Research scientist wins High Achiever Award for working 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.

Professor Rick Titball, Head of Biosciences at the University of Exeter said: “We are immensely proud that Olivia has won the High Achiever Venus Award Devon. This award reflects not only her ability as a scientist, but also highlights the major contribution of women 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 Venus Awards originated in 2010 with an aim to identify and distinguish successful women in a range of categories.