Give to Gain: Recognising International Women’s Day

When we give, we all gain. 

That simple idea sits at the heart of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 and reflects how progress for women creates better outcomes for everyone across workplaces, healthcare and communities. 

As part of our International Women’s Day commitment, Icon Group is pledging to increase active participation in programs that support gender equity across the organisation by March 2027, including our Gender Employee‑Led Inclusion Group (ELIG) and other growing initiatives and programs. We believe that when more voices contribute to shaping equity, stronger and more sustainable outcomes follow. 

Give to Gain in action at Icon Group 

Across Icon, Give to Gain comes to life in many ways, including: 

• Giving visibility through our Gender Employee‑Led Inclusion Group (ELIG), which helps ensure gender equality is reflected in our culture, decision‑making and care experiences 

• Giving access to leadership and professional development opportunities through initiatives such as the Future Leaders Forum, the Middleton Scholarship, and our membership with the International Hospital Federation, which includes a collaborative sponsor of IHF’s Women in Leadership Special Interest Group

• Giving support to the unique needs of female patients through programs such as our Women’s Cancer Programs in Singapore and Malaysia, and our long‑standing partnerships with the Look Good Feel Better Foundation, Cancer Council and other peak patient advocacy groups 

Together, these efforts reflect our belief that supporting women strengthens not only individuals, but the quality of care and outcomes we deliver as an organisation. 

A message from the Gender ELIG 

At the Gender ELIG, our focus is on building a workplace where gender equality is reflected in Icon Group’s culture, decisions and everyday work and care experiences. We believe that inclusive environments are fundamental to delivering exceptional care. 

In 2026, our priorities include: 

Supporting patients 

• Inclusive communication: Reviewing patient‑facing materials to ensure they reflect inclusive, gender‑affirming language and representation. This work has begun with breast and prostate cancer resources and will continue across other tumour streams. 

• Perimenopause and menopause support in oncology care: Developing targeted resources to support patients navigating perimenopause and menopause alongside cancer treatment, including a live Q&A session and subsequent educational resources. 

Supporting our people 

• Return‑to‑work support: Exploring more structured support for parents returning from leave, including flexible work options, leadership guidance and practical, site‑based support 
• Peer mentorship: Scoping a pilot mentorship‑circle program to strengthen connection, knowledge‑sharing and empowerment across our teams.

Looking ahead 

We’re proud of the progress being made and remain committed to continuing this work, supporting both our people and our patients and helping build a more equitable future across Icon. 

More IWD activities  

• Read Group Director of Nursing, Margie Hjorth’s LinkedIn article on the importance of ‘Give to Gain’ and how it has shaped her career and leadership. 
• Read stories below from team members across the globe sharing their everyday moments of support for women, their colleagues, patients and community members, that they’ve experienced or offered themselves.