On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are taking a moment to recognise and celebrate the women across our teams who contribute to this work every single day.
From quality and validation to technical development and production, their expertise and commitment play an important role in the work we do. This day is about visibility, encouragement, and showing the many different paths a career in science can take.
While many women contribute to our work every day, this year we are spotlighting a small number of colleagues to share their individual journeys and experiences in a more personal way.
Here are some of their stories.
Rachael
Senior Technical Scientist
Rachael’s interest in science started early. As a child, she was fascinated by medical documentaries and programmes such as Bizarre ER and Casualty. Her curiosity grew even stronger when she subscribed to Horrible Science magazine, something she eagerly collected every fortnight after school. That collection still holds a special place today and is now shared with her children, passing on the same excitement for discovery that first sparked her interest.
“Science isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about wanting to understand how and why things work.”
In her role as Senior Technical Scientist, Rachael applies scientific expertise across technical development, troubleshooting, and customer support. She enjoys the variety her role brings, combining practical laboratory knowledge with collaboration across teams. For Rachael, one of the most rewarding aspects of her work is using scientific problem-solving to create meaningful, real-world impact.
Rachael draws inspiration from Professor Dorothy Hodgkin, whose pioneering research using X-ray crystallography revealed the structures of vital biological molecules including insulin, penicillin, and vitamin B12. Hodgkin’s achievements helped shape modern medicine and remain an example of how scientific dedication can transform lives.
Kensey
Production Supervisor
Kensey’s interest in science developed during her school years, where she became fascinated by the wide range of paths the subject could lead to. That curiosity eventually guided her into the Production department at Hart, where she began her career as a Technician before progressing into her current supervisory role.
“When I was at school, I thought STEM was male dominated, but that’s not the case.”
Today, Kensey oversees production planning and team coordination, ensuring work flows efficiently across the department. One of the aspects she enjoys most is watching colleagues grow and develop, particularly seeing knowledge she has shared being carried forward by her team. For Kensey, the people she works with play a huge part in making her role rewarding.
Kensey encourages girls and young women to consider careers in science, especially within the North East of England, where opportunities can sometimes be overlooked. She reflects on how perceptions of STEM have changed and highlights the equal opportunities now available across the field.
One of Kensey’s early inspirations came during a school lesson about women working for NASA. She was particularly inspired by engineer Judith Love Cohen, who contributed to programmes supporting the safe return of the Apollo 13 astronauts. For Kensey, stories like this helped open her eyes to the impact women can have in STEM. She also credits the women around her, both professionally and personally, as ongoing sources of inspiration.
Sophie
QC Supervisor
Sophie’s interest in science developed during her school years, where a supportive biology teacher helped build her confidence and encouraged her curiosity. That early encouragement led her to continue studying biology at A-level before going on to study Human Biology at university. For Sophie, the processes behind biology always made sense and quickly became something she genuinely enjoyed learning more about.
“To know that you are making a difference in people’s lives really gives you a sense of purpose.”
As QC Supervisor at Hart Biologicals, Sophie plays a key role in ensuring that every product manufactured meets the expected standards before reaching customers. All products pass through the Quality Control department, where testing confirms that they perform as intended and can be relied upon to support the diagnosis of blood disorders and the monitoring of treatment.
Although her role now involves more supervision, Sophie still values every opportunity to be hands-on in the laboratory. Completing testing and seeing results has always been her favourite part of the work, and it remains a strong connection to why she chose a career in science.
When sharing advice for girls and young women considering science, Sophie says it’s important to follow what genuinely interests you. Enjoying the work and understanding its impact, she explains, makes a career in science not only worthwhile, but deeply rewarding.
We are proud to work alongside talented women across all areas of the business and grateful for the expertise they bring to our teams every day.
We hope to build on this series in the years to come by highlighting different roles and experiences across the business. If this feature inspires even one girl to feel that science could be a place for her, then it is a step in the right direction.
Further reading and resources:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/women-and-girls-in-science-day
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346664196_What_is_STEM_EDUCATION
