Our Story
It all started with our flagship event, The inaugural GCC Menopause Summit 2024, a groundbreaking event that made menopause a hot topic across the region. Packed with expert speakers, inspiring stories, and real talk, the summit was where the conversation began, and it’s only getting louder.
The GCC Menopause Hub is the GCC’s first-ever dedicated space to talk about all things menopause. It is a space designed to support, educate, and guide women navigating menopause. We believe in breaking down barriers, enabling open conversations, and providing access to reliable information and expert insights.
Our goal is to create a welcoming community where women feel heard, understood, and equipped with the knowledge they need to embrace this stage of life with confidence.
We’re here to spark conversations, answer your questions, and remind you that this is your time to thrive. Whether you're navigating symptoms or simply curious about what’s ahead, the GCC Menopause Hub has your back with real talk, expert advice, and a supportive community.
Think of us as your menopause BFFs, with a whole lot of science, a network of experts, and a passion for shaking up the status quo. We’re a community-powered movement bringing women, healthcare professionals, and organizations together to turn midlife into your best life.
It’s time to break the silence and embrace this phase of life with confidence, curiosity, and maybe even a bit of humor.
Meet our Team
After hitting my 40s and wondering why my energy had vanished, my sleep had packed its bags, and my jeans suddenly had a vendetta against me, I did what any wellness professional would do, I dove headfirst into research. What I found was shocking: so many women were silently struggling through menopause with little guidance and even less support.
So, I decided to change that.
I founded the GCC Menopause Summit, which we now know as the GCC Menopause Hub, to be the resource I wish I’d had. Providing evidence-based and unapologetically real information and fostering connections. It’s now a space where women can get informed, feel seen, and realize that midlife isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning.
Sharon James - Co-founder
Maureen Bannerman - Co-founder
My life was, by all accounts, thriving. A fulfilling career, two wonderful boys, and a strong, supportive marriage – I felt I'd reached a place of stability and contentment. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, everything changed. A persistent fog of anxiety, self-doubt, sleeplessness, aching, and a general sense of worthlessness took control. I felt lost and completely unprepared for the physical and emotional shifts that were happening. At times, I genuinely feared I was experiencing the early stages of dementia. It was an isolating and frightening period.
Thankfully, I found invaluable support through a dedicated doctor here in Dubai, coupled with extensive personal research. Through many honest conversations, it became clear that so many of us were suffering similar challenges, often in silence and without support.
That's why I founded the GCC Menopause Hub. I wanted to create an accessible support network, a 'go-to' resource where women could find reliable, up-to-date information, expert advice, and a supportive community. This is a deeply personal mission to ensure that no woman has to feel as lost and unprepared as I did.
Alexandra Topalian - Steering Committee
Alexandra Topalian is an international master of ceremonies and panel moderator based in Dubai, UAE, covering events across EMEA. We welcome her as a steering committee member and look forward to her moderating panels at The GCC Menopause Summit 2025.
Alexandra has also recently begun her journey into perimenopause, making this event a very special one that is close to her heart. Committed to lifelong learning, Alexandra has the objective of spreading more awareness when it comes to what to expect during this phase of womanhood.
Penny Storey- Steering Committee
Penny was a member of the inaugural GCC Menopause Summit committee, overseeing the website and social media to help grow the conversation around menopause in the region. Having lived in Dubai for seven years, it’s where her own menopause journey began, and she is passionate about helping other women to have access to clear information, meaningful connection, and real support during this life stage.
Sarah Christensen - Steering Committee
Sarah joined the Menopause Steering Committee as a passionate advocate for women in the workplace. Through her consultancy work, she partners with organisations to build inclusive cultures where individuals feel seen, heard, and able to contribute, regardless of their background, personal context, or stage of life. Sarah believes that menopause should no longer be a silent struggle, and she is committed to helping workplaces foster understanding, compassion, and practical support for women navigating this pivotal phase.
Tina Corrin - Steering Committee
Tina is a seasoned legal professional with over a decade of experience, currently based in Dubai where she has lived for 20 years and is raising her two children. She has retrained as a Pilates teacher and has been enjoying helping women to heal and feel good about themselves. Her personal experience with menopause inspired a mission to support and uplift other women going through similar transitions. As part of the GCC Menopause Summit committee , Tina brings a powerful blend of professional insight and personal empathy, helping drive meaningful conversations and community engagement across the region.
VISION
A future where menopause is embraced as a natural life stage, where women thrive, and where the GCC is recognized as a leader in supporting women's health and well-being.
PURPOSE
Transforming women's lives by providing crucial knowledge and unwavering support to navigate all stages of menopause with confidence.
MISSION
To champion the health and well-being of women by providing trusted information and guidance, building a supportive community, and advocating for a society that embraces and supports women at every stage of their lives.
Our Values
Empower
Providing women with knowledge and support for confident navigation of menopause.
Trust
Operating with integrity to deliver reliable information and build a secure community.
Connect
Creativing a supportive community where women feel heard and understood.
Champion
Championing women's health and advocating for greater societal support.
