Thang began his career in investment banking and private equity in the New York and London offices of Goldman Sachs. He then spent over a decade in various successful entrepreneurial ventures including in property development working on London landmarks including St Pancras Chambers & Chiltern Firehouse. Thang has been named a Sunday Times Maserati Top 100 entrepreneur and The Manufacturer’s Top 100 manufacturing leader. He has a BSc in Management from MIT, and is completing a MSc in Translation Health Sciences from the University of Oxford. Thang is now the CEO and co-founder of Calla Lily Clinical Care as an advocate and entrepreneur in the Women’s Health space.

Andy holds a First Class Combined Honours in Biochemistry and Chemistry and a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from Aston University along with over 34 years in R&D. His early work at ICI led to novel chlorine-resistant reverse osmosis membranes. At Johnson & Johnson, he patented a non-woven polymer fabric, contributing to the success of ob® ProComfort® tampons. From 1996, he developed advanced biomedical polymers at Biocompatibles UK Ltd, culminating in the award-winning Drug Eluting Bead (DEB) Technology, acquisition by BTG, and subsequent acquisition by Boston Scientific where Andy became a VP of R&D. Andy formerly was R&D Director at Owen Mumford, leading to the creation of a COVID-19 vaccine autoinjector. Andy has published 259 peer-reviewed articles, holds 57 patents, and is a Fellow of multiple prestigious scientific societies. As Principal Scientist at Calla Lily Clinical Care, he leads the research and development efforts of our novel drug-device combination products.

Ewa holds a BA in Fashion Design and Development from the London College of Fashion and has a robust background in garment technology along with decades of experience in product development, manufacturing, and quality at major retailers. Her career pivoted when she met Thang Vo-Ta, becoming the first team member to join Callaly (Calla Lily Clinical Care’s original parent). Incorporating human factors design and a materials passion, Ewa has dedicated years to developing and refining the company’s products, ensuring they are designed with women’s bodies in mind. In 2019, Ewa was honoured with The Manufacturer Top 100 Award, recognizing her as an exceptional individual in the manufacturing sector.

Serena holds a PhD in Biomechanical Engineering and has developed over 10 years’ experience across innovative biomedical engineering research. During her postdoctoral period in academia she has worked with engineers, designers and neonatologists to develop a medical device for newborns by selecting the materials, designing an algorithm and preparing documents for MHRA approval. She possesses diverse experience in relationship management, negotiating with suppliers, project management, supporting with securing funding and data analysis. She has also developed exposure to people and stakeholder management, leadership, firmly believing in having a growth mindset and striving for constant self-development. Serena is a driving force behind the R&D of Callavid® as a R&D Manager.

Akeel holds an MBA from Lancaster University as well as a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from Coventry University. He started his career at Philips as a Process Engineer responsible for manufacturing of Philips Avent baby bottles introducing new highly complex automation equipment into manufacturing. He later progressed into more senior roles responsible for developing business cases for further investment in advanced manufacturing at Philips. He transitioned into a product development role at Calla Lily Clinical Care by helping to develop, validate and scale up in manufacturing the new period care product. Akeel is also a winner of Best Mechanical Engineering Student award from IMechE and Manufacturing Top 100 by The Manufacturer. Since 2020 Akeel has held leadership roles at Calla Lily with focus on developing new products for the women’s health market while leading R&D, product development and manufacturing functions.

Yasmin holds a PhD in Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine from University College London (UCL), an MSc in Bioengineering and Medical Imaging from UCL, and a BSc (Eng) in Medical Engineering from Queen Mary, University of London. She has over 15 years of experience in the medical device industry, specialising in the development of minimally invasive medical devices and drug delivery devices for cardiovascular applications and reproductive health, along with expertise in the biosafety assessment of medical devices. Yasmin has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has served as a co-editor for scientific journals. She is also an honorary lecturer at UCL and an industry advisory board member at Queen Mary University of London. At Calla Lily Clinical Care, Yasmin drives innovation by overseeing the R&D team.

Kaylie holds a BSc in Product Design from Stanford University, where her passion for FemTech was ignited. Her senior capstone project involved creating a menstrual cup applicator, which is currently patent pending in the United States. Following her undergraduate studies, Kaylie pursued a Master of Science in Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews. Her dissertation focused on menstrual hygiene management and highlighted the critical importance of education and the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector. At Calla Lily Clinical Care, Kaylie is dedicated to advancing the progesterone drug delivery platform and sample collection methods for the non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis. Her work exemplifies her commitment to advancing women’s healthcare through innovative design and sustainable solutions.

Stuart holds an MA from the University of Oxford and is an experienced finance professional. He has a career background of over 17 years as an investor in public and private companies across many sectors and investment strategies, within both hedge funds and long-only funds as well as 8 years in private equity and principal strategies at Goldman Sachs where his career began. Having advised Calla Lily Clinical Care over the course of many years since the days of the early prototypes, Stuart joined the team in 2021 to focus on strategy and finance. Stuart is now Calla Lily’s Chief Financial Officer, concentrated on regulatory issues and intellectual property.

Elham holds a BSc in Cellular and Molecular Biology-Genetics and an MSc in Nano-biotechnology, and received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. During her PhD, she worked as an R&D Engineer Intern and an Academic Tutor at the Australian Biotechnologies Company, UNSW Sydney, and Macquarie University. Her diverse experience in both industry and academia has equipped her with different skills including mammalian and bacterial cell culture, biomaterials surface modifications, confocal/fluorescence microscopy, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) development. Elham has received several academic presentation awards, including First Place and the People’s Choice Award in the 2021 3-Minute presentation competition at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University. Now, serving as our Senior Biomedical Scientist, she is passionate about using her knowledge and skills to improve women’s health with a particular focus on our vaginal microbiome pathway.

Sabrina holds a first-class MSc in Human and Biological Robotics from Imperial College London, where she developed a biomimetic micro airflow sensor inspired by dragonfly mechanoreceptors, and a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University, focusing on wearable hydration monitoring for CKD patients. Her technical skills include medical device innovation, sensor technology, CAD, microelectronics, software development, and quality engineering. Professionally, she has designed complex circuitry at NBITS, led the development of advanced micro airflow sensors, and demonstrated the feasibility of a wearable hydration monitor at BOTLab. As a Quality Intern at Boston Scientific, she contributed to cutting-edge medical device development. Sabrina’s accolades include first place in the HCARD Competition for her work on assistive and rehabilitation devices. She has also published research in the Journal of Biomedical Optics on using deep learning to quantify water and lipid content. At Calla Lily Clinical Care, Sabrina applies her diverse skill sets as a Product Development Engineer, specialising in women’s healthcare innovation.

Arturo holds a PhD in Medical Engineering and a BEng in Materials Science and Engineering from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). He is a materials scientist with over 7 years of experience in biotechnology laboratory research, focusing on fluidic devices, tissue engineering, and intravaginal drug delivery. He received the RH Craven award for ‘Best Graduate in the UK in Polymer Materials’ from the UK Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining (IOM3). Arturo has authored multiple peer-reviewed journal articles on biomaterials science and served as editor of the Canadian Foundation for Student Science and Technology. He is also a council member and QMUL representative of the London Materials Society of the IOM3. Currently, Arturo furthers crucial research as a senior scientist at Calla Lily Clinical Care, applying his materials background with his dedication to advancing women’s healthcare solutions.

Shaun holds an MSc in Engineering Design Manufacture and Management from the University of Hertfordshire. He has been working in manufacturing and quality for over 30 years, with half of this time based in the Medical Device sector. He has held a variety of Senior Management roles for companies such as Siemens Healthineers and a UK based contract manufacturing company, where he was the Director of Quality & Continuous Improvement for their UK based operations. Since 2019, Shaun has been working in the women’s health space, where he brought his Medical Device experience to Callaly (Calla Lily Clinical Care’s original parent). His main focus was to develop their quality management system from the ground up, which achieved ISO9001 certification, and he also led the effort for the FDA 510k clearance of their Tampliner device. Shaun initially studied electrical and electrical engineering, which followed on to an MSc in Automotive Engineering. He is also a certified Lead Auditor for ISO13485 and FDA 21 CFR part 820, and a certified Lean 6 Sigma Master Black Belt. Shaun heads quality & operations at Calla Lily Clinical Care, continuing his commitment to women’s healthcare technology.

Sara Adam is an MBA candidate at London Business School with a background in strategy, finance, and operations. She holds a Master of Science in Business Engineering from Ghent University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, and has studied at Fribourg University and Shenzhen University as part of international exchange programs.  She has over four years of experience at McKinsey & Company, where she led strategic projects across industries, supporting organizations in navigating complex challenges and driving business growth. As an Alter Global Management Fellow, she worked with the founder’s team at Chiper, a high-growth startup, to enhance financial and operational transparency.  At Calla Lily, Sara joins as an MBA Intern, where she will support the team on key strategic initiatives, business operations, and fundraising efforts.

Precious is pursuing her MBA at London Business School as a Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholar, where she’s deepening her expertise in healthcare innovation and business strategy. She holds a BA in Biology from Dartmouth College, where she distinguished herself as a James O. Freedman Presidential Scholar and Global Health Fellow. At Maisha Meds in Kenya, she was instrumental in scaling a health tech non-profit from a $300k to $12 million annual budget, leading strategy and business development initiatives to make essential health services more accessible for women. Her experience includes a fellowship at the CDC’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine and an internship at Eli Lilly focusing on organizational transformation. At Calla Lily, Precious joins as MBA Strategy Intern, leveraging her background in biology, public health, and business strategy to revolutionize drug delivery systems for women’s health conditions.

Emma holds a PhD in Medicine from Keele University and MBChB / BMedSc from the University of Birmingham. She started on the North Staffordshire vocational GP training scheme and was awarded a NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship. During doctoral training Emma was awarded the RCGP Midland Faculty Associate in Training Award and the RCGP Great Expectations Bursary. Emmas has a passion for educating GP trainees and championing research in primary care, and as our NIHR Zinc Dunhill Innovation Fellow, she leads our Public Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) efforts, ensuring our collaboration with specialists, clinicians, charities, and patient groups guides us forward.

Ella Phillips is a third-year MEng Design Engineering student at Imperial College London, developing a strong foundation in computer-aided engineering, rapid prototyping, human-centred design, systems thinking, and sustainability.  One of Ella’s projects tackled the lack of representation in clinical trials, particularly the risks posed by standardised dosage recommendations that may not be appropriate for all demographics. In response, she designed a modular system that collects patient-specific biometric data, calculates an accurate dosage, and dispenses a personalised dosage with precision. This dynamic, customisable solution highlights the potential for scalable, personalised medication delivery, with a strong focus on safety and inclusivity in healthcare innovation.  Ella brings her skills and passion for women’s health in a placement with our Product Development team.

Maren Brenninkmeijer is an MBA candidate at London Business School with a background in project management, healthtech, and business strategy. She holds a BSc in Architecture from TU Delft and an MSc in Innovation and Management from Tufts University.  She has over four years of experience at Philips, where she held roles in product marketing, project management, and supply chain, developing strong expertise in managing complex projects and driving operational improvements. Her work spanned both healthcare and consumer businesses, giving her a broad perspective on innovation and operational efficiency in regulated industries. Most recently, at o9 Solutions, she focused on executive business development, expanding their network of experts to help organisations optimise supply chains and commercial operations.  At Calla Lily, Maren joins as an MBA Intern, where she will apply her project management expertise to help the team streamline operations and prepare for our clinical trials. 

Amy holds a first-class MSc in Microbiome in Health and Disease from King’s College London, where she was involved in researching the complex relationships between the bridging bacteria of Fusobacterium nucleatum (polybacterial communities) and oral squamous cancer cell death. Her personal and academic journey has led to a keen interest in the vaginal microbiome, which has landed her a Ph.D. candidacy at Queen Mary University of London, where she will collaborate with our team and QMUL to develop a Vaginal Organ-on-a-Chip to grasp successful delivery of vaginal live biotherapeutics for bacterial vaginosis, using our Callavid drug delivery technology.

Lia Mae holds a First Class Honours Master’s in Product Design Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast, where in her final year of university she reached the finals of both the Co-Founders programme run by the Northern Ireland tech hub Catalyst and the QUB Dragons’ Den 2024.   During the last five years she had completed a placement year at BLK BOX gaining important hands-on learning and mentorship. At Calla Lily Clinical Care, Lia Mae brings precision, creativity, and strong CAD expertise to the Product Development team, contributing to the advancement of our Callavid technology.

Megan holds a JD from Boston University School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude, as well as a BA from Georgetown University. She began her law career clerking for two federal judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She went on to work for Covington & Burling LLP where her practice included advising clients on FDA regulatory matters as well as healthcare investigations and litigation. Megan has a longstanding interest in women’s health extending as far back as her collegiate experience working for the White House Office of Women’s Initiatives and Outreach. Megan’s commitment to women’s health has only heightened now that she is the mother of three daughters. Currently, she is a key legal and strategic mind behind Calla Lily Clinical Care and has recently become the first team member on the ground in the US.