Moving from the data to the lived experience at WEHI, Professor Joanna Groom facilitated a conversation with a diverse panel including Dr Meg Taylor, Dr Rachel Joyce, Dr Farzaneh Shojaee and Professor Stephen Nutt. Key themes discussed include:

• Celebrating WEHI achieving 41% women in scientific leadership roles, supported by the recent appointment of three new laboratory heads and the inaugural Sir Gustav Nossal Professor of Immunology.
• Continuing this momentum by reviewing workloads, ensuring equal access to promotable work, recognising pastoral care as a core leadership responsibility and distributing this more evenly across the workforce.
• Acknowledging the positive impact of the practical support that WEHI provides, such as childcare grants that help retain women scientists and enable them to continue doing great science.
• Highlighting the impact of the leaders at WEHI who actively support and champion their teams, creating a culture where all can thrive.

Farzaneh Shojaee also shared her perspective on gender equality shaped by her experiences growing up in Iran. She spoke about gender equality as a matter of freedom and choice, highlighting how access to education and supportive leaders can be both empowering and transformative.

The seminar reinforced WEHI’s strategic commitment to strengthening diversity in leadership and across the institute. It also highlighted the importance of data-driven action, cultural change and shared responsibility in creating sustainable pathways for women in healthcare and STEMM leadership.

While the discussions celebrated the progress already made, they also underscored that achieving true equality will require sustained, long‑term commitment. WEHI remains dedicated to pursuing this work, ensuring that women at every career stage have the opportunity, support and environment they need to succeed.

Find out more about the initiatives in place to support women in science .at WEHI.

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Header image L-R: Dr Rachel Joyce, Dr Meg Taylor, Farzaneh Shojaee, Professor Stephen Nutt, Jacqui Olney, Professor Ken Smith, Associate Professor Joanna Groom.