Focus on STEMM inspires Cambridge COO
Dr Charli Howes, interim COO at Enhanc3D Genomics, took part in International Women’s Day with a panel session and lunch with her mother and daughter.
“I was invited to attend a panel discussion on ‘Empowering Women in STEMM in India and the UK – Exploring Opportunities and Challenges’, and I also had lunch with my mum and my 18-month-old daughter – three generations of Batley-Howes ladies!”
She sees herself as “exceptionally lucky to have had the chance to progress from lab manager to COO level within the companies I’ve worked at, which has included Horizon Discovery, PhoreMost, and now Enhanc3D Genomics”.
Her advice to other women in the sector is to “join a small start-up or early-stage company – you can really make a difference here, and they tend to be meritocracies”.
Charli notes that “female representation on FTSE100 companies has risen to 43.4 per cent this year, so the UK seems to be progressing in this respect”.
She adds: “There is also still a gap between the number of C-level women and women at the level below.
“However, shining a light on inequality makes it harder to hide, and the advent of ESG surveys with investors is forcing companies to acknowledge the issues and put in place plans to address it. Technology means I can also be part of very active women leaders groups via Whatsapp, and we all help each other out.
“One thing I would like to see more of is that the women leaders groups allow entry, even for one event a year, to the next level down. We know that is where the disparity starts, manager levels to C-level – so we should be taking those women under our wing to help them grow with what we have built.”
Empowering women in STEMM – science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine – subjects is an ongoing process.
On 14-16 April, Newnham College hosts the Rosalind Franklin Women in STEM Conference 2025 on the topic of ‘Green Energy’. Speakers representing a range of views will address this question, following which attendees will divide into groups to discuss the topic further. The conference will conclude in a group session, where each group will be able to share and debate on their ideas.
On 24 March to 2 April online and at Fitzwilliam College, a series of online webinars titled ‘Women in STEM: Current Research’ will be presented by Fitzwilliam academics and researchers in STEM subjects.
The webinars will take place between 6pm-7pm on the evenings of 24, 25, 26, and 27 March. Webinar series details here.
