100 Guests and local sixth form students attend international men’s day talks and wellbeing workshop at SBC

We were delighted to welcome over 100 guests to International Men’s Day at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst. As part of our series of diversity and inclusion events this year, which have included International Women’s Day and PRIDE, we hosted talks, a Q&A and a wellbeing workshop to promote gender inclusivity, equality and allyship at SBC.  

The official theme for International Men’s Day 2024, which is recognised on 19 November, is positive male role models.  With this in mind, we invited four successful men from the Stevenage Campus to speak about their career journeys, but also share how they have navigated challenges, who their positive male role model is, and why they have offered inspiration. 

• Steve Martin PhD, GSK VP, and who has worked for the pharma giant since 1994, talked candidly about his career across GSK spanning from 1994 and how transitioning from scientist to people leader was a new learning curve. Steve listed his father as an inspirational role model, setting a precedent by being honest, hardworking and generous with his time, and Dr Ian Tomlinson as a professional role model, for his contribution to oncology R&D. He described the importance of supporting emotional wellbeing with cycling and running in nature, to offset any career pressures.
• Cesare Cejas PhD, Co-Founder of MFX, SBC-based start-up developing technology to roll out and cell and gene therapy treatments quickly and cost effectively, described launching a company during Covid as a career challenge he has navigated with co-founding partner Antoine Espinet. Cesare talked about the importance of diverse work force offering an invaluable variety of knowledge, talent and experience – all key ingredients for driving innovation. He listed molecular biologist Professor Andrew Griffiths, founder of 5 start-ups, author of  >120 publications as a full-time professor at Paris Sciences Lettres as his career inspiration.
• Andy Stewart, Communications Director at LifeArc, and previous Zoologist and wildlife film maker, talked candidly about his switch from broadcast journalism to NHS communications specialist to media advisor to a former UK Government minister and MP across to life science communications director. He talked openly about overcoming a serious injury and finding strength via his grandfather who had survived a similar accident with resilience.
• Ian Parnham PhD, Skills Lead at the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, described completing his PhD and carving a career out for himself as the biggest challenge he has overcome. Despite now being responsible for the development of others’ careers, he explained the struggle of choosing the path that felt right for himself, and how success isn’t always linear and personal growth is endless. Ian described his grandfather as a male role model, who raised his mother and aunt as a single parent despite being hard of hearing.

Our audience, which included 40 sixth form pupils from two Stevenage schools, also took part in a wellbeing workshop led by James Kusena PhD, VP Operations, MFX, and Andrew Parsons PhD, Executive Coach. The interactive session included practicing breathwork techniques to combat anxiety, explored personal role models and why they are valuable for mentorship, and what a personal ‘board of directors’ would look like if they were to be appointed to navigate a challenge.

Year 12 pupil, Saint John Henry Newman School:

It was really helpful to learn breathing exercises and understand that there is more than one way to reach your goals and it’s never late to try new things.

James Kusena PhD, VP Operations, MFX:

 It was wonderful to engage in the conversation of mentorship and learn from everyone’s unique journey.

Patricia Brown, Careers Lead, Saint John Henry Newman School:

“What a wonderful session we all had today at International Men’s Day. We feel fortunate as a school to have these opportunities and never take them for granted. We are also grateful to have employers and employees who are willing to give time, to encouraging and guiding our students in STEM and other careers. Today was insightful for us all!

In 2025, SBC will be hosting events and workshops for Women’s Day, Neurodiversity Awareness and Black History, with focus on their relevance to the bioscience industry.