Their perspectives help strengthen decision-making, encourage enhanced collaboration and build solutions where ambition becomes achievable.
This year’s theme for International Day of Women and Girls in Science – ‘Synergising AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls’ resonates with the work women are leading and contributing to across Icon.
From leading AI initiatives in pharmacy that improve workflow, quality and overall patient care to investing in women’s health, advancing cancer care technologies, and research we recognise the importance of representation in healthcare progression.
We’re proud to have strong female leaders and representation with women making up 66% of our STEM positions across Australia and New Zealand – significantly higher than the industry average of 22%.
Women also represent over 90% of our research team, compared to the industry average of 33%.
We’re committed to championing representation to strengthen innovation and create better care for every patient.
This International Day of Women and Girls in Science our Group Manager for Site Research Operations, Rebecca Clarke shares her career story and the importance of female representation in research.
Read on for her full article.
By Rebecca Clarke, Group Manager Site Research Operations
Progress in research is rarely linear. It is often shaped by the questions we choose to ask, the ideas we decide to incorporate and, most importantly, the people we entrust to lead. This year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science is a crucial reminder that representation is not only the catalyst for equitable standards, but for scientific progress itself.
Here at Icon Group (Icon), I’m constantly compelled to reflect on the exceptional progress we have made both scientifically and as a collective organisation. This reflection also reminds me that women continue to be underrepresented in STEM.
More than 10 years ago, I unexpectedly fell into research and thought it would only be temporary. I soon discovered the critical nature of the work and its ability to redefine care for the future.
For me, the importance of this work is deeply personal. Cancer touched my own family when my stepsister was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma, and passed away in 2023 at just 37, leaving her husband and children behind.
That experience continues to anchor my purpose and shape why this work matters to me.
Her story amplified my commitment to scientific advancements and inspired me to contribute to a future where we might be able to influence health outcomes for someone else’s loved one.
My other source of inspiration stems from my peers and my team at Icon who continue to radiate a level of drive, resilience and a willingness to back each other that make a real difference in my life and most of all, our patients.
I’m also deeply inspired by my dad, who always encouraged me to get in front, keep my feet, and backed me every step of the way throughout my career.
My leadership is built on deliberate inclusion, focusing on being confident in your abilities and saying yes to opportunities, even if you may not feel ready.
As we mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I’m reminded that progress requires both celebration and accountability. Professional environments must continue to evolve, where women can lead without hesitation or restriction.
I encourage women to ask as many questions as possible and find others who will support you because representation shapes the integrity of our work and is a prerequisite for ethical and future-focused research.
There was a clear moment in my career when I began to understand the true gravity of representation in research.
I stood in the room where decisions were made, and as I looked around, I recognised there were voices missing from the conversation – women. That moment helped shape my leadership approach and my determination to ensure that all voices are being heard. I’m so fortunate at Icon to work with teams that have a high proportion of women who feel supported and empowered to contribute and lead.
93% of our global research team members are women which is so important because of the different perspectives in decisions that directly affect people’s lives.
New insights from different views genuinely matter, as they can lead to discoveries or breakthroughs that would have previously been unknown. Icon supports women in research with a genuine investment in their growth, encouraging their progression and creating a space for women to lead with confidence.
Unfortunately, there are still many industry barriers preventing the representation of women in STEM, with reduced visibility in leadership roles, key decision-making and work-life balance.
Diverse teams challenge assumptions and construct more comprehensive approaches. However, with women only representing approximately 10% of all STEM leaders worldwide, this is not only an equity issue, it’s also a barrier to progress.
My leadership is built on deliberate inclusion, focusing on being confident in your abilities and saying yes to opportunities, even if you may not feel ready.
As we mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I’m reminded that progress requires both celebration and accountability. Professional environments must continue to evolve, where women can lead without hesitation or restriction.
I encourage women to ask as many questions as possible and find others who will support you because representation shapes the integrity of our work and is a prerequisite for ethical and future-focused research.
As our research capabilities continue to grow at Icon, I believe it is inherently important to recognise the value of investing in women’s health.
Our PUMA trial, funded through Icon Cancer Foundation, aims to set a new global standard for early-stage breast cancer care.
Trials like this are important because they start with the patient, their needs and the outcomes that matter most to them. They are shaped by the clinicians caring for patients every day, with the goal of improving health outcomes for more people across the world.
Icon continues to invest in research across female-predominant cancers by backing clinician-led questions focused on reducing the global cancer burden for women.
The investment we make for women’s health today will determine the standard of care available to those in future generations.
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I encourage you to start conversations that empower girls to see themselves in science – strengthening representation and improving health outcomes for all.
Icon Group is Australia’s largest dedicated cancer care provider and has expanded globally into New Zealand, Asia and the United Kingdom.
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