Empowering Women in Biotech: Sharing experiences, building connections

Bionow’s Empowering Women in Biotech returned for its second event of 2026, this time at Bruntwood SciTech’s Citylabs 1.0 in Manchester. The packed morning brought together discussion, personal stories and shared perspectives from across the life sciences community.

From a morning panel examining how the sector must not only learn from gathering evidence but also take transformative action to empower women in biotech, to hearing first-hand career experiences and perspectives on empowering women in STEM, the agenda combined practical discussion with plenty of inspiration. At its heart was an opportunity to connect, learn from one another and continue the conversation about supporting women to thrive across the sector.

Opening the day with the first keynote, Sarah Dayre, SVP EMEA Supply and Macclesfield Campus Lead at AstraZeneca, presented From Inspiration to Opportunity: Empowering Women in Biotechnology and Building the STEM Talent of the Future.

Exploring how greater access to STEM experiences can inspire the next generation and create a more diverse and inclusive talent pipeline, the talk highlighted the importance of reaching young people early, particularly those from underrepresented or under-resourced backgrounds. Through community partnerships, practical STEM experiences and interaction with people already working in the sector, the presentation reinforced a simple but powerful idea: being able to see and experience potential career paths can help young people imagine themselves following them.

Drawing on her own career journey, Sarah then shared five lessons that brought the theme of empowerment into a personal and professional context. She encouraged attendees to see STEM as a starting point for a wide range of possibilities, to step forward even when they do not feel completely ready, and to recognise that collaboration and bringing others on the journey can be as important as technical expertise. Building strong networks early and remaining curious and open to learning were also central messages, offering an encouraging reminder of the breadth of opportunities a STEM career can create.

Concluding the keynote presentations, Julia Buckler, Senior Director, Head of Molecular Assay Development and Manchester Site Head at QIAGEN, drew on her own leadership and career journey to explore what it really takes to create equitable opportunities in the workplace. Reflecting on her experience as a working parent, she noted that just because some are managing to navigate a difficult system well does not mean that the system itself is working or that the industry should not look at being more supportive. Instead, she highlighted the importance of giving parents and carers genuine choice, recognising how policies and workplace structures can shape career trajectories over time.

Julia also explored the realities of leading diverse teams, emphasising that diversity alone does not automatically lead to better outcomes. Unlocking its value requires trust, inclusion and psychological safety, creating an environment where people feel able to question ideas, disagree respectfully and contribute different perspectives. Her keynote encouraged leaders and team members to consider the practical actions they can take to empower individuals and build environments in which different people can thrive.

As part of the 5-Minute Career Stories So Far session, Niamh MacFarlane of Equans Sci-Tech and Steph King of Waters Corporation shared snapshots of their career journeys, reflecting on the experiences, challenges and changes that have shaped their paths. Their stories offered two different perspectives on career development, connecting with the day’s wider themes of resilience, self-belief and finding your own route to success.

Niamh MacFarlane shared her career path so far through specialist scientific environments, highlighting the different experiences and opportunities that have shaped her development. Steph King reflected on a path spanning undergraduate study, a PhD, engineering and sales, alongside motherhood and her experience of being the only woman in her team. Looking ahead, she spoke about continuing her own development and building SalesMums to support others as they navigate their careers.

The event continued with a participatory session called Leading for Change in Biotech by consultant Kathryn Simpson who encouraged attendees to reflect on how they can play an active role in shaping how change happens, rather than simply responding to it.

Drawing on her experience of working with leaders and organisations, Kathryn highlighted the importance of involving people, embracing different perspectives, setting clear goals and maintaining focus throughout implementation. A central takeaway was the “three Cs” of successful change: giving people greater control by involving them, consciously choosing the right approach for the situation, and being clear about the goals and vision. The session offered a practical reminder that successful change is not only about strategy, but also about creating ownership, building alignment and actively involving people in the process.

Broadening the conversation to opportunities across STEM, Saba Khan of NorthWest Women in STEM highlighted the need to engage, educate and empower more women and girls, addressing the barriers that can prevent talent and ambition from progressing. From accessible funding and greater flexibility to mentorship, sponsorship and early engagement, her message was clear: creating meaningful change requires actively opening doors and widening opportunities.

Commenting on the success of the day, Bionow’s CEO, Geoff Davison, said: “It was fantastic to bring the Empowering Women in Biotech community together in Manchester. These events are an important opportunity to listen to different experiences, learn from one another and continue the conversation around creating a more inclusive life sciences sector. That progress needs support from across our whole community, and we all have a role to play in challenging barriers, creating opportunities and helping talented people to thrive.”

This Empowering Women in Biotech event was sponsored by Bruntwood SciTech and Mix Manchester.