Dr Sara Serradas O'Holleran was raised in Mozambique and has a research background in Life Sciences (Microbiology in Portugal and Institut Pasteur & Neuroscience PhD at Cambridge). This led to her commitment to University-generated innovation addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Global South – namely through past work at social enterprises increasing access to education (secondGO; founder and strategy lead) and responding to water inequality (WaterScope; educational content lead and business strategy), as well as current work with Cambridge Global Challenges (University of Cambridge's Interdisciplinary Research Centre advancing Southern-led research that addresses the SDGs).

Sara is interested in knowledge governance solutions that protect the source and the in-country impact of Southern innovation that is internationally disseminated and commercialized. Together with Professor Frank Tietze and renowned scholars and innovators in the African continent convened by OpenAIR (Open African Innovation Research), Sara is currently working on the protection of the societal impact of African climate knowledge and innovation.