On 19 June 2026, Magna Carta College hosted the Advancing Women from Education to Enterprise Conference at Buckinghamshire New University’s Nottingham Campus. What brought the morning to life was not just the programme on paper, but the people in the room. Leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, policymakers and community changemakers gathered with a shared purpose: to have an honest conversation about what it truly takes for women to move from education into leadership and enterprise.
Noorulain Zafer, Head of Quality and Compliance at MCC, opened the morning as Master of Ceremonies, welcoming guests and setting a tone that was both warm and focused. She was followed by Liz Bridgen, Head of Academic Practice at Buckinghamshire New University, whose welcome address reminded the room of the responsibility that academic institutions carry in creating equitable opportunities for the women they educate.
Professor Sarah Williams, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Buckinghamshire New University, took to the stage first, delivering a keynote that challenged conventional thinking around career progression. She spoke on entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship as vehicles for women’s growth, arguing that institutions must do more than open doors; they must actively build the pathways that allow women to walk through them with confidence.
Angela Kandola BEM, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, followed with a keynote that carried the unmistakable weight of lived experience. Drawing on 25 years of frontline community service across Nottingham, she spoke on the role of government in advancing women in education and enterprise, and made clear that policy without genuine commitment changes very little.
Amina Qureshi, Lawyer, Entrepreneur and Parliamentary Candidate, brought one of the most candid voices of the morning. She spoke about navigating three demanding worlds at once and challenged the room to stop waiting for the right moment. In her words, the moment is now, and women have everything they need to lead.
Merlita Bryan MBE, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, offered a reflection that stayed with the room long after she finished speaking. As the first African Caribbean woman to hold the office, her journey is not just personal. It is a statement about what becomes possible when barriers are challenged and representation is taken seriously.
The panel discussion on Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship deepened the conversations that had been building throughout the morning. Fakiha Imran, ICF-Certified Executive and EI Coach, explored how emotional intelligence is not a soft skill but a leadership essential, drawing on over 700 coaching hours to make her case with clarity and conviction.
Nadine AbuQtaish, Medical Writer and Scientific Consultant, spoke about the importance of visibility, self-belief and the courage to chart an unconventional professional path. The discussion was moderated by Noorulain Zafer, who drew out the nuance in every contribution and ensured the audience felt part of the conversation rather than observers of it.
Raana Sarmad, Pro Vice Chancellor of Roots IVY Academic Network, closed the keynote sessions with an address on the role of policy in shaping confident women leaders. With two decades of experience building international education pathways across borders, her perspective added a global dimension to a conversation that was already rich with insight.
Ejaz Ashraf Chowdary, CEO of Magna Carta College, brought the formal proceedings to a close with remarks that reflected genuine pride in what the day had achieved. He spoke of MCC’s commitment to being more than a place of learning, to being a platform where education becomes a foundation for leadership, enterprise and real world impact.
The Advancing Women from Education to Enterprise Conference was more than an event. It was a demonstration of what becomes possible when the right people come together with a shared belief in the power of education to change lives. Magna Carta College is grateful to every speaker, partner, guest and attendee who made it so, and we look forward to continuing this important work.
