International Women’s Day 2023: the voices of experience
7 Mar 2023
To mark International Women’s Day 2023, three women who play leading roles in the life science sector, share their thoughts on boosting female representation in STEM occupations, their own experience and the work still to do…
Dr Cathy Tralau-Stewart, Chief Scientific Officer at life science company ValiRx:
“My family didn’t have a background in science, but when I was told I couldn’t take all three sciences at GCSE level because I was a girl (and needed to do domestic science), my father went straight into my school and fought for my right to do them,” Cathy explains. “From this point onwards, I made sure to fight for every cause I was interested in. My passion for the STEM subjects and of learning was also fostered by great teachers – my chemistry teacher, for example, sticks in my mind as a great source of inspiration to me.”
“In my view, it is still more challenging for girls and women to get into the STEM industries, and to climb the ladder to reach senior leadership roles, due to the unconscious bias that exists which makes key decision makers more likely to recruit in their own image - so people who look and sound like they do.
“But if businesses are to grow, the value of different voices, experiences, views, and opinions must be realised and leveraged, particularly at board level. We still need more women in senior roles, and more role models for the younger generation of women to be guided by. Giving young women visibility of relatable role models can only have a positive impact on increasing the number of women in STEM.”
“Mentoring students at all stages of their education is vital, and something I have always been passionate about. There are so many things people can do within the STEM fields and such a wide variety of career roles available - it’s not just about working in a lab.
“Something I always emphasise when speaking to students is that the ‘job for life’ idea has gone and that they don’t need to decide what their career journey is going to look like early on and stick with it. If a particular scientific area interests you, I think it’s important to pursue it if you can. Be determined, and don’t give up.”
Lucy Radley, Head of EU Regulatory Development, ProPharma Group:
“This International Women's Day, we must acknowledge the persistent inequalities that women face in healthcare. Women continue to encounter significant challenges in obtaining appropriate healthcare services due to unequal access to resources, cultural and societal barriers, and lack of progression, information and education. Women's health concerns are often overlooked or dismissed, resulting in disparities in health outcomes.
“When we factor in race, we find significant compounded barriers to accessing healthcare, which can result in severe health disparities. These barriers are rooted in systemic issues such as racism, poverty, and discrimination, which limit access to healthcare services, information, and education.
“Addressing these inequalities requires a multi-faceted approach that prioritizes equity and inclusion in healthcare, as well as policy and institutional changes, investment in research and education, and greater awareness of women's health issues. We must all work together to ensure that all women have access to equitable healthcare services and live healthy, fulfilling lives.”
Natalie Kenny, CEO, BioGrad (pictured):
“The last 12 months have been groundbreaking for BioGrad, not only in terms of new ventures and company growth, but also in no small part due to work that we have done to be an employer and a company of choice for females and female led businesses and organisations.
“Opening the second largest Biobank in the UK, we will give all parents the chance to preserve their stem cells within the North West and the provision of non-invasive, prenatal testing and pregnancy testing, something which can be a real catalyst for female well-being for decades to come.
“Employing a diverse workforce, wherever I look at BioGrad I see strong female role models, whether that be in our senior leadership team, our labs or in the classroom - we really are leading the way in innovation and inclusivity in the science and healthcare sector.
“I am now looking forward to officially opening a new hub for the local community and a space for city region-based, female-led science and tech SMEs later this year and will continue to do all I can to support women throughout the North West and beyond.”
