Jackie is a pioneer of women angels and diversity in investment. An active and experienced angel investor herself; she established Scotland’s first all-female angel group, Investing Women Angels, whose members have invested over 90% of their funds in highly innovative female founded companies.

Jackie is an entrepreneur with a passion for helping other entrepreneurs. It was this passion which inspired her to establish AccelerateHER; creating a channel and direct help for female founders going for scale & investment. Publicly recognised by Scotland's former First Minister, she is a major player in shaping Scotland’s enterprise eco-system. AccelerateHER now operates UK wide, running female founder accelerators, awards, workshops, mentoring and many other forms of support. This is achieving tangible impact, boosting the volume of investments in Scotland's female-founded companies by 700% since 2015. She has also nurtured strong international partnerships leading to regular AccelerateHER missions to Silicon Valley and the USA, Germany and Dubai.

Jackie is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Non-Executive Director of CPI, a leading independent technology innovation organisation whose multiple centres include the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Glasgow.

She was formerly an Advisory Board Member of the Global Banking Alliance for Women in Washington DC.

Alison Jones supports AccelerateHER. Her background includes marketing, events design, governance and business management. A graduate of Political Science and Political Communication, she has a keen interest in policy, female empowerment, economic development and strategic communications.

She works with AccelerateHER providing operational and executive support, working and supporting high growth founders and collating angel investment.

Caroline Mitchell is part of the support team for AccelerateHER and Brightstar colleague of Elaine and Alison.

Caroline’s professional background lies within marketing, digital communications and project management, specifically with start-up businesses and within the mixed-use property sector. With a specific interest in entrepreneurship, Caroline is delighted to be working with the rest of the team to support, enable and amplify the terrific work of female founders.

Hollie supports AccelerateHER and our wider network with digital  communications, PR and public affairs.

Hollie has a professional background in politics, journalism and life sciences with a focus on digital strategy, and is an Associate at strategic communications agency Message Matters.

Emma supports AccelerateHER and our wider network with digital communications.

Emma joins as a graduate, holding a Master of Arts in International Business Management and a Master of Science in Strategy and Change Management. She is a Junior Associate at communications agency Message Matters.