Helen began her healthcare career in 2008 at the global company, TP Orthodontics. Four years later Helen was leading the UK and Spanish teams but wanted to make the jump into a more clinical setting. With a desire to deepen her learning of medical interventions, she was introduced to the world of spine and knew immediately this was a sector she wanted to be a part of. Helen and Joanna joined forces at Vexim to launch SpineJack into the UK, revelling in the challenge of working for a start-up with a transformative medical device.

Since 2015 Helen has co-founded both Ovidius Medical and Ovidius Solutions. Helen is particularly passionate about helping surgeons improve outcomes for their oncology patients using the most advanced technologies.

After 10 years in spine and orthopaedics working for larger companies, including Smith and Nephew and Stryker, Joanna was eager to move into the world of start-ups and represent technology that would challenge the status quo. She found this challenge at Vexim and along with Helen spent 3 years developing the SpineJack business in the UK and Ireland.

Loving the experience of building something from the ground up, they took a leap of faith and started their first venture, Ovidius Medical, in 2015. Joanna remains excited to discover partners who share her vision for improving patient outcomes and who have creative and engaging ways to educate their clinicians whilst also having fun and enjoying the journey of building a business together.

Joanna is a keen wildlife photographer, having recently fulfilled her life-long dream of photographing mountain gorillas in Uganda. She also enjoys running and yoga and walking in nature.

After studying languages at Lyon University, XiaLia moved to the UK from France in 2005. In the capital she began her professional career in hospitality, managing the back office operations of a London group of restaurants.

In 2021 XiaLia joined the Ovidius team as Operations Manager; tasked with ensuring the smooth running of the back office and warehouse, as well as implementing procedures to facilitate the growth of the business.

XiaLia lives in Essex with her husband and two young children and competed in her first Duatholon in September 2022.