Betelehem Bilata Woldeyes is an associate researcher at the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI) in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research and Development Department. She obtained her Master’s degree (Msc) in Astronomy and Astrophysics from Addis Ababa University, Entoto Observatory and Research Center (EORC) in 2019. In February 2020, she started working at ESSTI. Now, she is engaged in different researches in the field of Extragalactic Astronomy. She is also the chair of the IAU-OAE National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs) in Ethiopia.

Dr. Figueroa specializes in human factors, safety, and biomechanics, for all types of accident investigation and prevention. She holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico–Mayagüez and an M.S.E. and Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. Trailblazing the path for the past decade, Dr. Figueroa has had boots on the ground and has been an active advocate for DEI. She has mentored numerous students and early career professionals, and has organized multiple events/programs guiding students to successfully participate in competitive summer research programs and enroll in graduate school. On top of these efforts, she also co-founded a Diversity Committee for a national technical organization.

Abigail Junice Frost is a postdoctoral researcher in observational astrophysics. Her work focusses on the study of the most massive stars in our Universe, working out how they form and why they appear in binary and multiple systems. Alongside her research she is passionate about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and highlighting the contribution of people of colour to science. She is actively engaged with outreach and enjoys talking to students of all ages about space and astrophysics. Additionally, she is involved in the organisation ‘Astronomers for Planet Earth’, a group of astronomers hoping to take action against the climate crisis.

Victoria Carter-Cortez is an astrophysicist and aspiring space policymaker. She currently works as a consultant at PwC’s Space Practice where she is actively involved in projects that support both the public and private sector in decision-making, space policy development, and carrying out economic impact assessments. Prior to this, Victoria was working at the European Space Agency’s Washington D.C. Office as part of ESA’s External Relations Department. There, she analysed developments from key space actors and worked to strengthen international partnerships across the Atlantic. Victoria carried out her Master’s degree at University College London where, in partnership with the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, she investigated Jupiter’s X-ray auroral activity. Opening opportunities in STEM, particularly for women, is close to Victoria’s heart. To this end, she has worked as an academic mentor internationally, sharing her passion for space and delivering interactive courses to engage and inspire the next generation of space scientists and engineers.

Dr. Alexandra Amon is an astrophysicist based at Stanford University on a Kavli Fellowship. Her research focuses on cosmology and our understanding of the Dark Universe, mostly using a tool called ‘weak gravitational lensing’. At present, she plays a leading role in the lensing analysis from the Dark Energy Survey - a large international collaboration. After growing up on our islands of Trinidad and Tobago, as an island scholar, Dr. Amon studied at the University of Edinburgh. Her doctorate thesis, titled “Cosmology with the Kilo-Degree Lensing Survey”, won the UK’s Royal Astronomical Society Michael Penston Thesis Prize for the best PhD in the field. In addition, she was the runner up for the UK’s Institute of Physics Jocelyn Bell Burnell Medal for the woman who has made exceptional contributions to the field of physics. Popular in science communication, she has featured on Al Jazerra’s The Stream and PBS ‘Ancient Skies’.

Jamy has a background in Mathematics and Statistics and is currently pursuing an actuarial qualification. She worked as a Statistical analyst in South Africa's private healthcare sector for 4 years. She's currently a Data Scientist for the provincial department of health in South Africa and is the technical lead for the Covid 19 pod for the public health data centre in the Western Cape. Jamy has a passion for data driven decision making and public Healthcare.

inda is a Senior Scientist at Aurinia Pharmaceuticals. She has a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Victoria, Canada and a PhD in Microbiology & Immunology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. Linda conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute (UQDI), Australia where she studied the role of the microbiome in autoimmune disease. There she mentored and supervised junior scientists and students, and developed and ran the laboratory component of the UQDI Advanced Immunology Course. Linda received Academic Promotion from UQ before returning to Canada with her family, and has recently shifted to industry where she hopes to contribute to the development of therapeutics for immune-mediated diseases.