Women in Biotech Cambridge 2026: Why This Event Matters Now More Than Ever

In March 2026, I’ll be attending the BIA Women in Biotech Cambridge event, and it is one I’m genuinely looking forward to.

HRS has been a long-standing member of the BioIndustry Association, and I’m proud to be an active part of the Women in Biotech community. Over the years, I’ve seen first hand how important this network has been in shaping conversations, building connections and, crucially, driving tangible change across our sector.

This year’s agenda feels particularly timely.

The programme covers equity and inclusion, leadership, women’s health innovation and the role of data in shaping the future of our industry. These are not abstract themes. They are central to how biotech and life sciences organisations will evolve over the next decade.

Holding the Line: The Impact of US Policy on Equity & Inclusion

One of the sessions I’m especially keen to attend focuses on the impact of US policy on equity and inclusion.

For UK and European biotech businesses operating globally, policy developments in the US rarely stay contained within its borders. Regulatory shifts, funding priorities and legal interpretations around DEI inevitably influence boardroom discussions and hiring strategies across international markets.

From a talent perspective, this is critical.

In my role, I speak to founders, executives and investors every week. Many are navigating the balance between commercial performance and inclusive growth. Conversations around representation, executive hiring and succession planning are becoming more nuanced, not less. I’m looking forward to hearing legal, investment and industry perspectives on how organisations can continue to move forward with confidence and clarity.

Driving Change Through Leadership

Leadership remains one of the most powerful drivers of cultural change.

The panel on driving change through leadership brings together individuals who have led global biopharma organisations, investment funds and high growth biotech companies. What interests me most is how leaders translate values into action.

Inclusive hiring does not start with HR. It starts with leadership intent.

At HRS, we support organisations across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, CROs, CMOs, medical devices and health tech. We see how leadership tone shapes hiring mandates, diversity of shortlists and long term succession strategy. When leaders are deliberate about representation, it changes outcomes.

I expect this session to offer practical insight rather than theory, and that is what our industry needs.

Building Foundational Models for Women’s Health

Another highlight is the session focused on building foundational models for women’s health.

Women’s health has historically been under researched and under prioritised, despite representing one of the largest opportunities for impact in global healthcare. The combination of genomics, advanced data, venture backed innovation and corporate strategy now creates a real opportunity to address this imbalance.

Seeing leaders from research institutions, biotech startups and established pharma organisations come together on this topic signals progress. The challenge now is scaling innovation into accessible solutions.

Why This Matters Beyond the Event

For me, this event is about more than attending panels.

It is about remaining connected to the conversations shaping the future of our sector. It is about understanding how policy, leadership and innovation intersect. And it is about ensuring that, as a recruitment partner to life sciences businesses, we continue to support organisations that are serious about building diverse and high performing teams.

The BIA Women in Biotech community creates space for honest discussion, but it also creates opportunity. Many of the most meaningful collaborations and career conversations happen outside the formal sessions.

If you are attending Women in Biotech Cambridge 2026, I would welcome the chance to connect on the day.

You can find more information about the event here:

https://www.bioindustry.org/events/our-events/women-in-biotech-cambridge.html