An award winning St Albans entrepreneur will soon have her chance to pitch solutions for global problems to US President Barack Obama.

Zoe Jackson, founder and director of the Living the Dream Performing Arts Company, is taking part in the Global Startup Youth and Global Entrepreneurship Summit this week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 24 year old is one of 250 young people worldwide, selected from thousands of applicants, to gather in one place to exchange views on global challenges and turn their ideas into successful projects.

The former Beaumont School pupil was awarded a fully paid scholarship, offered by the Malaysian Government, to take part in the event.

And Zoe is particularly pleased she will have the chance to meet President Obama, who will be delivering the keynote address.

Those attending the summit will work together to come up with solutions for world problems in health, education and the environment to then pitch to the US President.

Zoe said: “I am incredibly honoured and proud to be part of Global Startup Youth (GSY) and I hope it will give me an opportunity to contribute to making a difference to the future for young people worldwide.

“I am also very excited to meet President Obama and young people from around the world to learn more about their experiences. I just hope I can represent my country and St Albans in the best way possible.”

Zoe has been named by the Sunday Times as the “poster girl for female entrepreneurship in Britain”.

She has also been listed as one of Cosmopolitan magazine’s “40 fierce women under 40” and was the youngest finalist in the NatWest Everywoman awards.

Zoe started her company in 2006 at the age of 16 while still a student at Beaumont to help subsidise her own performing arts training and education.

Those attending the GSY include innovative designers and global field experts who are joining the summit as mentors.