Tonya Blowers has a background in gender theory and research, science communication, literary analysis and creative writing - and has taught all of the above at universities and colleges in the UK, USA and Italy.

Tonya has been Coordinator of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World since 2013 where she oversees and directs all OWSD programmes, including PhD and Early Career fellowships, an Awards programme as well as a burgeoning membership of over 8,600 women scientists based in developing countries.

Tonya has a PhD in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Warwick (UK) specialising in literary autobiographies and how the stories we tell about ourselves are determined by culture and context. After lecturing at Oxford Brookes University, Tonya spent ten years as an entrepreneur in London, developing creative writing curricula and residential courses. In Italy, this expanded to include science writing, presentation and communication skills. In 2012 Tonya was hired as Public Information Officer and writer at TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences). In 2013, she was selected to manage OWSD programmes which over the last 6 years have more than doubled in size and funding.