Founder

Visionary Serial Founder and Sustainability Leader

A pioneer in sustainable innovation, Dr. Sterry has dedicated her career to bringing groundbreaking concepts to life.

Dr. Melissa Sterry has founded, cofounded, and served as a director and board advisor to numerous pioneering projects, companies, and other initiatives throughout her career. Having worked with groundbreaking start-ups since her late teens, and founded her first business on graduation from her first degree, her experience of taking seminal ideas from initial concept to market is extensive. Focused on utilising recent and still emerging science, technology, engineering, design, theory, practice, and thinking, she is highly adept at migrating discoveries and developments in one field to another - knowledge transfer, and at working transdisciplinary. Her experience encompasses working with business-to-business, business-to-consumer, and hybrid markets, both national and global, and with teams both centralised and distributed, physical and virtual, and at multiple scales.

From paper to market

Sterry has founded and co-founded numerous first-in-kind initiatives, serving in executive board roles including head of business development, client relations director, marketing and media director, director of technology, and strategic advisor. She has been instrumental in launching several world-first projects, including the first online events network and the first online private members' club.

Among her notable roles is her position on the executive advisory board of Full Grown, a biodesign company that grows furniture from trees. Past ventures she has founded include the multi-award-winning sustainability think tank, collaborative laboratory, and consultancy Societás (2004-2010), the award-winning catalyst for rapid innovation in sustainable design New Frontiers (2008-2010), and the world’s first online visual arts awards, Creative Graduate Prize (2004-2010) and Iconique Societás Awards (2007-2010).

Companies, projects, and other initiatives of which she is currently founding director include biofuturism and bioinnovation consultancy Bioratorium® and its lab Labioratorium® [Est. 2019]; transdisciplinary research and publishing project Panarchic Codex® [Est. 2018]; and the world’s first biofuturism boutique consultancy and bio-innovation for the built environment laboratory Bionic City® [Est. 2010].

Leadership in Sustainable Philanthropy and Culture

Sterry’s commitment to sustainability and innovation extends to her work in philanthropy. She has held key roles in major charitable events, including serving as Head of Sponsorship and Aftershow Party Production to the first ever rock concert held at the Royal Opera House, held in aid of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund [2002]; Head of Sponsorship for Zandra Rhodes ‘My Favourite Dress Ball’ held at the Hurlingham Club [2005]; Head of Sponsorship, PR & Artist Liaison for The Big Issue’s 15th Anniversary Concert, London [2006]; Head of PR, Sponsorship, Brand Affiliations & Fashion Show Production for the ICAP/Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Annual Fundraising Dinner and Temperley London Show, New York [2007]; among others. Further to this, she spent several years developing a fair-trade music label concept with the late music producer, Steve Brown of Wham!, The Cult, and Manic Street Preachers fame [2004-2010]. Her leadership in ethical ventures is exemplified by her role on the executive advisory board of CharitableBookings.com, a pioneering philanthropy platform, which she has served since its launch in 2015.

Entrepreneurial Expertise and Executive Leadership

Sterry brings a wealth of expertise in managing first-to-market start-up and SME operations, from research and business development to intellectual property law, talent aquisition and development, administration and finance, to branding and strategic communications. Her advisory work focuses on strategic foresight, sustainable innovation, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) leadership, and trouble-shooting issues associated with creating and building new markets and sectors. Her proven ability to originate, develop, and scale groundbreaking ideas has earned her national and international recognition, including multiple awards for creativity, enterprise, and innovation.

Though today her professional fellowships, memberships, and other accreditations and credentials are focused on science, design, engineering, and technology, earlier in her career Sterry was a chartered member of both the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, and a member of the Institute of Directors. In addition to her commercial experience, Dr. Sterry has a Postgraduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, completed with commendation in 2009, at Kingston University London’s business school.

She is known for delivering informed, incisive, and honest advise; for setting high conceptual, production, sustainability, and ethical standards; working with world-class experts, organisations, and ideas; and for be discerning in her choice of clients, collaborators, and crew. Peer recognition of the value of her work and work ethics include several national and international innovation, creativity, and enterprise awards and honours [see below].

Strategic Advisor and Innovator

• Extensive expertise in ESG leadership, strategic foresight, and scaling disruptive ideas.

• Advisory work focused on sustainability, innovation, and market creation.

• Recognised for her incisive counsel, ethical standards, and high-impact results.

• Led ecosystems of collaborators to deliver groundbreaking goals.

• Built world-class teams to deliver on complex briefs locally and globally.

• International network of seminal figures in science, technology, design, and enterprise.

• Mentored C-Level executives and founders on multiple aspects of innovation.

• Director-level experience of multiple board roles and business functions.

• Highly experienced stakeholder engagement and media liaison.

Dr. Sterry continues to redefine the possibilities of sustainable innovation through biodesign and environmental solutions. Her leadership, ethics, and forward-thinking vision inspire both her peers and the industries she transforms. A woman that walks her talk, she has bootstrapped multiple ventures, and is seasoned in succeeding against the significant odds that are still stacked against women in enterprise and innovation.

Learn more about Dr. Sterry’s visionary work, awards, and credentials through her detailed biography and resume.

Awards

Recognitions and Accolades

Winner, Woman Icon of the Year Award (overseas) in the International Inspirational Women Awards, 2024

Listed in the Libertine 100 women with complex, beautiful & potentially world-changing ideas, 2015

Listed in the 40 over 40 Women to Watch, 2014

Winner, Best Innovation-led British Start-up/Initiative, for New Frontiers, Great Exhibition 2012 Awards, 2010

Winner, International Award for Benefit to Society, Mensa Education and Research Foundation, 2010

Special Recognition Award for Exceptional Creativity, British Female Inventor & Innovators Network, 2009

Special Recognition Award for Capacity Building in the Innovation Sector, BFIIN, 2009

Finalist, Global Organisation Award, Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network, 2009

Inductee, Global Women Inventors & Innovators Hall of Fame, GWIIN, 2009

Winner, Enterprising Business Award, WestFocus Awards, 2009

Finalist, Everywoman Network Awards, 2009

Listed in Future 100: Top 100 Next Generation Entrepreneurs, Global Entrepreneurship Week, 2008