Wish to become a member?
Become part of the inspiring network for C-level leaders, board members, experienced specialists and top researchers.
The annual membership fee is 3.000 DKK.
Please complete the form. The Board of Directors will assess all applications on a monthly basis.
In case of questions you are welcome to contact us on info@womeninlifescience.dk
More about Women in Life Science Denmark - WiLD
Women in Life Science Denmark (WiLD) is a newly established network for women in the Danish Life Science field. The network is
targeted towards executives non-executive directors, board members, experienced specialists and top-level scientists.
The purpose of the network is to support the value creation in Danish Life Science by leveraging and promoting diversity of talent
at the executive and senior specialist levels, in both corporate and academic organizations.
The ambition of Women in Life Science Denmark is to create an inspiring and science-centric network forum for women in senior
positions across industry and academia and increase the visibility of women in top leadership roles. By acting as visible and active
role models, WiLD members wish to inspire the next generation of women to realize their full potential and assume positions of
leadership.
Despite numerous initiatives, there are still barriers to equality with regards to diversity in leadership positions in both corporate
and academic institutions. Both in Denmark generally – and particularly within Life Science. Denmark is in 23nd place on the World Economic Forum’s list of gender equality, while our neighboring countries Finland, Norway and Sweden list in the top 5. Despite many women being educated and working within the Life Sciences, there is a lack of gender equality at the top leadership level.
Only 11 of 40 out the largest companies are led by women, equal to 26 percent, despite gender parity in terms of workers in the
field overall. At the universities, only 23 percent of professors are women.
With this network, women with influence within Danish Life Science will seek to increase diversity at the senior level for the
benefit of society and companies. Specifically, Women in Life Science Denmark will seek to
- unfold the full talent potential in the Life Sciences by increasing diversity and inclusiveness
- increase visibility of female role models and their paths within Life Sciences and in the greater society
- contribute to value creation through professional knowledge sharing and networking
The focus of WiLD is on gender diversity, but we will strive to promote diversity and inclusiveness in various ways, including age,
nationality, background, education, experience etc.
The network organisation was launched in September 2022. Upon top of four networking events per year, the organisation is
focusing on two synergistic initiatives.
The first initiative is a mentor program targeted towards female talent within Life Sciences, launched in November 2023. The
mentor program enlists members of WiLD as mentors to offer both individual mentoring of up-and-coming female talents, as well
as team sparring in more senior peer- to-peer groups. In addition, our mentors will engage in public speaking outside the network,
for instance in educational institutions, industry associations and similar places. This initiative is financed by the Lundbeck
Foundation by a grant of 475.000 DKK.
The second initiative consists of an expert panel of industry experts from the WiLD network. The panel can be accessed to contribute
expert knowledge to the media and participate in public discourse – and thereby increase the visibility of female experts and role
models both within the Life Science industry and in the society at large. This is essential to rectify the gender bias towards female
experts in the public realm. The expert panel is targeted towards media, researchers and collaborators and will be publicized on the
network’s web page. This initiative will be launched during 2024.
Women in Life Science Denmark hosts four annual network events with focus on knowledge sharing, insight and discussion of
industry relevant topics, in addition to talks covering diversity and inclusiveness. We also have an ambition of participating and
contributing to public discourse regarding life sciences generally and diversity specifically.
The main driver and initiator of WiLD is Lene Gerlach, Ph.D., Partner i Eir Ventures, who is also the chairperson of the organization.
Lene is backed by a strong board of directors including vice chairperson Helle Busck Fensvig, Business Angel; Louise Lyhne, CEO
Lyhne Life; Ingelise Saunders, chairperson, Boost Pharma, ISD Immunotech; Mette Rosenkilde, Professor at University of
Copenhagen and serial entrepreneur; Lone Veng, Board Director, Bioneer, Mercy Ships Denmark; Claudia Blomgren- Hansen,
partner Life Science PLUS Advokater; Pernille Winding Gojkovic, CEO Høiberg and Hervør Lykke Olsen, Sr Global program m
manager, LEO Pharma, Gitte Lillelund Bech. Former minister of defence, CEO at Lillelund Bech ApS, Vibeke Didriksen, VP Global
head of DE&I, Genmab, and Henriette Dræbye Rosenquist, former President of Pfizer France, CEO of CEO Pharmacies Group:
Espergærde, Fredensborg, Humlebæk.
The network operates as a non-profit member organization, led by a volunteer board of directors. As per April 2024, the network
has more than 200 members representing top executives, board directors, and senior specialists from both large and small
organizations across the Danish Life Sciences industry. Additionally, the network has members who are top researchers from
universities and representatives from both public and private foundations.
In December 2022, WiLD received a donation on 420.000 DKK from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and in June 2023 a grant from the
Lundbeck Foundation on 475.000 DKK.
What inspired you to become a member of WiLD?
Read our members´ motivation for becoming WiLD members
“Accepting the invitation to join WiLD was a complete no-brainer for me, as I had actually myself been considering for a while that we needed such a network.”
Anne Bloch Thomsen
“I´m a co-founder of WiLD, because working with the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion agenda across the Life Science Industry in Denmark is very important.”
Helle Busck-Fensvig
“I wanted to be part of a network in Life Sciences in Denmark where we can support each other in making good business networks and inspire women to take executive leadership positions.”
Ulla Grove Krogsgaard Thomsen
“I got involved as a board member of WiLD to bring attention to this imminent lack of diversity. Together with a group of likeminded and experienced women, I hope to contribute to a much needed mind shift in the Danish Life Science Industry.”
Claudia Blomgren-Hansen
“I have joined WiLD because I believe we must work actively to increase the diversity at the senior leadership levels and consciously seek to break the glass ceiling to help pave a way for a more progressive and inclusive pool of talents.”
Lone Veng
“With the WiLD network, I hope to inspire women to build businesses and choose a career in management and boards.”
Hervør Lykke Olsen
“I joined WiLD to help the next generation of aspiring women reach the top levels of their chosen profession within the life science environment.”
Pernille Winding Gojkovic
“I became a board member of WiLD because it was important to me to inspire and motivate women from the Life Science industry to reach their highest potential.”
Louise Lyhne
“WiLD´s principles of curiosity and generosity align with my own values, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of community that encourages and empowers women in the Life Science industry.”
Lone Frydelund Larsen
“I believe in the power of networks, and that we can achieve better things together. Representation matters on all levels, and I want to contribute to that as a female Chairman of Directors.”
Tanja Villumsen
“I started WiLD as I wish to connect and network with many more skilled women in the Life Science field. Both in the industry and academia. We need to work closer together.”
Lene Gerlach
“Gender diversity in research and top management is still lacking in Denmark. By being a member of WiLD, I can work with peers to reduce the gender gap in the life science industry and academia in Denmark”