People & Events

Entrepreneurship Hub

The Entrepreneurship Hub is led by a team of academics and practitioners who are passionate about empowering students, supporting communities, and building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem at Queen Mary. Their leadership spans award-winning programmes, pioneering initiatives, and international recognition in entrepreneurship education.

Professor Joanne J. Zhang
Founding Director of the Entrepreneurship Hub

Joanne J. Zhang is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy and the founding director of the Entrepreneurship Hub. Since 2019 she has built the Hub from the ground up and cocreated purpose driven programmes. These include the Queen Mary Social Venture Fund, the UK’s first student led social venture fund investing in student led social ventures, and the QMUL-ReMAKE programme supporting prison leavers. Her leadership helped secure Small Business Charter Accreditation and deepen engagement with SMEs and local communities. Recognised as the Triple E “Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year” (2022), she also received Queen Mary’s Education Excellence Awards in 2021 and 2024; the latter was shortlisted for the global OS Reimagine Education Awards 2024. A frequent speaker at OECD, EFMD, NESTA and the UK Technology Strategy Board, she also cofounded an EdTech startup that was a 5050tech Challenge finalist.

Dr Gloria Appiah
Deputy Director of the Entrepreneurship Hub

Gloria Appiah is a Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation who supports the Hub’s programmes that foster student entrepreneurship. Her practice and research focus on helping new and small businesses to survive and grow, particularly ventures that create positive outcomes for owners and stakeholders. Beyond Queen Mary, she cofounded Ezer Mamapreneurs, a social enterprise empowering Ghanaian women from disadvantaged economic backgrounds to start and grow businesses. In addition to strategic oversight, she provides hands-on business coaching to build entrepreneurial mindsets and strengthen day-to-day management. 

Rui Barros Silva
Entrepreneurship Hub Manager

Rui Barros Silva is the Entrepreneurship Hub Manager at Queen Mary University of London, with nearly a decade of experience in enterprise and entrepreneurship education. He champions entrepreneurship by supporting early-stage entrepreneurs and ventures through high-impact programmes, practical business advice and support, and the development of strong, connected startup ecosystems. Throughout his career, Rui played a key role in designing and delivering initiatives, partnerships and collaborations that foster entrepreneurial thinking, build practical capabilities and create meaningful opportunities for founders. Rui also contributes to strategic vision and direction, operational improvement and decision-making within the education provision.

Dr Anna Glarin, FRSA
Entrepreneurship Hub Officer 

Anna Glarin leads interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial projects across the Hub. Previously, she co-led participatory arts company Project Phakama (based in Queen Mary’s Arts Research Centre) until its closure in 2023, and before that managed arts programmes for Coin Street Community Builders on London’s South Bank. With an entrepreneurial spirit, she helped establish the North London Swedish School (2010) and founded Waterloo Community Theatre CIC (2015). She also cofounded Curious Collective, an all-female-led organisation generating new insights for community health. Anna holds a BA (Hons) in Communication (Middlesex), an MA in Applied Theatre (RCSSD), a PGCE and a PG Cert. Anna holds a PhD from York St John; she has published peer reviewed work, serves on the ArtsPraxis editorial board, and is a Fellow of the RSA. 

Jodie Bispham
Entrepreneurship Hub Coordinator

Jodie Bispham coordinates the delivery of Hub activities, including the Social Venture Fund programme. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, social impact, sustainability and international development, bringing a strong strategic and systems thinking lens to entrepreneurship education. Jodie holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (University of Exeter) and a Master’s in Development Studies (LSE). Working closely with academic and professional services colleagues, she supports purpose driven entrepreneurship and creates meaningful opportunities for students and local communities. 

Advisory Board

The Entrepreneurship Hub is supported by an Advisory Board comprising leading social innovators, serial entrepreneurs and QMUL alumni. Further details will be available soon.

Mentors and Industry Partners – Expressions of Interest

The Entrepreneurship Hub is open to expressions of interest from experienced mentors, business leaders, industry professionals, and corporate partners who are passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and growing ventures.

We are keen to connect with individuals and organisations who can contribute expertise, insight, and real-world experience to support startups, SMEs, and social enterprises at different stages of their journey.

If you are interested in getting involved, please get in touch with us and share:

• A brief overview of yourself or your organisation
• Your professional background or areas of expertise
• A short summary or link to your CV, biography, or company profile

We welcome interest from across sectors and industries and look forward to building a strong, collaborative network of partners committed to entrepreneurship and innovation.