Matilda is the Veterinary Practice and Cleaner Fish Manager for Bakkafrost Scotland. Having previously lived on the Isle of Harris, the importance to Scottish communities of employment through aquaculture was made even clearer when she joined the industry as a newcomer in 2014. Matilda is passionate about providing inclusive and empowering spaces for girls and women.

Rhianna is a Scottish seaweed industry expert, researcher, and educator with several years’ experience working within the sector. Winner of Aquaculture UK’s Rising Star Award, she is passionate about the growth and expansion of the seaweed industry and its role in a rapidly developing blue economy. She is currently the Business Development Manager for the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association (SSIA) and the Seaweed Academy coordinator at SAMS.

Irene is the Learning and Development Coordinator at Scottish Sea Farms. With responsibility for ongoing training and continual development across the company, she is currently completing an MSc in Organisational Psychology to further her expertise. Irene also fosters educational links within the local communities to promote the career opportunities within the aquaculture sector.

Previously SAIC CEO, Heather developed the organisation’s strategic vision, ensuring a focus on delivery and outcomes, representing the organisation at national and international level, and maintaining an extensive network of relationships in aquaculture around the globe. She founded WiSA in 2019. She is now an independent consultant.

Hazel has 17 years of marketing and communications experience, specialising in events. She has built a strong network in the aquaculture sector thanks to her role at SAIC and as a member of the WiSA advisory group, she provides strategic input on events and communications campaigns. She also runs her own freelance marketing consultancy, supporting women-led, female-empowering businesses.

Teresa has a degree and PhD in biology and biochemistry from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. With previous experience in academia, she has now been working in the aquaculture industry for 12 years from both perspectives – producer and supplier. Her special area of interest, however, has always been fish health and disease prevention, with the view of making the industry more sustainable.

Donald is a Charted Fellow of the CIPD with over 30 years' experience in developing people and talent acquisition. He is very excited to be part of the WiSA group and is looking forward to continuing to attract and develop women in aquaculture.

Jillian is a research and innovation specialist, with an expertise in genomic systems, applied to human health, natural environments and scale-up challenges in biotechnology. Her passion for sparking an ‘innovation mindset’ in everyone led her to dive into the world of skills and training. She has a desire to support and retain women in science and engineering so that the next generation can benefit from their collective experiences.

Dr Helena Reinardy is a marine biologist and ecotoxicologist with extensive experience in biology of fish and marine invertebrates applied to various industries such as aquaculture, fisheries, environmental risk and safety, industrial waste management, and regulatory toxicology.

Ingrid is Director of the Fair Food Hub at the Lyell Centre, Heriot Watt University. Her research focuses on improving social sustainability in seafood supply through improved gender equality, worker wellbeing and equitable governance. The Hub partners with policy and industry decision-makers as well as civil society to co-create solutions that promote long-term positive change in seafood structures, consumption and institutions.