Exeter scientist reaches semi finals of two Venus Awards that celebrate working Devon women

Olivia was nominated for the Venus High Achiever award 2013 in recognition of her success in balancing a successful career as a scientist alongside the responsibilities of motherhood; Olivia has two children, Lola aged seven and James aged four; she is expecting another baby in November.

Olivia was also nominated for the Venus Award Devon Employer of the Year 2013, an award that is given to employers or managers in Devon who foster a female friendly working environment. Olivia manages a team of scientists, both male and female, and she encourages a good work life balance in the work place. She is keen to engage young people with science and dispel the typical male gender stereotypes of mad scientists.

The finalists for this award will be selected through a public vote on YouTube.

You can vote for Olivia Champion at the following link devon.venusawards.co.uk/vote#employer and view the video about her work at the University of Exeter on YouTube.

The public vote is open from 2 July for one week.

Professor Rick Titball, Head of Biosciences at the University of Exeter said: “We are immensely proud that Olivia has made it to the semi finals of the Natwest Venus Award Devon. Her nominations reflect not only her ability as a scientist and manager, but also the increasing understanding that we need to recognise the potential of women to make major contributions to the work of the University.”

Olivia attended three schools in Torquay; Cockington Primary school, Croft Lodge Convent school and Torquay Girls Grammar in Torquay before leaving to go to University in Cardiff. She then went on to work for the World Health Organisation Food Safety Unit in Geneva as an intern before starting work for the Health Protection Agency in London whilst studying part time for an MSc in Clinical Microbiology. Olivia completed a PhD at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine having won funding for her research.

After completing her PhD, Olivia moved with her husband, Alex, to Vancouver, Canada to take up a position as a post-doctoral research assistant at the University of British Columbia. Olivia moved back to Torquay with her husband and daughter in 2007 to take up a position as a research scientist at the University of Exeter where she currently works on bacteria that cause infections in humans with an aim to develop better methods for detection, prevention and cure.

The finalists will be announced on 10^th July and the award ceremony will take place in September.

The Venus Awards originated in 2010 with an aim to identify and distinguish successful women in a range of categories.