Leading Arab Biotech Innovator Visits Wyoming, to Speak Wednesday

The CEO and founder of a leading biotechnology company in the Arab region is visiting Wyoming this week at the invitation of University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel.

Dr. Penelope Shihab is scheduled to give a virtual public presentation, “Women Entrepreneurship and Innovation,” Wednesday, April 14, at 5 p.m. The link to the Zoom webinar, which will allow for a question-and-answer session, is https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/91549657826.

Shihab has previously collaborated professionally with Seidel and is looking to explore opportunities for leveraging her international experience to support development of biotechnology innovation in Wyoming, and to discuss Wyoming’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Shihab’s company, Jordan Company for Antibody Production (MonoJo Biotech), was established in 2005 in Amman, Jordan. It has been selected by the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with the Bahrain Economic Development Board, as one of the 100 Arab startups shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution -- and, from that group, one of 10 startups helping change to the Arab world.

She was ranked 16th among the “World’s Most Influential Arabs” by Arabian Business and was selected by Forbes Middle East as one of the top 30 women behind Middle Eastern beauty brands.

In addition to visiting leaders and researchers at UW, Shihab this week is speaking with state government and business leaders in Cheyenne, Casper and Jackson.