AusBiotech is taking steps to advance gender equity in the life sciences sector by launching the inaugural Women in Life Sciences (WILS) Leadership Summit.
For the first time, the annual Women in Life Sciences Luncheon, held in partnership between AusBiotech and Medicines Australia, will be preceded by a dedicated WILS Leadership Summit.
The summit supports women transitioning from middle to senior leadership roles. It is a strategic initiative to drive meaningful change by fostering leadership pathways, amplifying diverse perspectives, and dismantling barriers to senior leadership within the industry.
With nearly 3,000 organisations within Australia's life science ecosystem, the industry employs one in every 60 jobs nationwide. There are close to 350,000 biotechnology jobs spread across Australia.
Although women represent almost half of the life sciences workforce, as of 2024, they held only 25 per cent of board positions, 18 per cent of CEO and founder roles, and 29 per cent of executive positions within the industry.
The summit's program is designed to deliver practical insights and hands-on skill development.
Debbie Drane, senior vice president at CSL, will deliver a keynote address reflecting on her four-decade career and the leadership lessons she learned along the way.
A panel on career progression will feature Catherine O’Mahony, the founder and managing director of On Q Recruitment, Lesley Lightfoot, the managing director of Brooker Consulting and Catherine Harris, the founder and managing director of Project Roar.
A fireside chat with Lynda Brown-Ganzert, the founder and CEO of RxPx, will focus on mentorship and collaboration. The conversation will explore the power of professional networks to foster growth and unlock new opportunities.
AusBiotech said the summit marks a critical milestone in moving gender equity from aspiration to reality.
It said the annual Women in Life Sciences Luncheon hosted in partnership with Medicines Australia remains a critical strategic platform for thought leadership, advocacy, and networking. This year's conversation supports forward-thinking discussions to dismantle barriers, foster leadership pathways, and ensure that diverse perspectives shape the industry's future.
The panelists for this year's Luncheon include Dr Saraid Billiards, the CEO of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes, Chris Newton, the founder of Stakeholder Capital, Naomi Edwards, the chair of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Dr Rebecca McQualter, the CEO of Chimeric Therapeutics, Dr Terence Fitszimmons, the managing director of the Australian Gender Equality Council, and Christine Cockburn, the CEO of Rare Cancers Australia.