Our Instructors and Mentors: Empowering Change Agents
At Women AI Academy, our instructors and mentors are not just educators — they are change agents on a mission to transform the tech industry's landscape. Driven by our vision to make AI technologies ethical and accessible to all, our team of experts is passionately committed to empowering women to shatter barriers and create a more inclusive tech world.
Dedication Beyond Profit
Our instructors and mentors are fueled by a shared vision and a deep commitment to creating meaningful change. They are driven by a purpose that transcends financial gain, understanding that true empowerment comes from equipping women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to drive innovation and reshape the future.
Expertise and Mentorship
Each member of our team brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the table. Our instructors are accomplished professionals in the fields of data science, artificial intelligence, ethics, and technology. Beyond their technical proficiency, they possess the passion to inspire and guide women along their learning journeys.
Transformative Mentorship
Mentorship is at the heart of our approach. Our mentors are industry veterans who have navigated the tech landscape, overcoming challenges and paving the way for future generations. They are dedicated to offering guidance, insights, and support to women aspiring to make their mark in the tech world.
A Shared Commitment
What unites our instructors and mentors is a shared commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive tech industry. Their dedication goes beyond teaching; it extends to igniting a spark of confidence, providing hands-on guidance, and enabling women to break through stereotypes and limitations.
Empowerment in Action
Through their unwavering dedication, our instructors and mentors amplify the impact of Women AI Academy's mission. They are catalysts for change, helping women rise above systemic challenges and harness their potential to drive innovation, ethical practices, and progress.
Our Teachers
Sarah Haq
Head of Bootcamp
Instructor,
Machine Learning Engineering Expert
Sarah Haq is a Computer Science and Creative Computing Lecturer at Leuphana University
- Sarah has over ten years of experience working with data and building machine-learning models for various startups, from underwear companies to unicorns.
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She was previously a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at the world’s largest online art marketplace, Artsy, where she shaped the personalisation strategy and built a recommendation engine to connect collectors with artworks they truly loved.
- Sarah completed her studies in Mathematics and Economics at the London School of Economics.
Erum Afzal
Consultant & Mentor,
Artificial Intelligence Expert
Erum is a Ph.D. scholar specializing in AI tools for teacher training at Justus Liebig University, Germany, with a strong background in Information and Computational Technology.
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Beyond academia, she is a mentor and speaker, passionate about educating in AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning. Her collaborations with esteemed organizations like Women AI Academy, ETHOS AI, Women Who Code, Omdena, and Neuro Match Academy showcase her commitment to knowledge sharing. Erum's academic pursuits and industry engagement make her a valuable asset, driving innovation in AI and Data Science..
Zubia Khan
Instructor & Mentor,
Data Analytics Expert
Zubia Khan is working as a Data Scientist for multiple business clients. She is teaching UK students at the undergraduate level.
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She has more than 4 years of experience working with large volumes of data to perform exploratory data analysis, feature selection, feature extraction, predictive analytics, and model deployment for healthcare and training organisations. She has experience working as a lecturer at the world’s best university, Anglia Ruskin University, where she taught undergraduate students Computer Science, specifically cipher challenges in various programming languages. She has completed Computer Science training at the University of Cambridge with the founder of the Raspberry Pi, Alan Mycroft. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence from the world’s top 100 university, the University of York.
Shailvi Maheshwari
Instructor,
Data Visualisation Expert
With over 4 years of extensive experience in Data Analytics, Shailvi is a seasoned professional. She is proficient in Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, Microsoft Excel, SQL, and Google Data Analytics and has a comprehensive understanding of the industry's intricacies.
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Known for her passion for teaching, Shailvi has been guiding students at WAIA for the past year. She firmly believes that practical application is the key to effective learning and thus focuses on hands-on experience rather than a theoretical approach.
Approachable and dedicated, Shailvi actively encourages students to ask challenging questions, promising to assist them every step of the way. Her commitment to clarifying doubts and queries ensures that students are constantly supported throughout their learning journey.
In her classes, you can expect to gain a strong understanding of fundamental concepts and master the art of creating interactive portfolio reports across various domains.
Salma Aziz
Instructor & Mentor,
Machine Learning Expert
Drawing from her international journey and data science expertise, Salma dedicates herself to mentoring and teaching, blending practical experience with academic wisdom to inspire future data enthusiasts
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Salma embarked on her academic path with a strong base in Mathematics and Physics, which led to an Engineer Diploma in Statistics and Applied Economics. She then earned a Master's in Data Science. Alongside her core studies, Salma also undertook an innovative Student-Entrepreneur program. She holds a fervent belief: in the vast world of data, every pattern tells a story, and every analysis reveals a new insight. Salma's goal extends beyond mere instruction; she aims to spark a quest among learners to decode these stories, driving them toward impactful decisions.
Our Mentors
Julia Barden
Career Coach
Julia Barden is a German psychologist who worked in the HR department of well-known companies such as Commerzbank and Deutsche Bahn.
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As a career coach she assists in all areas of the application process, especially in the creation and optimization of documents like CV and cover letter, preparation for job interviews or assessment center and coaching for the successful conduct of salary negotiations. Besides coaching 1:1 and in group settings she also offers books and Udemy courses on the topic of job application and career coaching. As she has studies in the US and Brazil she is fluent in English and Portuguese, as well as her mother language German.
Marina Burton
Career Coach
A specialist in career transition coaching, Marina is passionate about helping individuals from all professional backgrounds unlock their potential, realise their career aspirations and ultimately find their ‘why’ in life.
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Marina works with mid-career professionals to help them find fulfilling, meaningful work. She brings a wealth of experience managing operations for small businesses and tech start-ups and combines it with her coaching expertise. She is proud to be partnering with the Women AI Academy to support women transition into tech careers, regardless of their background.
Sarah Mestiri
Career Coach
Sarah is a Data Scientist and a Certified Career & Interview Coach. She has 6 years+ experience in Tech, working at international companies, financial companies (FIS), and startups.
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Sarah’s experience of going through a career transition and her natural drive to support other women in following their professional dreams inspired her to become a certified career coach. She is on a mission to support more women find the right job for them and achieve their full potential. As a career coach, She has been supporting women getting back to work after a career break and women in transition to the data field.
Join us in celebrating the remarkable contributions of our instructors and mentors as they empower the next generation of tech leaders, innovators, and change-makers. Together, we are rewriting the narrative and creating a future where diversity, empowerment, and technological advancement coexist harmoniously.
WOMEN AI ACADEMY
Women AI Academy is a gender-equality and technology driven learning & development organization
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Ali Hessami is currently the Director of R&D and Innovation at Vega Systems, London, UK. He has an extensive track record in systems assurance and safety, security, sustainability, knowledge assessment/management methodologies. He has a background in the design and development of advanced control systems for business and safety-critical industrial applications.
Hessami represents the UK on the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) & International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) – safety systems, hardware & software standards committees. He was appointed by CENELEC as convener of several Working Groups for review of EN50128 Safety-Critical Software Standard and update and restructuring of the software, hardware, and system safety standards in CENELEC.
Ali is also a member of Cyber Security Standardisation SGA16, SG24, and WG26 Groups and started and chairs the IEEE Special Interest Group in Humanitarian Technologies and the Systems Council Chapters in the UK and Ireland Section. In 2017 Ali joined the IEEE Standards Association (SA), initially as a committee member for the new landmark IEEE 7000 standard focused on “Addressing Ethical Concerns in System Design.” He was subsequently appointed as the Technical Editor and later the Chair of P7000 working group. In November 2018, he was appointed as the VC and Process Architect of the IEEE’s global Ethics Certification Programme for Autonomous & Intelligent Systems (ECPAIS).
Trish advises and trains organisations internationally on Responsible AI (AI/data ethics, policy, governance), and Corporate Digital Responsibility.
Patricia has 20 years’ experience as a lawyer in data, technology and regulatory/government affairs and is a registered Solicitor in England and Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. She has authored and edited several works on law and regulation, policy, ethics, and AI.
She is an expert advisor on the Ethics Committee to the UK’s Digital Catapult Machine Intelligence Garage working with AI startups, is a Maestro (a title only given to 3 people in the world) and expert advisor “Maestro” on the IEEE’s CertifAIEd (previously known as ECPAIS) ethical certification panel, sits on IEEE’s P7003 (algorithmic bias)/P2247.4 (adaptive instructional systems)/P7010.1 (AI and ESG/UN SDGS) standards programmes, is a ForHumanity Fellow working on Independent Audit of AI Systems, is Chair of the Society for Computers and Law, and is a non-exec director on the Board of iTechlaw and on the Board of Women Leading in AI. Until 2021, Patricia was on the RSA’s online harms advisory panel, whose work contributed to the UK’s Online Safety Bill.
Trish is also a linguist and speaks fluently English, French, and German.
In 2021, Patricia was listed on the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics™ and named on Computer Weekly’s longlist as one of the Most Influential Women in UK Technology in 2021.
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