR Newcastle IVD Co-operative  

Professor Clare Bambra / Newcastle University / NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria / @ProfBambra 

Clare Lendrem / Senior Methodologist / NIHR Newcastle IVD Co-operative  

Dr Clarissa Giebel / @ClarissaGiebel 

 

D 

Dace Dimza-Jones / Industry Facililitator / NIHR CRN Greater Manchester / @DaceDizma 

Davara Bennett / @davara_bennett 

Dawn Greaves / Digital Programme Manager / WYHCP / @DawnSG2010 

Dawn Lockey/ Specialist Physiotherapist, Limb Reconstruction Service/ South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust  

Deb Howell Smith / Lead Liver Specialist Nurse / South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust  

Donna Nile / Senior Scientist / Integrated COVID Hub North East, Innovation Lab / @nile_donna 

 

E 

Eileen Kaner / @NIHR_ARC_NENC / @EileenKaner 

Elaine Redhead  

Eleanor GB / @gb_eleanor 

Elizabeth Young / Senior Investment Analyst @ACFInvestors / @EDYoung202 

Else Guthrie  

Emily Oliver  

Emma Lee / Safe Care Lead/ South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust / @RI_STSFT 

Emma Leivesley  

Dr Emma Stanmore / University of Manchester / @NMSWResearch @HealthyAgeingR1 / @EmmaStanmore 

Enitan Carrol / Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases / Univeristy of Liverpool / @CarrolEnitan 

Cllr Dr Erica Lewis / Lab Women’s Net. City & County Cllr / @_erica_lewis 

 

F 

Fiona Lobban / Professor in Clinical Psychologist / Spectrum Centre / @fionalobban 

Fiona Matthews / @FEMatthewsStats 

 

G 

Gail Tunstall/ Quality Improvement Facilitator/ South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust  

Gemma Wright / Head of Portfolio for Patient Safety & Remote Monitoring/Virtual Wards at @yhahsn / @YH_gem_wright 

Gemma Write  

Ghazala Mir / Professor of Health Equity and Inclusion / @ghazala_mir 

Gillian Dalglish / Associate Director / QIAGEN / @QIAGEN 

Gillian Rowe/ Delivery Suite Manager/ South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust  

Professor Grainne Gorman / Director of the Welcome Centre / BRC / @MitoResearch 

 

H 

Hannah Armitt  

Hannah Burton / @busterbaby0726 

Heather Rice / Director of Research @rdashresearch1 / @Heather_Rice3 

Helen Cole / Once a Medical Physicist, now Industry Partnerships Manager / Northern Health Science Alliance / @TechHelen 

Helen Foley / @helen_foley3 

Helen Hoyland / Head of Portfolio (Enterpirse and Commercial) / Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network  

Helen Johnson/ Specialist Physiotherapist/ South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust  

Professor Helen Reeves / Co-theme lead/ BRC  

 

I 

Ilaria Bellantuono / Co-Director of the Healthy Lifespan Institute / @iBellantuono 

North East Innovation Lab women / Newcastle Hospitals / @innovlab_NE 

 

J 

Dame Jackie Daniel / CEO – The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals / @JackieDanielNHS 

Jamilla Hussain / Palliative Care Dr, Researcher @CityOfResearch Bradford / @JamillaHussain1 

Jana Suklan / Senior Methodologist / NIHR Newcastle IVD Co-operative  

Jane Fearnside / Deputy Director NIHR RDS YH / @JaneFearnside 

Jane Freeman / Associate Professor / University of Leeds / @drjanefreeman 

Jane McDermott / @Janemcdermott26 

Janice Pearse / Occupational Therapy Leads / Newcastle Hospitals / @JanicePearse 

Jay Hall / PhD Student / NIHR Newcastle IVD Co-operative  

Jayne Harwood / Virology / Newcastle Hospitals / @jayneh0202 

Jennifer Kilcoyne  

Jennifer Ratner / Higher Specialist Scientist Trainee / Leeds Teaching Hospital / @jennynero 

Jenny Hamer / Head of Portolio (CVD) / Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network  

Jo Copper / CEO / Back on the Map Ltd / @backonthemapltd 

Jo Mason / CSO / YourGeneHealth / @Yourgene_Health 

Joanna Wylie/ Senior Midwife/ South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust  

Jodie Keyworth / Head of Business Development – Grounded Research, RDaSH @rdashresearch1 @rdash_nhs / @jodie_keyworth 

Jordan Hewitt / Business Innovation & Customer Experience Delivery / NHSBSA / @jordanhewitt24 

Joy Adamson / Applied health services researcher / @joyadamson_ytu 

Professor Julia Newton / Medical Director / AHSN_NENC / @JuliaN_AHSNNENC 

Julie Marsh / Head of Communications / Newcastle Hospitals 

 

K 

Karen Bloor / Health economist / University of York / @KBloor 

Karen Broadhurst / Professor Dept Sociology, Co-Director Data Science Institute, Lancaster University / @KarenB_LU 

Karen Suetterlin / Clinical Lecturer / NIHR / @KarenSuetterlin 

Karina Lovell / ARC_GM / @karina_lovell 

Karina Nielsen / Professor, Instititute of Work Psychology / University of Sheffield / @KarinaMNielsen 

Kasia Kurowska / PPIE Manager / NIHR Newcastle IVD Co-operative / @KasiaKurowska 

Dr Kate Black / Professor of Manufacturing at the University of Liverpool / @DrKateBlack 

Kate Mason / Postdoc research fellow / @ke_mason 

Professor Kate Pickett / Social epidemiologist / University of York / @ProfKEPickett 

Kath Mackay / Director of Life Sciences @BW_SciTech/ NED @The_NHSA @candwep @ukbiofilms / @kath_mackay 

Kathy Scott / Deputy CEO / Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network / @KathyScott_535 

Kerrie Davies / Clinical scientist / HCAI research group / @kerrieanndavies 

Kiran Trehan/ University of York / @ProfKTrehan 

Kirsty Smitten / Co-founder and CEO of MetalloBio / @SmittenKirsty 

Dr. Komali Kantamaneni/ Senior Research Fellow/ @UCLan / @KomaliKantaman1 

 

L 

Laura IH Bennett / PhD research in entrepreneurial ecosystems at @UoS_Management / Super Connector @WeAreTEAMSY @capenterprise / @LauraIHBennett 

Lauren Roberts / Innovations Project Manager / @TEWVResearch / @LaurenRobertsB 

Leanne Maitland / Project Support Officer / @AHSN_NENC / @lusciouslealead 

Leanne Trick  

Lily Mott / Health Ageing/Physical Activity PhD student / University of Manchester / @_raviolily 

Lina Gega  

Dame Linda Pollard/ Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospitals  

Dr Linda Tinkler / Nursing, Midwife & AHP Research Lead / Newcastle Hospitals / @DrTInkleLin 

Lisa Anson / CEO / RedX / @RedxPharma 

Liz Ashall-Payne / CEO & Co-Founder @OrchaHealth / @LizAshallPayne 

Professor Liz Breen / Director of the Digital Health / University of Bradford / @LizBreen14 

Liz Corker / @rdashresearch1  

Liz Mear / Chair / Kirklees ICP and SBRI / @MearLiz 

Liz Towns-Andrews/Huddersfield Uni / @townsandrews 

Liz Twist MP / Chair of APPG on Rare, Genetic & Undiagnosed Conditions / @LizTwistMP 

Lizzi Collinge / Labour County Councillor / Lancashire Shadow Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing / @LizziCollinge 

Lorelle Dismore / Health psychologst and research associate / Northumbria NHS / @lorelle_dismore 

Dr Louisa Shilton / Research and Innovation development manager / University of York / @DrLouisaShilton 

Louise Connell / UCLan / Professor of Allied Health Neurorehabilitation & Stroke / @reserachphysio 

Louise Graham / Advanced Paediatric Physiotherapist in Paediatric Oncolgy / Newcastle Hospitals / @lougraham30 

Louise Kenny / Pro Vice Chancellor, Health & Life Sciences @LivUni / Lead Investigator @ChildrenGrowing / @louiseckenny 

Lynn Froggett / @lfroggett 

Lynne Corner / @Lynne_Corner 

Professor Lynn Rochester / Theme Lead / BRC  

Lynsay Tait / Commercial Finance Lead / Newcastle Hospitals / @LynsayTait 

Lynzee McShea / Senior Clinical Scientist – Audiological Science/ South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust / @RI_STSFT 

 

M 

Maddie Julian / CEO and co-founder / @DigiBeteUK / @MaddieJulian 

Dr Mandy Dixon / Head of Corporate Engagement / Northern Health Science Alliance / @mandydixon100 

Mandy Townsend / @MT_marshlands 

Maria Roche / @rochemaria2411 

Dr Marie Yang / Liverpool Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences / @MarieYangOBrie2 

Mel Simmonds-Buckley / Clinical Psychology Lecturer & Researcher University of Sheffield | PEARLS lab @pearl_sheffield | RDASH NHS Trust | Grounded Research Team / @Mel_S_B 

Melanie Ellyard / Helping SMEs access #finance to #startup #scaleup #grow / Ambassador of #Diversity #Inclusion #BAME #FemaleFounders #BAMEfounders #STEM #Tech / @MelEllyard 

Melanie Shield / Senior Commercial Development Manager / Newcastle Hospitals Commercial Enterprise Team  

Mhairi Anderson / Operations Manager – Diagnostics and Therapeutics North East / NHI Partners / @MhairiAnderson4 

Michela Guglieri / Medical Researcher / Institute of Genetic Medicine Newcastle / @MichelaGuglieri 

Michelle Waugh / Project Support Officer / @AHSN_NENC / @MichelleWaugh11 

Morag Burton / Chief Operating Officer / NIHR CRN NE and North Cumbria / @morag_burton 

Professor Muzlifah Haniffa / Theme Lead / BRC / @Muzz_Haniffa 

 

N 

Dr Neomi Procopio/ Senior Research Fellow in Forensic Taphonomy/ UCL / @SnowEmI 

Nic WIlson FRSA / DCEO/COO / Liverpool Health Partners / @NicWils68 

Nicola Hutchinson / Chief Executive / Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria @AHSN_NENC / @NicolaWesley 

Nicola Ooi / Research leader / INFEX therapeutics / @INFEX_TX 

Nicola Tiffany / @HMADigital / @nicolatiffany 

Nikolina Lauc / Unlocking the human glycome for preventative health and longevity / @entreprylexia 

Nimrah Munir / Principal Scientist / QV Bio / @qvbio 

 

 

P 

Paulina Gonzalez / @rdashresearch1  

Penny Day / Head of Operations @XRTherapeutics / Co-founder of @ThisIsLITNE / STEM Ambassador / @PennyJDay21 

Philippa Hedley-Takhar / @MedTech_P4SY Programme Manager / @piphedley 

Phillipa Burns / Principal Clinical Scientist / Hull Hospitals @PhillipaBurns 

 

 

R 

Raasti Naseem / Methodologist / NIHR Newcastle IVD Co-operative  

Rachael Forbister / Digital Transformation Programme Manager / @AHSN_NENC / @RForbister 

Rachel Booth-Gardiner / Occupational Therapist / NHS /@OT_rach 

Rachel Churchill / Professor Evidence Synthesis and Mental Health Epidemiology / NIHR_ARC_YH / @ChurchillRachel 

Rachel Curwen / @rachel_curwen 

Rachel Dickinson / Communications Manager / NIHR Newcastle IVD Co-operative  

Rachel Moser  

Rachel Stockley/ Physiotherapist and Associate Professor/ UCLan Stroke Research Team / @rachel_stockley 

Ruth Bayner/ Head of Speech and Language Therapy and Integrated Children’s Therapies/ South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust  

Ruth Boston/ Health comms manager / Northern Health Science Alliance & Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria / @Ruth_LawsonPR 

 

S 

Sally Fowlers Davis / @SallyFowlerDav! 

Salma Yasmeen / Supporting inclusive change & innovation in communities & systems Proud nurse/deputy CEO & Director of strategy & change @allofusinmind / @SalmaYasmeen_1 

Samantha Deakin / Developing the tech startup ecosystem in South Yorkshire with @weareteamsy and @capenterprise / @SamanthaJDeakin 

Samantha Powell  

Sandra Bucci / NIHR Research Professor / Manchester University / @sbucci76 

Sara Humphrey / GPwSI Older People -Associate Clinical Director – Frailty/ Dementia & LD for Bradford District & Craven Health & Care Partnership / @SaraHumphreyGP 

Sara Pick / Innovation Manager / Northumbria NHS  

Sara Pretorius / Methodologist / NIHR Newcastle IVD Co-operative  

Sarah Cooper  

Sarah Daniel / works in the mental health research team @TEWV @TEWVresearch / @SarahDaniel21 

Sarah Dew / Innovation Hub Director South Yorkshire / Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network / @sarahfdew 

Sarah Doherty-Fallon / Chief Operating Officer / NIHR CRN / @Sarah_L_Fallon 

Sarah Gorman / CEO at Edberts House, GenQ Fellow, NHSE Regional Learning Co-ordinator & PCN Advisor, Board member of Power to Change, Gateshead Foster Carer / @SarahatEdberts 

Sarah HS / Senior Lecturer and Course leader / @Sarah_HSmall 

Sarah Scally / @sarahscally1 

Sarah Whitbourn / Consultant Clinical Scientist / South Tees NHS Foundation Trust / @sarahWhitbourn 

Sharon Brown / Innovation Manager / South Tees NHS / @STRIVEacademic 

Sherry Kothari / Director, NED, entrepreneur; life sciences, health, the environment / @SherryKothari 

Shirley Hannan / Higher Education Manager / @ShirleyHannan 

Shona Haining / @haining_s 

Silvia Del Din, Biomedical Engineer, University of Newcastle / @sil_bam 

Sophie Wickham / Wellcome Trust Research Fellow / @SL_Wickham 

Dr Steffi Doebler / Social scientist / @stefdoebler 

Steph Walton/ AHSN NENC / @walton_steph 

Stephanie Potts / Programme Lead at Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network / @StephLPotts 

Stephanie Scott / Lecturer / Newcastle University @StephanieO18 

Dr Subha Thiyagesh /Med Dir @allofusinmind / visiting prof Huddersfield University / @SubhaThiyagesh 

Sue Barton / Worked in NHS for 30 years+ / Former S&LT who is interested in improvement & making a real difference to lives / @barnsleybart 

Sue Jacques / @sue_jacques 

Suzanne Robinson / Executive Director of FInance / GM NHS Foundation Trust / @suzanneFINANCE 

Suzanne Vernazza / Squeezealong / @knowyourfloors 

 

T 

Tamara Moon / @TamaraDSMoon 

Teresa Graham / Business Partner- Second Street Surgery, Practice Manager- Oxford Terrace & Rawling Road MG, PCN Manager of Birtley & Central Gateshead PCN / @tkatash 

Tiff Thorn / CEO / CI Victrix / @BiVictriX 

Tracey Walker  

 

U 

Uta Papen 

 

V 

Vicki Wisher / Occupational Therapy Leads / Newcastle Hospitals  

Victoria Laker / PhD, Post-doc Researcher at RDaSH NHS Trust, Associate Researcher at University of Sheffield / @vikki_laker 

Professor Vijay Kunadian / Personal Chair, Professor of Interventional Cardiology / Newcastle University  

Vikki Rand / Director / National Horizons Centre / @vikkirand 

 

W 

Wendy Baird / @Baird_wo 

 

Wendy Tindale / Professor of Medical Physics / Director of Innovation at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals / @WendyT_99 

 

Y 

Professor Yitka Graham / Professor of health services research / University of Sunderland @ProfessorYitka