Dr. Courtney Benson is the Director of Research and Development at BlueNalu. She joined the company seven years ago as a scientist, quickly rising through the ranks due to her expertise and dedication. Dr. Benson earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University at Buffalo, where she researched the neurodevelopment of schizophrenia using innovative 2D and 3D models. She holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from San Diego State University, where she conducted pioneering research on microbial diversity in steam vent sublimates. A passionate advocate for community outreach, Dr. Benson served as President of the Association for Women in Science San Diego (AWIS-SD), reflecting her commitment to supporting women in science and fostering a more inclusive scientific community.

Dee brings over 10 years of specialized expertise in life sciences spanning genomics, clinical diagnostics, imaging solutions, and laboratory automation. She started her career as a Technical Application Scientist and transitioned to a Field Application Scientist role at ThermoFisher Scientific, providing pre-sales and post-sales support focused on genomics. She then joined Cue Health where she built and led a team of Field Application Scientists supporting point-of-care diagnostic platforms across healthcare systems. Her next role was at ZEISS as a Key Account Manager, expanding her expertise in microscopy and advanced imaging solutions for biotech and pharma clients. Currently, she is an Account Executive at Roche Diagnostics, driving innovation in healthcare diagnostics. Dee holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and a B.Sc. in Neuroscience from the University of California, Irvine, and completed her postdoctoral work at the University of California, San Diego.

Lisa T. Eyler, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychiatry at UC San Diego and Director of the Center for Empathy and Compassion Training in Medical Education (CECTME). A clinical psychologist, her research explores cognitive, emotional, and brain aging in diverse populations, including individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, using tools like neuroimaging, biomarkers, and mobile ecological momentary assessments. She has published over 200 scientific papers and led many federally funded studies. At CECTME, she leads research on empathy and compassion in medical training, co-directs the CARE course, and mentors students and postdocs. A committed advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), she convenes the Health Sciences EDI Ambassadors and serves on the Women in Health Sciences Planning Committee. Dr. Eyler received the 2019 UC San Diego Faculty Inclusive Excellence Award and was honored at the 2023 YWCA Tribute to Women in Leadership Awards.

For 35 years, Pamela Gardner has been a global leader, entrepreneur, and transformational coach in science and technology.  Spending over half of her life conforming to outdated stereotypes, she started the "The Art of Women Thriving in STEM Movement." She is now helping thousands of women rewrite their stories and step into visible leadership to bring their authentic flair and whole selves to the table. Pamela is also the Founder and CEO of Biotech Vendor Services (BVS) which she founded in 2003.  BVS' mission is to advance science through innovative products and services, enhance sustainability in the labs, and empower women to rise in STEM. In 2019, she was awarded the esteemed Athena Pinnacle Award for making a significant difference in the lives of women in STEM.  In November 2021, she was awarded one of San Diego Business Journal’s Business Women of the Year Awards and was recognized as one of San Diego's 500 most influential people in the Health and Science Category.

Jo Ann Jackson is a biotech professional with about 25 years of experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in project management. She has a passion for scientific research and continues to work at the bench today. ​Jackson started her career in western blot manufacturing. She later expanded her knowledge by enrolling in a two-course biotech certificate program at San Diego City College. The program helped her transition into research and development (R&D), where she has worked ever since. Throughout her career, she has worked at 12 different companies, with her longest tenure lasting 14.5 years. 

Jackson believes her success is due to a strong work ethic, a sense of responsibility, adaptability, and being a good team player. She is also an advocate for companies that offer a good work-life balance.

Debra Kimberling is a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and a recipient of the SWE Distinguished Service Award. Her research into pioneering SWE hidden figures began in 2016 and led to the creation of the SWE Legends project. She is an editor and author of the 2025 book “Women Engineering Legends 1952-1976: SWE Achievement Award Recipients”. She volunteers in the San Diego County Engineering Council and the greater San Diego STEM ecosystem. Kimberling is a retired aerospace engineer with 35-years experience in academia, government and industry; she has worked at Solar Turbines (Caterpillar), General Dynamics Space Systems Division, Naval Ocean Systems Center and was a professor at Purdue University. She has a BS in Engineering Science from Arizona State University and an MS in Aerospace and Aeronautics from the University of Washington. She enjoys the great outdoors and advocating for women’s health and STEM success.

Dr. Dequina Nicholas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at UC Irvine. The Nicholas lab investigates how nutrient environments, immune systems, and metabolic diseases intersect using molecular biology, transgenic mouse models, cytokine profiling, and flow cytometry. Her research focuses on immune system and cellular metabolism impacts on endocrine diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome. Dr. Nicholas earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Loma Linda University and completed postdoctoral training at Boston University with Dr. Barbara Nikolajczyk, studying immune cell metabolism in type 2 diabetes patients. She also trained with Drs. Mark Lawson and Pamela Mellon, establishing glucose metabolism's role in reproduction and discovering pituitary immune cells that regulate reproduction. She received the NIH Director's New Innovator Award from NIAID for her "immunoendocrine" lab, where she trains diverse scientists and champions inclusivity in science.

Dr. Cande Rogert is a scientist and R&D leader with over two decades of experience in chemistry, materials science, and genomics. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, she earned her PhD in molecular sciences from the University of Manchester, UK. Cande joined Illumina in its early growth stage and has played a key role in advancing technologies that support genomic sequencing. She has led multidisciplinary teams working across sequencing chemistry, surface science, and assay development, with a focus on translating complex scientific challenges into scalable solutions. As Vice President and Global Head of Advanced Science, she oversees over 350 scientists and engineers in the US, UK, and Singapore. Beyond her professional role, Cande serves on the board of the American Cancer Society’s San Diego Chapter, supporting local efforts in research, education, and advocacy. She champions inclusive, people-centered leadership, fostering collaboration and promoting women and underrepresented groups in STEM.

Shava Smallen is the Cloud Software Development Lead within the Data Enabled Scientific Computing group at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, located at UC San Diego. She is also the Principal Investigator (PI) of CloudBank 2, a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded, service-based platform that facilitates researcher and educator access to commercial cloud resources through a flexible, multi-cloud infrastructure. Smallen designed and led the development of the CloudBank portal and brings over 20 years of experience working on NSF-funded cyberinfrastructure projects. Her work spans both infrastructure tools for monitoring and managing cyberinfrastructure, and researcher-focused tools that simplify running applications in complex environments.

Mehran Sorourian is a communication coach, TEDx speaker coach, and award-winning public speaker. A former scientist turned entrepreneur, she helps underrepresented voices—especially immigrants and youth—speak with confidence and authenticity. Her coaching programs focus on public speaking, storytelling, and leadership, serving professionals, students, and community leaders alike. Mehran is the producer and host of Immigrant Conversations, a globally ranked podcast, and the founder of Youth Speakers Lab, which empowers youth to speak up and advocate for themselves.

Marianna earned her doctorate in Molecular and Translational Medicine from the University of Milano-Bicocca and moved to San Diego in 2012 as a visiting graduate student. After completing her postdoctoral research, she transitioned into the research services industry, building a career at the intersection of science and business. She currently serves as Executive Vice President of Commercial at Champions Oncology, overseeing global teams across sales, marketing, and corporate development. In this role, she focuses on advancing oncology research services that support drug development for biotech and pharmaceutical partners worldwide. Marianna is passionate about mentoring and helping individuals recognize their strengths, fostering collaborative environments where diverse skills come together to drive innovation, meaningful impact, and shared success.

Amanda Conerty is the Executive Director for Manufacturing, Advocacy and Engagement at Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to delivering highly effective, off-the-shelf, allogeneic, NK cell-based therapies. Amanda is an ASCP-certified clinical laboratory scientist with more than 20 years of experience in cell therapy development and manufacturing. In her current role at Artiva, she leads the process development, analytical development, manufacturing, and supply chain operations for cell products across all development programs. Prior to Artiva, Amanda spent more than 8 years at Fate Therapeutics, where she held positions in the CMC group, as Senior Director of Manufacturing and Quality Control. Prior to Fate, Amanda managed a clinical Blood and Marrow Transplant program at the University of Louisville Brown Cancer center where she led both the apheresis department and BMT lab, while also overseeing Quality for both the pediatric transplant lab and the University GMP research lab.  Amanda also operated as a Clinical Application Specialist at Baxter Healthcare and spent 5 years at St Jude Children’s Research hospital. Amanda holds a BS in Clinical Laboratory Science and a Graduate Certificate in Reproductive Laboratory Science from the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Mohammad El-Kalay is a biotech industry leader with over three decades of cross-functional experience in product development, process innovation and technical operations. He has previously held progressive leadership roles, guiding method development from concept to commercialization, at various pharma and therapeutic companies including Applied Immune Sciences, MorphoGen, Telos, Sangamo, Poseida, and Shoreline Biosciences, to name a few. His academic background includes a doctorate and master’s in Chemical Engineering/Bioengineering from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.

Ms. Fuchs brings more than 33 years of experience in the biotechnology industry, including leadership roles in manufacturing, quality, and regulatory. Since 2019, she has been as part of the Quality organization at Poseida Therapeutics, now Genentech San Diego.
Previously, Ms. Fuchs has held roles in the San Diego area at the Scripps Research Institute, Chiron Corporation, Molecular Medicine, Cell Genesys, Artes Medical, and Halozyme. Laura has played key roles in designing manufacturing processes and has built quality systems from the ground up for start-ups.  She started her career in research and has always had an interest in the field of medicine. Ms. Fuchs has a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona and has an MBA from Webster University.

Rita brings over 15 years of experience in sales leadership, business development, and technical applications in the biotech and life sciences industries. She began her career as a research engineer at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and IMMY, and later transitioned into technical sales and account management roles at Meso Scale Diagnostics and Cisbio. Since joining NanoCellect Biomedical in 2019, Rita has advanced through multiple leadership roles and now serves as Global Sales Director, leading the sales team and driving strategic growth across.  Beyond her corporate role, Rita serves on advisory boards, invests in life sciences and high-tech startups, and champions STEM education through nonprofit board work in her community. Rita earned her Master in Civil Engineering and her Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Oklahoma.

Sabrina Martucci Johnson is the Founder, President, and CEO of Daré Bioscience, a biopharmaceutical company advancing novel solutions in women’s health. With deep experience across scientific, operational, and executive leadership roles, she brings a unique perspective from both early-stage innovation and public company management. Sabrina holds a B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University, an M.Sc. in Biochemical Engineering from University College London, and a Master’s in International Management from Thunderbird. Her career has spanned research, corporate development, and executive leadership across multiple life sciences companies, where she has led product innovation, financings, and strategic growth initiatives. A strong advocate for gender equity in STEM and improved access to health care, Sabrina serves on multiple boards and regularly speaks on leadership, entrepreneurship, and impact-driven innovation. She is known for her authenticity, mentorship, and commitment to empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.

Dr. Savita Nair is an accomplished scientist and currently the Associate Director at Sangamo Therapeutics, where she leads the CMC Bioassay Analytical Development group within Technical Operations in Brisbane, California. With a focus on product quality characterization, she excels in designing, developing, and qualifying analytical methods critical for ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of Sangamo's gene and cell therapy programs from Phase 1/2 through Phase 3. Savita's foundational expertise in drug discovery and development was cultivated through her experiences at Merck Pharmaceuticals, Atrin Pharmaceuticals, and Fox Chase Cancer Center. She earned her Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, after completing her Masters in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Strathclyde in the U.K. A strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as women’s empowerment, Savita actively contributes her time to the Healthcare for Businesswomen’s Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women in the healthcare sector. Her passion for science and commitment to empowering others make her a respected leader, both professionally and in her community, earning her a 2023 HBA Rising Star Award in Healthcare Leadership.

Donna received a Ph.D. from Cornell University for research on mechanisms of plant signal transduction, held research faculty positions at Oregon State University and the Howard Hughes Institute at the University of Washington, and was a scientist at the USDA ARS lab in Yakima, Washington.  After receiving a J.D. from the University of Washington, she has been an attorney with boutique and international law firms, a subject matter expert with the World Intellectual Property Organization of the UN, and in 2011 founded Perdue IP Law, APC as a virtual law firm specializing in intellectual property services for clients in the life sciences.

Elena is a customer-centric leader in the Biotechnology and Life Sciences SaaS industries. With a strong scientific background, including a PhD in Molecular Neurosciences, her career progression showcases a move from a scientist to a leader. Elena has a track record of fostering collaborative team cultures, consistently mentoring her direct reports and helping them advance into senior roles. As the founder of bioCustomer Support Solutions, she now applies her deep knowledge to help other companies optimize their customer support operations, bringing a blend of scientific rigor and operational expertise to every project.

Kenny earned his M.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Nutritional Science from University of Tennessee, Knoxville and MBA from University of Illinois Urbana. He launched his career as a sales representative in Daigger, representing a broad array of equipment to academic researchers. Following this role, he worked at Thermo Fisher for 8 years, starting as sales specialist and eventually as a Sr. Business Development Executive expanding his expertise in mRNA &pDNA Advanced Therapies. In 2023, Kenny transitioned from Thermo to Avid Bioservices, a dedicated commercial CDMO that drives concept to commercialization, creating long term value in building relationships and forging strategic partnerships. Currently, he is the Director of Business Development at 4BaseBio.

Geoffrey Stephens, PhD, the Founder and CEO of AiCella, Inc., is an experienced scientific executive with more than 20 years working in all aspects of large and small biotechnology companies. Previous experience includes regulatory T cells, CAR-T, TCR-T, large and small molecule therapeutics for cancer, autoimmunity, and inflammatory diseases. As head of Process Development at Tessa Therapeutics he played an integral role developing CD30-CAR-T cell therapies for the treatment of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Prior to that, Dr. Stephens was the Director of Product Science at Immatics, LLC, where he led the development of TCR-T cell-based therapies for the treatment of a variety of cancers. Geoffrey also previously co-founded and was the Chief Scientific Officer of Cellcion, LLC, a company devoted to the development of software platforms for the analysis of complex immunological systems.