Emma Barnett is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author. She presents the BBC’s flagship Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and previously was the chief host of BBC Woman’s Hour and Newsnight. Her books are called: ‘Maternity Service’ and ‘It’s About Bloody Time. Period’. She also co-founded a publishing company called Colour Your Streets with her husband, which is mapping the whole of the UK in colouring books. She lives in London with their two children but her heart will always be in Manchester.

Jasmin Paris is a mother, long distance fell runner, small animal vet and research scientist, who was launched into the media spotlight in January 2019 when she won the 268-mile Montane Spine race outright, breaking the overall record by 12 hours, and beating her nearest rival by 15 hours. In March 2024, she became the first woman to finish the infamous Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, something many had previously considered impossible for a woman.

Widely regarded as the world’s toughest ultramarathon, the Barkley Marathons has been completed by only 20 people in the last 35 years. Consisting of five 20-mile loops through the wilderness of Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, with more than 20,000m ascent, the race has a 60-hour time limit. In 2024, on her third attempt, Jasmin became the first woman to finish the race, completing the 5 loops with only 99 seconds to spare, in a dramatic finish which delighted onlookers around the world.

She studied veterinary science at Liverpool University (2002-2008), including an intercalated year of Veterinary Pathology at the Royal Veterinary College, London. From 2009-2010 Jasmin completed a rotating internship at the University of Minnesota, USA, before returning to Edinburgh University to start a residency in Small Animal Medicine, ultimately gaining European Diplomate status in 2014. Between 2015 and 2019, Jasmin completed a PhD studying the role of the RNA-methylation reader protein YTHDF2 in acute myeloid leukaemia. She is currently working as a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, where she does a mixture of clinical work, and research focused on human chronic biliary disease, specifically Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Murvah Iqbal is the co-founder and CEO of HIVED, a parcel delivery network built entirely on proprietary technology and powered by a 100% electric vehicle fleet. HIVED is rethinking every layer of logistics—from routing algorithms to driver experience and parcel tracking infrastructure—to deliver a service that’s not only emission-free, but radically more efficient, reliable and scalable. Since launching in 2021, HIVED has raised over $60M in funding, grown to a team of 150+ people, and delivered millions of parcels for major retailers including ZARA, Nespresso and John Lewis.

A former footballer for Manchester City Women, Murvah brings a unique combination of grit, leadership and operational excellence. Before HIVED, she helped grow her family’s food business into one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent food chains, starting at just 15 years old. Her entrepreneurial drive was shaped by a working-class background, a deep commitment to sustainability, and early exposure to business through both family and sport.

Murvah has been recognised on Forbes 30 Under 30 in Technology and The Sunday Times Young Power List, celebrating her as one of the UK’s most influential young leaders. She is passionate about building a more inclusive, equitable tech ecosystem—particularly for women and underrepresented founders.

Kotska obtained a physics based Bachelor’s degree and a Masters in Spacecraft Technology and Satellite Communications, before working in the UK space industry. She exploited data from optical and radar satellite borne sensors, eventually working on the development of a small satellite and its camera as the Payload Manager.

In 2002, Kotska took a job as Optical Engineer at the European Space Agency’s technical centre in the Netherlands, wanting the opportunity to work on a wider variety of missions in a multinational and multicultural environment. She worked on various optical technology developments, in particular for x-ray telescopes, and supported a diverse set of missions such as the Fluid Science Lab on International Space Station. Kotska took a role as a Principal Instrument Engineer for one of the four instruments being developed for ESA’s EarthCARE mission in 2008, eventually taking responsibility for the full payload and managing the satellite’s on-orbit commissioning after it launched in 2024, including a radar from the Japanese Space Agency. In early 2025 Kotska handed EarthCARE over to its operational Mission Manager and switched to working as the System Manager for the FORUM mission development.

in her own words…

 “I was the lucky recipient of a 50% bursary, without which I would not have attended MHSG and would not still have the wonderful friends I made at school, nor would I have achieved professionally as I have. I was the first person in my family to do A-levels, let alone attend university, although my very able younger relatives have done the same.

“After school I read Law at Leeds University. I then read for the Bar and was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 1987. After a career at the Family Bar in London I was appointed as a Circuit Judge in 2009. I was then appointed a Senior Circuit Judge in 2022, and was Designated Family Judge for West London for the following 3 years.

“In February 2025, I retired (early for a judge) at the age of 60, having decided that I wanted to spend more time with my family, and that 16 years as a full-time family judge was enough for me.

“I now sit part time a few weeks a year as a judge, and have recently trained as a family arbitrator and mediator. I joined a set of Chambers in London, where I will be helping couples and families find an alternative way of resolving their disputes.

“I still have a close group of school friends from MHSG, and we are planning how to celebrate 50 years since we began in the Upper Thirds!”

Louise Ellman, née Rosenberg, became Lancashire County Council leader in 1981.

Rose Dummer (née Ashkanazi), began flying in the British Army in 1993.

Joined BRNC Dartmouth for Officer training in 1995, completed training in diving medicine, aviation medicine, battlefield ATLS and biological warfare. Was based on HMS London, HMS Beaver, HMS Neptune, HMS Somerset and assisted in the build of HMS Albion. Has sailed around the world both in the Royal Navy and as a qualified RYA Yachtmaster.

Merlyn has been a member of the governing body since 2015 and is now Honorary Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. She  has a Mathematics degree from Manchester University, an MBA from the London Business School and an MA from the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Her executive career was spent with the Bank of England, where she was appointed the first female Chief Cashier in 1999. In 2004 she gave up her executive career to pursue a broader range of interests, holding many non-executive directorships with large companies.

Image courtesy of the Bank of England.

Libby was consecrated in 2015.

Rachel Spooncer qualified with a First in Chemical Engineering in 1975, one of four female students out of a class of 100. She joined ICI where she had a series of different jobs; design, process development, plant management and she became Technology Manager managing large, multifunctional teams.

With a keen interest in team building and leadership, she was key to the worldwide challenge to manufacture refrigerants to replace CFC’s. She was recognised with global awards for this and elected as one of the pioneer female engineers to be a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers and the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

In her second career, she became an Executive Coach, helping other leaders to develop their leadership skills and face the challenges of their roles.