About this Event
This IWD we will be joined by 5 incredible females for a fireside chat :
When Dr. Shakardokht (Shakar) Jafari crossed the Iranian border as a six-year-old refugee from Afghanistan, no one could have imagined the path ahead. From a child displaced by war to an award-winning medical physicist and cancer technology innovator. Shakar’s journey defies expectation at every turn. Raised in a conservative rural Afghan family, she resisted multiple arranged marriages and, against all odds, pursued a degree in radiation technologies at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. After the fall of the Taliban, she returned to Kabul to help rebuild the country’s cancer care infrastructure. Through Schlumberger Foundation Shakar finished her medical physics PHD in the UK.
Today, Shakar is the founder and CEO of TRUEinvivo®, a startup delivering high-precision dosimetry solutions for radiotherapy. Using micro glass beads, the company’s technology offers fast, accurate measurement of radiation doses in cancer treatment—paving the way for safer, more effective care and adaptive radiotherapy. The innovation has already entered research trials in the UK for cervical and prostate cancers.
Fahima Mirzaie,
Afghanistan's most famous sufi whirling dancer. As a 24 year-old student, Fahima Mirzaie founded the Kabul-based Sufi dance and performing arts group Shohod Arefan (The Intuition of Mystics), which had strong female leads as well as members who were both male and female. Fahima was due to kick off her biggest tour around the country in 2021. Then the Taliban took over and she had to escape to France. Fahima holds a bachelor’s in business and after moving to France she has participated in artistic residencies and performances across Europe. Her work uses dance to bridge cultures, foster healing, and convey unity.
Anna Rüya,Ayyildiz is a captivating whirling dancer, who was born in London to an Irish mother and an Anatolian Alevi father. Her diverse cultural background seamlessly weaves into the rich tapestry of her artistry. With a lifelong inquiry into dance, she found herself drawn to the mesmerising and spiritual practice of spinning. She delved into the intricacies of whirling through the exploration of her ancestry roots.
Her lifework is not just showcases of skill and technique but profound explorations of the whirling dance's spiritual essence. Prepare to be transported into a realm where dance becomes a language that speaks to the spirit, a meditation that resonates with the soul, and a healing force that transcends the boundaries of time and culture.
Cliff Cooper & Sara Shevlin
Cliff is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record of successfully steering new companies towards growth through innovation. His advocacy for sustainable equal access to education and qualifications has helped shape the music education industry. He also serves as a Director of the iconic brand Orange amps, of which was founded by his father.
Sara is a Creative pioneer who’s work in TV, radio, music and copyrighting has helped shape the connection our companies have with its teachers and students. She is also the voice of SARA for Online Music Exams, a company they both founded. Together Sara and Cliff through another one of their companies 'The Learning Machine' are helping 100's of women and girls in Afghanistan. He also serves as a Director of the iconic brand Orange amps, of which was founded by his father.
The event is in partnership with the charity Beyond Skin www.beyondskin.net
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Ulster Bank Entrepreneur Accelerator, 11-15 Donegal Square East, Belfast, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00












