Committees
Comprised of experts, leaders, and passionate advocates, these committees drive the strategic vision, programme development, and community outreach efforts, ensuring that the Future Forum is a transformative and inclusive event.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is responsible for setting the strategic direction and overseeing the overall coordination of the Future Forum. This committee ensures that the conference aligns with its mission to support scientists from marginalised and under-represented backgrounds.
Emmanuel Adukwu
Emmanuel Adukwu is an academic and researcher specialising in microbiology, public health, and science education. His research focuses on microbial ecology, infection prevention, and the practical application of microbiological research to tackle global health challenges. Emmanuel is also actively involved in supporting underrepresented communities in academia and the life sciences, with a strong commitment to improving the retention and progression of Black early-career academics. He is dedicated to creating a more inclusive and supportive academic environment, particularly within the life sciences, and contributes significantly to initiatives that address diversity and equity in higher education.
Afua Acheampong
Afua Acheampong is the Race Equality Portfolio Lead at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), where she plays a pivotal role in driving the university's race equality initiatives. Her work includes leading the Race Equality Action Group, which is responsible for QMUL's application for the Race Equality Charter. This initiative aims to tackle racial disparities within the university by developing and implementing strategies that promote the representation and career progression of staff and students from under-represented and marginalised backgrounds.
Her work includes addressing the ethnicity pay gap, increasing the number of BAME individuals in senior roles, and fostering an inclusive environment that reflects the diverse demographics of Greater London. Afua's previous roles, including her position as Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Manager at the Open University and her leadership at Nottingham Trent University, have equipped her with extensive experience in promoting racial equality and diversity within academic institutions​
Amara Anyogu
Dr Amara Anyogu is a widening participation educator who is intentional about building learning environments where learners from diverse backgrounds can achieve their academic and career goals. Having accessed higher education as the so-called ‘non-traditional’ student, she is committed to building communities and supporting initiatives focused on increasing the participation and success of underrepresented groups in science.
Amara is a Senior Academic Mentor in the School of Human Sciences at London Metropolitan University. She is also a member of the Biosciences Awarding Gap (BAG) Network, an advisory group to the Royal Society for Biology’s Heads of University Biosciences and co-founded the Nigerian Applied Microbiologists (NAM) Network.
Amara’s expertise in food microbiology is demonstrated through her research, which focuses on the intricate interactions between microorganisms in food environments and their crucial role in improving food security. Her work includes improving food safety and nutrition through beneficial microbes in indigenous fermented foods and addressing antimicrobial resistance in the food chain.
Nicholas Farmer
Nicholas Farmer serves as the Race Equality Lead at the Medical Research Council (MRC), where he plays a pivotal role in advancing race equity across the biomedical research sector. With a focus on addressing the underrepresentation of researchers from marginalised backgrounds, Nicholas is instrumental in driving systemic change within the MRC and the wider UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) community.
Nicholas is deeply committed to creating a more inclusive environment in science, working on initiatives that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) at all levels. He has been a key figure in developing the 'Black in Biomedical Research' project, which aims to create new opportunities and support systems for Black researchers in the field. His work includes coordinating new fellowship programmes, funding school outreach opportunities for pre-university students, and building partnerships across the research and innovation sector to foster a collaborative approach to race equality.
With a background that combines extensive experience in project management and a deep understanding of D&I challenges, Nicholas is dedicated to ensuring that race equality actions are informed by robust data and meaningful stakeholder engagement. His efforts are not just about policy but about creating tangible, lasting changes that will benefit future generations of scientists.
Donald Palmer
Donald has a BSc in Medical Sciences from Bradford University, MSc in Immunology at King's College London (KCL) and a PhD from MRC, Clinical Sciences Centre. As a post-doc, Donald worked in laboratories at Cancer Research UK and Imperial College London; in the latter he successfully obtained an MRC Career Development Award. He joined the Royal veterinary College (RVC), University of London in 2002 and is currently an Associate Professor in Immunology. Donald is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Immunology at Imperial College London, Visiting Lecturer at Cambridge University and University of East London and a Visiting Fellow for Reuben College, University of Oxford (one of the College’s inaugural Visiting Fellows).
His main research interest is focused on understanding the effect of age on the immune system and he teaches on several undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and also supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. He is on the Editorial Board of various scientific journals and is currently a member of the British Society for Immunology (BSI) and the British Society for Research on Ageing. Donald was previously the Education and Careers Secretary for the BSI, a post he held for four years until June 2024.
Donald is deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within academia and beyond, being actively involved in initiatives at his university along with being a member of both the MRC Black in Biomedical Research Advisory Group which among its aim is to advise MRC on equality and diversity-related, and Health Data Research UK Black Intern Programme Advisory Group, which aims to provide employment opportunity for Black people within the health data science sector.
Donald is passionate about increasing scientific awareness amongst the general public and fellow scientist, and also to encourage young people to consider a career in science by regularly contributing to public engagement activities, speaking at schools, colleges, community events and scientific festivals. He also actively participates in the university’s widening participation events. Donald is also Co-Founder/Co-Director of Reach Society, an award-winning social enterprise which aims to inspire young people to fulfil their potential. Donald is a Professional Mentor for Amos Bursary and the Chair of Governors at a school in North-West London.
Chisomo Kalinga
Chisomo Kalinga is a Chancellor's Fellow in Social Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh, where her work intersects critical health and medical humanities with African studies. Her research focuses on the cultural narratives of health and illness in Malawi and surrounding regions, exploring topics such as traditional healing, biomedicine, and the impact of diseases like HIV/AIDS in African literature and oral traditions.
Chisomo is the founder of the Malawi Medical Humanities Network, a platform that brings together researchers and practitioners to explore health narratives in African contexts. Her efforts are deeply rooted in decolonising research methodologies and ensuring that the voices of marginalised communities are central to health and humanities discourses. She also co-directs the Edinburgh Health and Medical Humanities Network, which encourages collaboration and research in these fields. Her academic background includes a PhD from King’s College London, with her research contributing significantly to understanding the intersections of health, culture, and literature in African contexts
Oluwadamilola Racheal Okeyoyin
Oluwadamilola Racheal Okeyoyin is a Nigerian PhD candidate in Biomedical Science at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol, researching the impact of herbal teas and supplements on human microbiota and metabolism, supported by Pukka Herbs and UWE Bristol. She holds a BSc in Biomedical Science and an MRes in Applied Sciences, with earlier research focused on Reactive Oxygen Species in cancer cells. As an Associate Lecturer at UWE Bristol, she teaches microbiology to master’s students, mentors undergraduate research, and manages the NIHR INSIGHT Programme. She also led the UWE and NHS Biomedicine in Allied Health Diverse Internship Project, enhancing placement opportunities for marginalised students.
Oluwadamilola has served in leadership roles such as Lead School Representative for the School of Applied Sciences at UWE Bristol and TEDxUWE Mentor. She was Vice-President Education of The Students’ Union at UWE and a Panel Member for the Teaching Excellence Framework with the Office for Students. Her commitment to educational reform earned her recognition in the UWE Students’ Union Celebrating Culture Hall of Fame. Fluent in English, Yoruba, and Nigerian Pidgin English, Oluwadamilola contributes to UWE Bristol’s ‘NO MORE SILENCE’ zine, advocating for social change and bridging scientific research with practical health solutions.
A strong advocate for inclusivity, equity, and diversity, she delivers talks on racism, mental health, and the intersection of science with fashion and entrepreneurship. She is also actively involved in community volunteering, addressing issues affecting minority communities and promoting sustainability.
Programme Committee
The Programme Committee is charged with developing and curating the academic content of the Future Forum. This committee ensures that the conference programme is both innovative and inclusive, representing a diverse range of voices and perspectives in the life sciences.
Amara Anyogu
Dr Amara Anyogu is a widening participation educator who is intentional about building learning environments where learners from diverse backgrounds can achieve their academic and career goals. Having accessed higher education as the so-called ‘non-traditional’ student, she is committed to building communities and supporting initiatives focused on increasing the participation and success of underrepresented groups in science.
Amara is a Senior Academic Mentor in the School of Human Sciences at London Metropolitan University. She is also a member of the Biosciences Awarding Gap (BAG) Network, an advisory group to the Royal Society for Biology’s Heads of University Biosciences and co-founded the Nigerian Applied Microbiologists (NAM) Network.
Amara’s expertise in food microbiology is demonstrated through her research, which focuses on the intricate interactions between microorganisms in food environments and their crucial role in improving food security. Her work includes improving food safety and nutrition through beneficial microbes in indigenous fermented foods and addressing antimicrobial resistance in the food chain.
Donald Palmer
Donald has a BSc in Medical Sciences from Bradford University, MSc in Immunology at King's College London (KCL) and a PhD from MRC, Clinical Sciences Centre. As a post-doc, Donald worked in laboratories at Cancer Research UK and Imperial College London; in the latter he successfully obtained an MRC Career Development Award. He joined the Royal veterinary College (RVC), University of London in 2002 and is currently an Associate Professor in Immunology. Donald is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Immunology at Imperial College London, Visiting Lecturer at Cambridge University and University of East London and a Visiting Fellow for Reuben College, University of Oxford (one of the College’s inaugural Visiting Fellows).
His main research interest is focused on understanding the effect of age on the immune system and he teaches on several undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and also supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. He is on the Editorial Board of various scientific journals and is currently a member of the British Society for Immunology (BSI) and the British Society for Research on Ageing. Donald was previously the Education and Careers Secretary for the BSI, a post he held for four years until June 2024.
Donald is deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within academia and beyond, being actively involved in initiatives at his university along with being a member of both the MRC Black in Biomedical Research Advisory Group which among its aim is to advise MRC on equality and diversity-related, and Health Data Research UK Black Intern Programme Advisory Group, which aims to provide employment opportunity for Black people within the health data science sector.
Donald is passionate about increasing scientific awareness amongst the general public and fellow scientist, and also to encourage young people to consider a career in science by regularly contributing to public engagement activities, speaking at schools, colleges, community events and scientific festivals. He also actively participates in the university’s widening participation events. Donald is also Co-Founder/Co-Director of Reach Society, an award-winning social enterprise which aims to inspire young people to fulfil their potential. Donald is a Professional Mentor for Amos Bursary and the Chair of Governors at a school in North-West London.
Katie O'Donnell
Katie O'Donnell is an experienced event manager with over a decade of expertise in the life sciences sector. She has successfully managed large-scale international conferences, specialised workshops, and CPD events. Katie works closely with all the Future Forum committees, translating their strategic direction into a well-executed event. Translating the strategic direction of the Future Forum's Steering, Programme, and Outreach, Engagment and Social Impact Committees, Katie is responsible for bringing the event to life, ensuring it meets its goals of addressing disparities in the life sciences and advancing inclusivity within the life sciences.
Outreach, Engagement, and Social Impact Committee
The Outreach, Engagement, and Social Impact Committee is dedicated to ensuring that the Future Forum reaches broad and diverse audiences. This committee focuses on building community connections, driving engagement, and amplifying the social impact of the conference.
Oluwadamilola Racheal Okeyoyin
Oluwadamilola Racheal Okeyoyin is a Nigerian PhD candidate in Biomedical Science at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol, researching the impact of herbal teas and supplements on human microbiota and metabolism, supported by Pukka Herbs and UWE Bristol. She holds a BSc in Biomedical Science and an MRes in Applied Sciences, with earlier research focused on Reactive Oxygen Species in cancer cells. As an Associate Lecturer at UWE Bristol, she teaches microbiology to master’s students, mentors undergraduate research, and manages the NIHR INSIGHT Programme. She also led the UWE and NHS Biomedicine in Allied Health Diverse Internship Project, enhancing placement opportunities for marginalised students.
Oluwadamilola has served in leadership roles such as Lead School Representative for the School of Applied Sciences at UWE Bristol and TEDxUWE Mentor. She was Vice-President Education of The Students’ Union at UWE and a Panel Member for the Teaching Excellence Framework with the Office for Students. Her commitment to educational reform earned her recognition in the UWE Students’ Union Celebrating Culture Hall of Fame. Fluent in English, Yoruba, and Nigerian Pidgin English, Oluwadamilola contributes to UWE Bristol’s ‘NO MORE SILENCE’ zine, advocating for social change and bridging scientific research with practical health solutions.
A strong advocate for inclusivity, equity, and diversity, she delivers talks on racism, mental health, and the intersection of science with fashion and entrepreneurship. She is also actively involved in community volunteering, addressing issues affecting minority communities and promoting sustainability.
Nicholas Farmer
Nicholas Farmer serves as the Race Equality Lead at the Medical Research Council (MRC), where he plays a pivotal role in advancing race equity across the biomedical research sector. With a focus on addressing the underrepresentation of researchers from marginalised backgrounds, Nicholas is instrumental in driving systemic change within the MRC and the wider UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) community.
Nicholas is deeply committed to creating a more inclusive environment in science, working on initiatives that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) at all levels. He has been a key figure in developing the 'Black in Biomedical Research' project, which aims to create new opportunities and support systems for Black researchers in the field. His work includes coordinating new fellowship programmes, funding school outreach opportunities for pre-university students, and building partnerships across the research and innovation sector to foster a collaborative approach to race equality.
With a background that combines extensive experience in project management and a deep understanding of D&I challenges, Nicholas is dedicated to ensuring that race equality actions are informed by robust data and meaningful stakeholder engagement. His efforts are not just about policy but about creating tangible, lasting changes that will benefit future generations of scientists.
Paul Sainsbury
Paul Sainsbury holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Warwick, where his research focused on synthesising chemical compounds through organic chemistry and gene editing bacteria, integrating both chemistry and microbiology. With over 20 years of experience in PR, journalism, and event marketing, Paul has made significant contributions to the communication and promotion of scientific innovation.
As the Chief Operating Officer at AMI, Paul plays a pivotal role in driving the organisation's mission to advance microbiology and championing initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion within the scientific community. His extensive experience in PR has seen him work with numerous not-for-profit clients, crafting campaigns that have made significant impacts. Notably, Paul was part of the team that successfully marketed the clockwork radio, a groundbreaking invention by UK entrepreneur Trevor Bayliss, which gained international recognition for its potential to bring communication to remote and underserved regions.
Kemi Oloyede
Kemi Oloyede (kxmolo) is an interdisciplinary scientist and artist (they/them). They are based in London and are of British-Nigerian descent. Kemi holds a Foundation diploma in Art and Design from the University for the Creative Arts, a BSc in Analytical Chemistry and Forensic Science from Coventry University and a MSc in Analytical Toxicology in King's College London. They are currently pursuing a PhD in 'Clinical Medicine Research' at the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London. Although they are now studying, they anticipate the exploration of making meaningful connections between art, science and culture during this time.
Additionally, Kemi's draws all the Future Forum's keynote speaker and committee illustrations!!