Ambassadors
The women carrying the room forward.
She is a signal.
Her association with The Fifth Room tells women who we are before a single word of ours reaches them. She embodies, through how she has lived and worked, the values at the heart of this community. By standing with us, she says so to every woman we hope to reach.
Our ambassadors believe in this work. What they lend is their name, their credibility, and the quiet endorsement that comes from a woman of standing choosing to stand with this community.
She is here to reflect us back to the women we are trying to reach — and to say: this is a room worth walking into.
Aria
Singer/Songwriter
Aria is a London-based artist whose music has been championed on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music and Jazz FM. Her sound blends soul, jazz and contemporary songwriting, carrying the same warmth and presence she brings into every room.
As an ambassador of The Fifth Room, Aria helps shape the cultural side of the community, opening doors across music, the arts and the women moving between them.
Dr Cherrie Short CBE
Leadership Coach, Women in Politics & Public Service
Dr Short brings extraordinary leadership and global expertise. She previously served as a Senior Fellow at New York University (NYU), working across the NYU Silver School of Social Work and the Wagner School of Public Service. Dr Short has held senior academic leadership roles in both the UK and the US, including Associate Dean positions and visiting scholar appointments.
Before academia, Dr Short served for over a decade in public office under Tony Blair’s administration, was an elected politician in Wales, and held national leadership roles as UK Race Equality and Human Rights Commissioner and Race Equality Commissioner for Wales, where she oversaw race relations legislation and advanced access to justice and social equality.
She was awarded a CBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of her outstanding contributions to race relations and human rights.
A qualified forensic social worker and globally recognised advocate for social justice, Dr Short has influenced major social policy reforms and is a highly sought-after keynote speaker. She also serves on the International Social Services executive board in Geneva, supporting children and families affected by migration across 137 countries, and is an International Goodwill Ambassador for the organisation.
Through her Belong + Become approach, Cherrie also supports students and women entering politics with practical guidance on navigating institutions and stepping into leadership with confidence.
Michelle Li is a serial entrepreneur and cross-border business builder with nearly two decades of experience driving growth and investment between East and West across luxury, retail, and automotive. As CEO and Co-Founder of Sonagi (소나기), she is on a mission to bring Korea's beloved sheet mask culture to the UK, building what she envisions as the country's number one beauty sheet mask business.
A decade-long advocate for women in the workplace and champion of female-led ventures, Michelle brings both commercial rigour and genuine community commitment to everything she does. As an ambassador for The Fifth Room, she embodies exactly the kind of bold, boundary-crossing leadership we celebrate.
Krista Farrell
Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Leader & HealthTech Advisor
Krista Farrell is a consultant neurologist and healthcare leader whose work sits at the intersection of clinical excellence and innovation. She has led the development of new neurological services, championed the adoption of artificial intelligence in clinical practice, and advises health technology companies on bringing digital innovation safely and effectively into patient care. Alongside her clinical work, she contributes to national medical education and healthcare strategy.
Outside medicine, Krista has a lifelong passion for dance and foreign languages, bringing curiosity, creativity, and a global perspective to everything she does. As an ambassador of The Fifth Room, she embodies that same curiosity, proof that clinical mastery and a rich, expressive life outside it are never at odds.