The life sciences sector will come together in March 2026 for a major show of support for women’s leadership, as AusBiotech and Medicines Australia expand their partnership to deliver both the long-running Women in Life Sciences Luncheon and, for the first time, a dedicated Leadership Summit.
Held in Sydney on 6 March to coincide with International Women’s Day, the events will bring together leaders from biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, digital health, research and government.
This year’s program aligns with the global theme #GivetoGain, highlighting that mentorship, advocacy, and knowledge sharing are essential drivers of progress for women and ultimately strengthen the entire sector.
The Women in Life Sciences Luncheon is expected to attract more than 600 attendees, providing a forum for reflection, connection and candid discussion about the shared challenges women face across the industry. The keynote address will be delivered by internationally recognised life sciences leader Dr Annalisa Jenkins, whose career spans healthcare innovation, investment and global advisory roles, as well as current work helping shape Australia’s biotech ecosystem.
As part of a significant expansion of the partnership, the new Women in Life Sciences Leadership Summit will focus on equipping mid-career and emerging leaders with practical tools to advance to senior roles. Sessions will explore themes such as resilient leadership in uncertain environments, decision-making with incomplete information, maintaining authenticity while navigating change, and building trust and ethical leadership in an AI-enabled world.
The Leadership Summit will feature a strong line-up of senior voices from across industry and regulation, including Nirelle Tolstoshev, General Manager of Astellas Pharma Australia; Meredith Crowe, Senior Vice President, Global People and Culture at Telix Pharmaceuticals; Robyn Langham AM, Chief Medical Officer at the Therapeutic Goods Administration; Sue MacLeman, Chair of Medicines Australia; and, Geraldine Murphy, Site General Manager at AstraZeneca. Together, they bring perspectives spanning corporate leadership, workforce strategy, regulation and global pharmaceutical operations, reinforcing the summit’s focus on practical leadership development and cross-sector collaboration.
AusBiotech CEO Rebekah Cassidy said the events demonstrate the organisation’s ongoing commitment to shaping the sector’s leadership future, noting that collaboration and visibility are critical to accelerating progress. Medicines Australia CEO Liz de Somer echoed this view, emphasising that sustained effort is required to remove persistent structural barriers and unlock the full contribution of women across research, industry and healthcare.
“The Women in Life Sciences Luncheon and Leadership Summit are part of AusBiotech’s ongoing commitment to actively shaping the future of leadership in our sector," said Cassidy.
“The life sciences sector is built on collaboration, and the #GivetoGain theme reflects a simple but powerful truth: when we give time, visibility, mentorship, and opportunity to women, we strengthen our organisations and our entire ecosystem.
“There is enormous shared opportunity in women, from all parts of our sector, working together to advance health innovation. I’m delighted that AusBiotech is again partnering with Medicines Australia to deliver this year’s luncheon and now partnering on the Leadership Summit. These events create space for honest conversation, collective learning, and connection across our sector.
“By bringing leaders together at different stages of their careers and from different parts of our sector, we can turn individual experience into collective momentum and help build a more inclusive, future-ready life sciences sector," added Cassidy.
“Our continued collaboration with AusBiotech — including our longstanding support of the Women in Life Sciences Luncheon — reflects a shared commitment to strengthening leadership pathways for women across the life sciences sector. This year, we are particularly proud to expand our partnership to include the Leadership Summit — an important step in reinforcing our shared commitment to practical leadership development and tangible progress for women across the sector," said de Somer.
“Australia’s life sciences community benefits enormously from the expertise, innovation and leadership women bring to research, industry and healthcare. However, meaningful progress requires sustained effort — through sponsorship, advocacy and collective accountability — to remove structural barriers that persist.
“By investing in women’s advancement, and by continuing to show up through initiatives such as the Luncheon and Leadership Summit, we strengthen our sector and deliver better outcomes for patients and the broader community," added de Somer.