Leveraging Migrant Entrepreneurship: Voices of Inclusive Engagement
- Date: Thursday 9 July 2026, 09:00 – 14:00
- Location: Cloth Hall Court, Quebec Street, Leeds
- Type: Ideas in Practice
- Cost: FREE
Join us to hear directly from migrant women entrepreneurs shaping the future of business support.
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Building on a 2024 programme supporting 25 founders in West Yorkshire, this new project by Leeds University Business School and Migration Yorkshire presents key messages and priorities co-developed with migrant women entrepreneurs, policy representatives and regional practitioners.
Regionally, our message aligns with the strategic priorities of West Yorkshire Combined Authority which aim to deliver inclusive and sustainable economic growth that benefits all parts of the region. Nationally, this directly feeds into the regional implementation of national priorities, particularly the Levelling Up agenda and Industrial Strategy, which seek to address spatial inequalities by boosting productivity, skills and high-quality employment across all parts of the UK.
The event aims to move beyond description toward action, generating concrete recommendations for policymakers, support organisations, and higher education institutions. All findings will be later communicated in a policy brief that will be shared with all participants.
Our event is aimed at:
- Migrant entrepreneurs
- Academics in migration and entrepreneurial fields
- Regional and national policymakers
Event Programme:
| 09:00 |
Arrival and Registration |
| 09:30 |
Welcome Professor Niall Hayes, Deputy Dean at Leeds University Business School |
| 09:40 |
Introduction and Porject Backrgound Dr Deema Refai, Project Lead and Associate Professor in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Leeds University Business School, and Ewa Lelontko, Project Lead and Economic Intergration Manager at Migration Yorkshire Endorsement videos by Alison Lowe OBE, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire, and Fatimah Khan-Shah, previously Inclusivity Champion for West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Community Impact and Systems Change Advocate, and Chair and Non-Executive Director at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. |
| 10:00 |
Keynote Professor Kiran Trehan, University Executive Board Member and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement at the University of York – Designing Inclusive Policy and Support Ecosystems for Migrant Women Entrepreneurs |
| 10:30 |
Panel Discussion – Migrant Women Entrepreneurs: Voices from Research Chairs: Dr Deema Refai, Leeds University Business School, and Ewa Lelontko, Migration Yorkshire Razan Alsous, Founder, Yorkshire Dama Cheese Eve Maloba, Founder, Complete Woman CIC Anna Mykhalchyshyna, Founder, EdUkraine CIC Dr Michelle Richey, Working Group Chair and Interim Coordinator, Refugee Entrepreneurship Network (REN) Stephanie McKay, Inclusive Economy Manager, West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) |
| 11:20 |
Refreshment Break |
| 11:40 |
Policy/Practitioner Perspectives Aqila Choudhry MBE, MBA, Member of the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce – Startup Dynamics, Structural Realities and Support Gaps for Under-Represented Entrepreneurs |
| 12:10 |
Practice-Based Insights Abeer AbuGhaith, Tech Entrepreneur and Director of Systemic Change at The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) - TERN's Strategic Plan: Reflections and Future Vision for Refugee and Migrant Entrepreneurs |
| 12:40 |
Closing Reflections and Next Steps Dr Deema Refai, Leeds University Business School, and Ewa Lelontko, Migration Yorkshire |
|
13:00 |
Networking Lunch |
|
14:00 |
Event Close |
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Grace Carter at Leeds University Business School.