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Anne-Marie Imafidon

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Anne-Marie Imafidon
MBE HonFREng
Imafidon in 2018
Born
Anne-Marie Osawemwenze Ore-Ofe Imafidon

(1990-07-27) 27 July 1990 (age 35)
Barking, London, England[2]
Alma materUniversity of Oxford (MMathCompSci)
Known forStemettes
AwardsSuffrage Science award (2020)[1]
Scientific career
Fields
InstitutionsStemettes
Hewlett-Packard
Deutsche Bank
Imafidon's voice
recorded March 2019
Websitewww.aimafidon.com Edit this at Wikidata

Anne-Marie Osawemwenze Ore-Ofe Imafidon (pronounced: /ɪmˈæfɪdən/, i-MA-fi-dən; born 27 July 1990)[3] is a British-Nigerian social entrepreneur and computer scientist. She founded and became CEO of Stemettes in 2013, a social enterprise promoting women in STEM careers. In June 2022, she was announced as the 2022–2023 President of the British Science Association. She has worked for companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Deutsche Bank. She has spoken at many international conferences such as the Web Summit, SXSW, and the Women of the World Festival. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Girl Guides and the Council of Digital Economy as well as the trustee of the Institute for the Future of Work.[4] As of February 2024, she is the Chancellor (titular head) of Glasgow Caledonian University.[5][6]

Early life and education

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Imafidon was born in the UK in 1990 and grew up in Walthamstow, east London. She is the eldest of five siblings. Her father is Chris Imafidon. At the age of 11 she was the youngest girl to pass A-level computing, gaining an E.[7] She obtained her undergraduate master's degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Oxford at 20 years old.[8]

Stemettes and entrepreneurship

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Imafidon is the co-founder of Stemettes, a social initiative promoting and inspiring women in STEM. Since its founding in 2013, the organization has expanded significantly, reaching over 65,000 young people and non-binary individuals across Europe through targeted hackathons, certification programs, and mentoring networks.[9] Imafidon decided to create Stemettes after attending a STEM workshop organized by Business in the Community. She came to understanding that there is a prevailing issue of a lack of women and non-binary people in STEM. Imafidon emphasizes the importance of having not only diversity in STEM but in all industries. Stemettes' mission is to engage, inform and connect, young women and non binary people into STEM. Stemettes' values itself as an organization that is inclusive and strives to center around the youth.[10] She recently in 2022 launched her guidebook for women in STEM called She's in CTRL.[11]

Other work

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In 2019, Imafidon hosted the Women Tech Charge podcast for the Evening Standard, in which she conducted interviews with tech figures such as Jack Dorsey, and other celebrities such as Rachel Riley and Lewis Hamilton.[12]

She is a trustee of the Institute for the Future of Work, which researches ways to improve work and working lives.[13] She is a member of the council at the Royal College of Art and at Research England, a member of the British Library's advisory council. Anne-Marie is also a member of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sports' Digital Skills Partnership Board.[14]

In September 2021, Imafidon co-hosted a special episode of Channel 4's Countdown – broadcast for the channel's Black to Front Day campaign as arithmetician.[3][15] She reprised the role later that year – standing in on 60 episodes for Rachel Riley while she was on maternity leave,[3] and has reprised the role on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

In December 2022, Imafidon guest-edited BBC Radio 4's Today programme.[16]

In 2022, she was announced by the British Science Association as that organisation's president for the year 2022–2023.[17]

In June 2023, Imafidon was interviewed by Jim Al-Khalili for The Life Scientific podcast, discussing diversity and equality in science, recorded at the Cheltenham Arts Festival.[3]

In the week beginning 22 January 2024, Imafidon was a contestant on the BBC Two game show Richard Osman‘s House of Games, finishing second behind comedian Leo Reich, but ahead of broadcaster Craig Doyle and former Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson, having won the Thursday episode.[18]

Recognition

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In 2017, Imafidon became an Honorary Fellow at Keble College, Oxford, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours for her services to young women and STEM sectors[19]. In 2020, she was voted the UK's most influential woman in tech by Computer Weekly and received the Suffrage Science Award[20]. In 2023, Imafidon was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Royal Holloway, University of London,[21] followed by an honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Bath.

In March 2026, she was named the global recipient of the annual Power of Radiance Awards by Clé de Peau Beauté, recognizing her advocacy for expanding non-binary and girls' access to STEAM fields through immersive grant-backed programs.[22]

Honorary degrees

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 Imafidon has been awarded numerous honorary doctorates in recognition of her contributions to computer science, mathematics, and diversity advocacy:
 * 2023: Honorary Doctorate from Royal Holloway, University of London[23]
 * 2024: Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Bath[24]
 * 2024: Honorary Doctor of Science from Durham University during Summer Congregation[25]
 * 2024: Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Leicester[26]
 * She also holds honorary academic distinctions from the Open University, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Kent, University of Bristol, and Coventry University.[27]

References

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  1. ^ "Leading women in 'life sciences' and 'mathematics & computing' win Suffrage Science award". MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  2. ^ Goss, Alexandra (16 June 2023). "A Life in the Day: Stem pioneer Anne‑Marie Imafidon". The Times.
  3. ^ a b c d Al-Khalili, Jim (13 June 2023). "Anne-Marie Imafidon on fighting for diversity and equality in science". The Life Scientific. 28:39 minutes in. BBC Sounds. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon". Black History Month. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Glasgow Caledonian appoints STEM trailblazer as new Chancellor". Glasgow Caledonian University. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Chancellor: Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE". Glasgow Caledonian University. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  7. ^ "A-level for 11 year old". BBC. 16 August 2001. Archived from the original on 6 September 2002.
  8. ^ "Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE". ukri.org.
  9. ^ "Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE". Top 100 Influential People. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  10. ^ "About Stemettes".
  11. ^ "She's In CTRL". Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  12. ^ Heathman, Amelia (20 May 2019). "Every episode from the Evening Standard's Women Tech Charge podcast". Evening Standard.
  13. ^ "Our team". Institute for the Future of Work.
  14. ^ Finnigan, Kate. "Anne-Marie Imafidon". thegentlewoman.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  15. ^ Manning, Charlotte (14 December 2021). "Countdown: Who is Rachel Riley's replacement Anne-Marie Imafidon?". Metro. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  16. ^ "BBC Radio 4 announces Today Christmas guest editors". BBC News. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon announced as President-Elect". British Science Association. 20 June 2022.
  18. ^ Richard Osman's House of Games - Series 7: Week 15: Monday, retrieved 26 January 2024
  19. ^ "Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE | One Young World". www.oneyoungworld.com. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  20. ^ "Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon". www.bath.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  21. ^ "Royal Holloway presents Honorary Doctorates". www.royalholloway.ac.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Clé de Peau Beauté Announces Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon as Recipient of The Power of Radiance Awards 2026". PR Newswire. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  23. ^ "Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE awarded Honorary Doctorate for contribution to STEM". Royal Holloway, University of London. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  24. ^ "Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon". www.bath.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  25. ^ "Honorary Degrees Summer 2024". Durham University. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  26. ^ "Former child prodigy honoured by University of Leicester". University of Leicester. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  27. ^ "Biography". Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
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