WELCOME AND ROUND UP OF THE YEAR KAT MACK TECH READINESS WORKSHOP: POWERED BY SETSQUARED SURREY
12:10PM ~ LIGHT BUFFET LUNCH ~
INCLUDES NETWORKING AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WITH DIGITAL PLATFORMS, GUIDED BY COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENTS
1 2 : 4 5 P M
WELCOME BACK
1 3 : 0 0 P M TOGETHER TOWARDS A GLOBAL FUTURE PANEL
2 : 3 0 P M CLOSING THOUGHTS
2:45PM ~ SURVEY COMPLETION AND RAFFLE PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT ~
roundtable Workshop
About the workshop
Our roundtable discussion workshop at the SWEN birthday event will be powered by SETsquared Surrey, our fantastic business incubator, getting you comfortable with the idea of tech for your business, whatever way that might work for you It will be followed by a Future Labs session, where you will have the opportunity to put into practice what you have just learned about the different tools that help your business grow
About your facilitators
Bettina Rubek Slater- The CMO at The big
Dr Nayanee Silva- Corporate Sustainability Strategist and Manager
Dr Chris Hobbs- Management Consultant
Michael James- Business Coach
Dr Will Latham-New- Program Director
Lalita Taylor
Lalita Taylor is a creative tech founder and inclusion consultant with over 25 years’ experience leading innovation, digital transformation, and storytelling at scale
She is the Founder & CEO of We Job Box, an AI-powered platform transforming how young people access meaningful work experience - realigning the future of work for learners aged 14–22. We Job Box bridges education and industry through data-driven matching, CPD-accredited pathways, and partnerships with major employers including the BBC, NHS, Bosch, and Deloitte
A former BBC leader, Lalita built award-winning digital initiatives across education and media, served as Executive Producer for BBC Academy Fusion, and co-chaired BBC WiSTEM, supporting over 1,000 women in tech and engineering.
She currently advises CoSTAR on equity in screen and performance technologies, helping design inclusive R&D ecosystems for the UK’s creative industries.
Lalita’s work sits at the intersection of technology, inclusion, and human potential, championing underrepresented voices and building hybrid learning experiences that change access, culture, and opportunity.
meet the panel
Dr. Maria Kardakova is a nutrition scientist, entrepreneur, and the founder of iCook, an AI-powered personalised nutrition platform transforming health data into everyday meals. With over a decade of experience in public health and food innovation, she holds a PhD in Biosciences and Medicine from the University of Surrey, and is a Registered Nutritionist in the UK.
Maria has led award-winning digital health projects, authored 10 best-selling books on nutrition and eating behaviour, and trained over 2,000 professionals through her education platform. She is also the co-chair of the Special Interest Group on Nutrition, Data Science & AI at NNEdPro, Cambridge, and has collaborated with institutions like the NHS and Pfizer. Maria is driven by a mission to bridge the gap between science and everyday wellbeing, making health data actionable, food smarter, and personalised nutrition accessible to all.
meet the panel
Dr Alison Callwood is the Founder of Sammi-Select, a tech-for-good company that helps large organisations access hidden talent pools and supports underrepresented groups gain employment.
Alison is an internationally recognised Structured Interview Specialist and Innovate UK Woman in Innovation Award winner.
Alison’s recent work includes the GENIUS (Generating Neurodiverse Inclusive Selection) project exploring the impact AI can bring to recruitment and how the interface between technology and humans can be softened to facilitate equity, inclusivity, and diversity particularly for neurodivergent applicants.
meet the panel
Juliet Jones the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at NatureMetrics is a pioneering technology company specializing in DNA-based biodiversity monitoring using environmental DNA (eDNA). She earned her PhD in Cancer Biology from the Institute of Cancer Research and holds a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Surrey. Juliet spent more than a decade in academic and biotech labs, including postdoctoral research that focused on drug discovery and viral engineering. Her deep expertise in molecular biology and DNA technologies empowers her to lead NatureMetrics’ scientific direction and operations, ensuring rigorous scientific standards and overseeing the company’s global expansion and innovation in delivering biodiversity insights across the world.
meet the panel
Anna Shillinglaw is the founder and Managing Director of MiLK Management, a London-based talent agency now rebranded as The MiLK Collective.
A former model herself, Anna launched MiLK in 2011 with a bold mission: to champion diversity and challenge narrow beauty standards in the fashion industry. She started the agency from her bedroom ,converting one of her Army quarters into an office and building the business from the ground up
Under her leadership, MiLK has grown into a multifaceted collective, representing talent across fashion, digital, and broadcast. She was ahead of the curve by launching a Digital division in 2015 to represent influencers and content creators, and in 2023 she oversaw a rebrand to reflect the agency’s expansion into TV, radio, and publishing. Anna is recognized not just for her business acumen but for her values-driven approach. She prioritizes nurturing talent rather than simply representing them ,and has made inclusivity a core part of MiLK’s DNA.
The Surrey Women’s Entrepreneurship Network was grown out of the University of Surrey, Surrey Research Park and the SETsquared Surrey incubator. Its aims are to improve opportunities for business growth and innovation including access to information and support for women entrepreneurs, creating positive impact locally and beyond.
Barclays has launched the Demo Directory, a free online service open to UK businesses, regardless of who they bank with, for easy, cheaper and less time consuming access to capital by connecting them to a network of attested investors. Barclays want to make it easier for businesses to connect to potential investors and vice versa
SWEN has its own dedicated area in the Barclays Demo Directory, where SWEN women can list. They can still be visible on the wider platform, too but this special area allows the SWEN network to direct its investor communities straight to our businesses!
Holiday Inn Guildford is a modern, welcoming hotel located in the heart of Guildford, offering both comfort and convenience. With a range of stylish rooms, flexible meeting spaces, and excellent on-site amenities, it is the perfect destination for both business and leisure travellers. Whether you're attending an event, looking for a relaxing stay, or hosting a business meeting, Holiday Inn Guildford combines modern amenities with a warm, inviting atmosphere. Conveniently located with easy access to the Surrey Research Park and surrounding areas, it offers the ideal base for professionals and visitors to explore the vibrant town of Guildford
SWEN Stor
Huge thanks to our workshop facilitators, panellists and Chair, and to the students who made the day as exciting and interesting as possible - the first time we have brought together a workshop, panel and research project all on one day!
A special thanks to Natural Light Wellness Spa for the fabulous Spa Day prize, and to Holiday Inn Guildford for their continued support.
The biggest thanks of all goes to all of you who are part of the SWEN community - the network has been grown on a shared passion and commitment to growing women’s businesses and we are excited to continue into the next phase of where accessing larger funding opportunities to continue the programmes we want to develop and deliver with and for you, and leveraging our unique link with the University you Surrey to your advantage.
Please continue to meet up, connect and collaborate, adding value to each other's work and lives as only SWEN can.
