Innovation After Hours is a chance to network with people who are interested in innovation and entrepreneurship and to be inspired by those who are working on interesting ventures. It’s a casual virtual meet up open to QUB students, staff and the general public. Grab a refreshment of your choice in the comfort of your own home and join us online as we welcome an inspiring new guest speaker on the first Thursday of every month.

December's speaker is Yasmin Geddis, founder of Zachary Geddis Break the Silence Trust, a non-profit organisation dedicated to raising mental health awareness and decreasing the stigma surrounding suicide. Previously a Master of Law, Yasmin lost her younger brother and only sibling Zachary when he took his own life in his University Accommodation in London in 2017.

Since launching ZGBTST in October 2017, 6 months after Zachary’s passing, Yasmin has saved the lives of many people across the UK, expanded ZGBTST in 3 separate areas, hired employees and been described in major publications as the ‘Woman changing the face of Mental Illness’ .

Also working as a motivational speaker and campaigner, Yasmin was named as the Most Inspirational Woman in Northern Ireland (2019) and the Most Inspirational Woman in the UK (2019) on the Lorraine Kelly Show along with being a finalist in the Most Inspirational Businesswoman at the 2019 Local Woman NI Awards. In 2018, she was named as the ‘Person of the Year’ in her Borough and is the youngest person and only female to have been given the award.

Recently Yasmin was awarded the ‘Point of Light’ Award by PM Boris Johnston for her commitment to Mental Health during the coronavirus outbreak, Volunteer of the Year 2020 at the Key Worker of the Year awards, and became one of the finalists for the UK Diversity Awards for her campaigning for LGBTQ+ Rights.

Yasmin is also a 4th Dan Shotokan Karate Instructor who competes for NI across the world and took over her family-owned Karate Club business when her brother passed, which covers 23 clubs within NI.

ZGBTST Shop: http://zacharygeddisbreakthesilencetrust.org/store/

Donation page: http://zacharygeddisbreakthesilencetrust.org/donate-2/

Facebook: @zgbtst17

Instagram: @yasmingeddis

Blog: www.theoriginalsuperstar.org

Helpline: 07934187147