Bola Olabisi

Bola Olabisi is the founder and CEO of the Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN). She launched the pioneering organisation in 1998 to champion women creators, inventors, and innovators around the world. What began as a UK-based initiative has grown into a global platform operating in over 30 countries, such as Nigeria, Canada, South Africa and Finland. The platform provides women with the tools, networks, and visibility they need to commercialise their ideas.

A lawyer by training and once a “failed inventor” by her own account, Olabisi turned personal frustration into a movement. She saw first-hand how difficult it was for women to navigate the innovation ecosystem, particularly when access to funding, mentorship, and recognition are often gatekept. GWIIN has since become one of the few international organisations dedicated solely to addressing that inequity. It has built strategic alliances with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the European Commission, and the International Federation of Inventors Associations (IFIA).

Under Bola Olabisi’s leadership, GWIIN has helped thousands of women secure patents, pitch to investors, and develop commercially viable products. Its flagship initiative, the British Female Inventor & Innovator of the Year Awards, is now in its second decade. It has become a launchpad for female-led inventions and solutions tackling critical global challenges—from climate change and food security to advances in design and digital technology.

Recognised by the Mayor of London in 2019 as one of the “100 Women That Make London Great,” Olabisi has received multiple honours from Buckingham Palace and international innovation forums for her impact. But her focus remains firmly on ensuring women’s ideas move beyond recognition to real-world adoption.

Bola Olabisi brings strategic insight and a global perspective to every stage she takes. She addresses structural barriers that hold women back in innovation with clarity, while offering pragmatic solutions for governments, investors, and businesses seeking to build more inclusive ecosystems. Her work demonstrates that innovation thrives when diverse perspectives are not only celebrated but actively supported.