#AccelerateAction for women worldwide

The theme for International Women's Day 2025, is #AccelerateAction for women worldwide. It emphasises the urgency of making faster, more effective strides toward gender equality. Significant barriers to women's equality remain, yet with the right action and support, positive progress can be made for women everywhere.

With this in mind, I've been reflecting on how grateful I am to have experienced such a phenomenally joyful life as a scientist! I know that the good luck of birthplace and time has meant that I've been free to pursue the wildest, most fun, and most equitable of careers.

From conservation projects with chimpanzees back in my buzz-cut days, to fisheries, biotech, med comms, and now education, I've never once been held back from accessing the parts of science that called to me at the time. I also know it's not the case for many women in STEM, even now, and I am committed to being part of the continued improvement on that front.

This year, and every year, #InternationalWomensDay for me is about actively ensuring the women and girls I have the honour of working with, meeting, raising, etc are given equal opportunities in life and feel empowered to seize them as they come along.

” For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”