Dr Karen Jones (PI) is Associate Professor Educational Leadership & Management at the Institute of Education, University of Reading, UK. Karen holds senior leadership responsibilities as Director of the Doctorate in Education and was formerly a member of the Senior Management Group of the Institute of Education. Karen’s research is in gender equality, women’s career advancement and leadership. She researches and publishes extensively on issues affecting women’s careers and the underrepresentation of women in Leadership, predominantly but not exclusively within Higher Education around the World. Karen is a member of the Women@Reading Steering Group and leads ‘University research in matters relevant to women’ and ‘Women’s development’.
Prof. Faith Njoki Karanja (Co-PI) has served as the first female chair of her department for two terms of six years. Her research interests are in the application of Geoinformation technology in supporting natural and human-made disasters, food security, poverty, urbanization, climate change, gender and inclusion. Co-PI on the SISTARS PROJECT: “TRANSFORMING INSTITUTIONS TO ADVANCE WOMEN LEADERS IN SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS” and leads a component on Gender-Climate Change Infrastructure within a project with the Global Center on Adaptation (http://gca.org).
She is a Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Astronautics and a Commissioner in the Research Methodology Commission of the International Geographical Union. She is the Board Chair of the African Foundation for Women and Youth in Sciences, Technology and Innovation (AFoWYESTI). She is a STEM mentor, champion and a member of the committee that co-ordinates UNESCO and Government of Kenya scientific camps of Excellence in STEM for high school girls where over 5,000 girls have been mentored in Kenya. Her research generates information about climate change effects.
Tabitha Bukusi is a passionate Community Researcher, a Content Strategist at UNDERTWOK UK, and an advocate for sustainability, with a focus on energy and environmental solutions. She is deeply committed to empowering African women and highlighting their crucial contributions to the world. Tabitha holds a BSc in International Business and Finance from the United States International University Africa and an MSc in International Business Management from the University of Reading.
With experience recruiting participants for studies and crafting insightful content, Tabitha helps individuals and businesses embrace sustainable practices for a better future. As a writer, she contributes to thought leadership through engaging blog posts and newsletters, blending academic rigor with a touch of humor. A strong advocate for transparency, openness, and meaningful stories, Tabitha is dedicated to making a positive impact in the fields of sustainability and sustainable energy while championing the role of African women in driving global change.
Mary Wanyua Mwangi is a gender and transportation specialist with over seven years of experience in public transportation safety, gender-sensitive infrastructure, and promoting gender justice. She holds a Master’s in Development Studies and a Bachelor’s in Communication and Media Technology.
Mary received the Distinguished TUMI Friend 2019 award for her work with women in Kenyan transportation industry. Her research focuses on the intersection of transportation and gender, with multiple publications. Currently, Mary works with the collaboration for Active Mobility in Africa (CAMA) Project housed at the University of Nairobi and aimed at promoting pedestrian and cyclist-friendly solutions in Kenya. She is supporting the first gender baseline survey at the University of Nairobi and is working as a consultant with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, focusing on gender and social inclusion as part of the Kenya Threshold Program.