FemTech Forward 2024: Transforming Women’s Health With Tech

Speakers

Victoria Armstrong

Victoria is a start-up/scaleup specialist (x9), a serial entrepreneur and passionate leader of people having founded four businesses across health, media and tech (Saas B2B). Having worn the COO hat for 15+ within the US, AsiaPac, UK, she loves problem-solving, has a strong bias for action and accountability and has executed expansion on the ground in the US. This is all underpinned by a love of engaging people at all levels. Following a successful exit to a US acquirer, more recently she enjoys investing, strategic consulting to CEOs and founders, and NED positions

Dr Sharon Dixon

Sharon is a general practitioner (UK) and an NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow at NDPHCS, University of Oxford. Her DPhil explores developing knowledge to improve care for adolescents with dysmenorrhoea, focussed in primary care. Sharon is a qualitative researcher and has published research on primary care pathways in women’s health including care for communities affected by female genital mutilation, domestic violence and abuse and safeguarding, experiences of uro-gynaecology and endometriosis. She has undertaken work exploring equity in research. She has conducted a priority-setting partnership project exploring areas where new or better technology could help enable women’s health and well-being. She is interested in experiences of delivering and receiving care in general practice, with a focus on women’s health.

Tori Ford
Founder of Medical Herstory

Tori Ford is the founder of Medical Herstory, an international award-winning non-profit on a mission to eliminate sexism, shame, and stigma from health experiences. She is a feminist health researcher completing a DPhil in Primary Health Care at the University of Oxford funded by an NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship. She holds a BA from McGill University in Gender Studies and an MPhil from the University of Cambridge in Health, Medicine, and Society. Her work advancing gender health equity has been recognized by the Rising Star Champion Award and she has been named a Top 25 Women of Influence. Tori is an outspoken patient advocate and has been featured in Hunger Magazine, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan.

Dr Helen O’Neill, BSc (hons), MSc, PhD
CEO, Founder of Hertility

Dr Helen O’Neill is CEO and Founder of Hertility, an award-winning digital health company shaping the future of reproductive healthcare by pioneering unique diagnostic testing that provides data-driven and advanced insights into reproductive health, fertility and the onset of menopause.

Dr Helen is a tenured lecturer in reproductive and molecular genetics and a leading expert in reproductive science. She has a Masters in Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine and a PhD in Stem Cell Biology from UCL. Her research focuses on pre-implantation embryo development and the use of CRISPR genome editing to assess understanding and treatment of disorders of infertility.

Elisa Sai
VP in Analytics and AI, Capgemini Invent 

Elisa is a VP in the Analytics and AI team in Capgemini Invent and has extensive experience in designing and delivering Data and AI transformation projects from mobilisation to go-live across private and public sector. She has explored different career paths (including oboe player and academia!) before focusing on delivering organisational and societal data driven value and insight. Elisa is also a strong advocate of gender diversity in Data, acting as a mentor and driving initiatives to increase female participation in STEM and data.

Nick Shipley
Founder of Jack Fertility

Nick is the founder of Jack Fertility. Driven by his personal experience with infertility, Jack Fertility was incubated at FemTech Lab in 2022 and is pioneering a mail-in sperm test kit that offers lab-grade semen analysis results from the privacy and comfort of home.

Nick began his career as a diplomat at the Foreign Office, before working in senior brand building and consumer insight roles at multinational FMCG companies. He has an MBA-MSc from the University of Oxford and has been recognised as one of the UK’s Kindness & Leadership 50 Leading Lights.

Thang Vo-Ta
CEO and Co-Founder of Calla Lily

Thang Vo-Ta is the CEO, and co-founded Calla Lily (B Corp) with Dr Lara Zibners, a former emergency room paediatrician whose experience from multiple failed IVF cycles inspired the company’s focus on better vaginal drug delivery. Their Callavid® device can deliver a wide range of existing and upcoming vaginal therapeutics including infertility/miscarriage, endometriosis and bacterial vaginosis.

Thang started his career in investment banking and private equity at Goldman Sachs. He has been named a Sunday Times Maserati Top 100 entrepreneur and The Manufacturer’s Top 100 manufacturing leader. He has a BSc from MIT.

Professor Christian Becker

Christian Becker is Professor of Reproductive Sciences at the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford. As an Honorary Consultant and Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery working at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, he is the clinical lead for endometriosis, pelvic pain, fertility and adolescent gynaecology. Christian is also the co-director of the Endometriosis CaRe Centre leading a comprehensive basic, translational and clinical research program in the University. He is the current Chair of the ESHRE Endometriosis Guideline Development Group which has just been published and a member of the current NICE Guideline for Endometriosis.

Dr Tatjana Gibbons

Tatjana holds a medical degree and a BSc in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences from Imperial College London. After which she completed her medical foundation training within Oxford University Hospital Trust. She is currently in her third year of a DPhil focused on innovative non-invasive imaging techniques for endometriosis. Her work in the field of endometriosis led to her selection as a Junior Career ambassador for the World Endometriosis Society. Ultimately, driven by a shared motivation across the Endometriosis CaRe Centre Oxford, Tatjana’s primary passion lies in advancing women’s well-being through impactful translational research and advocacy efforts.

Kate Nikityuk

Kate is FemTech Lab Accelerator Program Coordinator and Event Producer of the most-futuristic HealthTech Conference – “Decoding the Future of Women”.

More about Kate

Suzaan Sauerman

Suzaan is a business and brand innovator and advisor with over 20 years experience working for industry leading technology brands. She is user obsessed, focusing on every touchpoint in the user experience to deliver commercial plans, products and platforms that change consumer’s lives while delivering growth & scalability for stakeholders.

Katia Lang

Katia is CMO & Co-Founder FemTech Lab Accelerator.

Programme

* In our discussions and content related to women, we inclusively refer to anyone who identifies as female, recognising the diversity and richness this brings to our community. We also extend a warm welcome to individuals of all gender identities. Our goal is to create an environment that respects and celebrates the varied experiences and perspectives of all people, promoting equity and understanding. We are committed to inclusivity and encourage open, respectful dialogue that honours the dignity of every individual.

Sponsors and volunteers

Sponsors and volunteers can reach out to oufemtech@gmail.com if they’d like to be involved.