Dr Lara Allen has worked extensively in international development and in academia. As well as being the Executive Director of CGE, Lara is the Director of Implementation & Impact at Cambridge Global Challenges Strategic Research Initiative, and an Affiliated Lecturer: Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge. She has a PhD from the University of Cambridge and was an Associate Professor at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2007, she co-founded Tshulu Trust, which links rural communities in the Venda region of South Africa with universities around the world. The Trust enhances the livelihoods and well being of local communities through
knowledge sharing, capacity building and the creation of income generating opportunities. Lara ran Tshulu Trust for eight years. She then spent two years with the Irish NGO Misean Cara, as Head of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Capacity building and Communications. Lara became the Director of the CGE (then the Humanitarian Centre) in October 2014.
Mike Coto
Mike completed his PhD in photochemistry at the University of Cambridge in 2017. The focus of his PhD was the application of new-generation photocatalytic materials for solar water purification. This academic work, and Mike’s experience in product development within the water industry, lead to the conception of Majico – an impact lead initiative that uses the photocatalytic technology in a development context.
Rebecca Donaldson
Becky is studying Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. She believes technology, when designed with people as the focus, is the best way to combat poverty and improve quality of life. This makes her very excited about Blue Tap. Becky has been awarded a BP STEM Scholarship and has helped set up 17 social enterprises in Tanzania as part of the Cambridge Development Initiative.
Samer Kurdi
Samer was introduced to the Majico team in May 2017 via the Development i-Teams programme – a bi-annual programme facilitated by the Centre for Global Equality at the Institute for Manufacturing. Samer’s interests lie in understanding the cultural barriers hindering technological breakthroughs in the developing world, and designing Majico’s sustainable business model with these barriers in mind. Samer is presently completing his PhD in Materials Science at the University of Cambridge.
Sylvia Lu
- Sr. Engineer, Cellular Technology, u-blox UK & Member of Advisory Board, UK5G, u-blox UK
Sylvia is an award winning Engineer with over 10 years' of industry experience in wireless communications R&D, cellular chipset developments, standards (3GPP), technology strategy and innovation. Currently employed by u-blox (SWX:UBXN), a Swiss company and global leader in wireless & positioning semiconductors and modules for the industrial, automotive and consumer markets, Sylvia has been critically instrumental in the evolution of global standards for the Cellular Internet of Things (a.k.a. NB-IoT & LTE-M) - technologies which have now been deployed globally over billions. Sylvia is contributing to the advanced technology developments that enable “things” to be connected smartly, include 5G NR, NB-IoT, LTE-M, connected cars/V2X and the alike.
Sylvia is an elected Board Member & Director of Cambridge Wireless (CW) Ltd, a leading international community known for its rich mix of companies involved in the research, development and application of the fast moving wireless and related technologies. As part of the Board, Sylvia advises initiatives incl. Tech-for-Good impact innovation to tackle global social challenges (aligned with UN's SDGs) which are close to her heart.
Sylvia also serves on the UK5G Innovation Network Advisory Board, supports the development of the UK as a global leader in the development and adoption of 5G, as well as provides impartial, industry-focused, independent advice to DCMS on its future plans for 5G development.
Sylvia is DevelopHer Tech Star 2017 Winner - an annual award recognising woman who works in the technology sector and helps with promoting gender diversity in tech. Most recently she was nominated as Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2018 Finalist in the Science and Technology Category, an award to recognise and celebrate the phenomenal Asian women across the UK and across industries, who are making a valuable and important contribution to British life.
Sophie Mower
Sophie is the Business and Operations Manager at the Centre for Global Equality. In 2014 following a brief spell in Doha working on Qatar Science Festival, an international capacity building event for children, Sophie co-founded the First Steps Project, a Brighton-based non-for-profit that ran workshops and training programs for young people living in areas of deprivation. After the successful delivery of a number of programmes, Sophie spent two years working and volunteering in developing countries, predominantly in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Working abroad was an opportunity for Sophie to experience different working environments in different cultures. Seeing first-hand the social, environmental and political challenges faced by the developing world has enhanced Sophie’s perspective on social and economic responsibility, inspiring her to pursue a career in international sustainable development.
Abhi has a long heritage with CW having previously founded the CW Handset Special Interest Group (SIG) in 2008, now called Future Devices. Prior to CW, Abhi studied Electronics and Electrical Engineering, has a MBA in International Marketing and interestingly, was approached by Cambridge University Press (alongside a colleague at the time) to write a book on Mobile Handset Design which was successfully launched in New Delhi. 20 years in the ICT industry, it’s fair to say Abhi has built up an enviable network of contacts, to the great fortune of CW! He joined the team in June 2015 as Head of Marketing before landing his current role as CCO. Abhi is responsible for commercial operations, engagement with the start-up community, and is a key driving force behind CW Unplugged; an initiative aimed at the younger generation. A strong advocate of digital inclusion and diversity within the technology industry, Abhi champions this across all areas within CW and actively mentors several young CEO Founders.
Alex Patto
Alex is a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow, and Borysiewicz Biomedical Sciences Fellow in Jeremy Baumberg’s lab in the department of physics, at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on developing low-cost methods of identifying bacterial contamination for use in low-resource settings. Alex is also the CEO of WaterScope, a not-for-profit company through which his research has a clear route to impact. To date, WaterScope has raised over £130,000 and completed their first field trial in one of the largest refugee camps in the modern world.
Jeroen Verheyen
As a technology consultant, Jeroen has worked with large multinational organisations to leverage emerging technologies. He works extensively in the Cambridge start-up ecosystem, supporting new ventures to create global impact. Over the last 3 years, Jeroen’s focus has been sustainable development, particularly the potential impact of his work around photocatalytic water purification and the development of the Majico technology.
