Addressing barriers for women in medical research

Organised by the Centenary Institute, in collaboration with King & Wood Mallesons, the panel was held on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a global day dedicated to promoting gender equality in STEM fields.

Hosted as a breakfast event, the panel explored key issues of gender equality and the empowerment of women in the scientific community. The event provided a platform to address systemic challenges, foster meaningful dialogue and identify pathways to tackle the challenges women face in medical research.

The panel was facilitated by former health TV journalist Sophie Scott OAM. Panellists were Dr Kim Sutherland (Executive Director, Office for Health and Medical Research), Professor Nancy Baxter (Interim Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney), Angela Weber (Partner, King & Wood Mallesons), Professor Marc Pellegrini (Executive Director, Centenary Institute), Clinical Professor Devanshi Seth (Chair, Inclusion and Gender Equity Program, Centenary Institute), Professor Jean Yang (Director, Sydney Precision Data Science Centre, University of Sydney) and Dr Melina Georgousakis (Franklin Women).

Discussions covered a range of personal and professional experiences from panellists, highlighting barriers that hinder women’s advancement in medical research. These included unconscious bias, exclusionary practices and limited access to opportunities, funding and leadership roles. Panellists also addressed gender-based harassment and discrimination in the workplace, along with the challenges of maintaining work-life balance and managing caregiving responsibilities, which disproportionately fall on women.

Emphasised by the panellists was the need for systemic change and the proactive implementation of policies to foster an inclusive and equitable workplace culture. This included strategies to aid equitable access to promotions, leadership roles and research funding; comprehensive staff training to ensure a safe and respectful environment; and provision of flexible workplace policies. Also highlighted was the critical role of mentorship, strong professional networks and visible female role models in driving progress for women in medical research.

Attendees were encouraged to drive change by advocating for inclusivity and applying these strategies in their workplaces. They were also invited to access the Centenary Institute’s Culture Improvement Plan, available online.