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Leading with inclusion: Women pioneering change at Hospital Innovations

International Women’s Day is on March 8^th, 2024, with the theme to #InspireInclusion.

At Hospital Innovations, we are proud to recognise and inspire inclusion and equality within our workplace, including at a management level, with women making up 50% of our leadership team.

Sarah Lister-Sims, Kate Fisher and Rachel McClure have a combined experience of almost 50 years of working in the Human Tissue and Orthopaedic sectors.

With a wealth of skill, knowledge and insight, they are an integral part of Hospital Innovations’ success and achievements.

Sarah Lister-Sims is the Managing Director at Hospital Innovations, having worked with the company since its inception in 2008, initially as a consultant, before coming on board as a valued employee in 2009. Sarah is recognised by colleagues, suppliers and customers alike as an expert and leader in the UK Human Tissue market.  Sarah works tirelessly to ensure that all of Hospital Innovations’ activities in the UK are conducted in a reliable and regulated manner, whilst always advocating for the donor’s gift.

When asked about the importance of her role’s influence in the company, Sarah said: “My focus as Managing Director is to lead and direct the whole company to ensure that the business achieves its mission and objectives.  I am proud of our connection with human tissue and hope to also inspire our teams to provide a service that is seen by our customers as reliable, consistent and ethical.”

On #InspireInclusion Sarah added, “I have spent my whole career in male-dominated industries – retail, oil and gas, and blow mould manufacturing, prior to medical. I have personally experienced bias and the focus on obstacles, not just for women, but also for young people (especially young females). 

“It is important to encourage each other and to be proud of being ambitious.  As we experience success, we have a duty to be part of the solution and not just point out obstacles or other women’s shortfalls.

“Here at Hospital Innovations, we have an equal opportunity policy which I am proud to say is alive and well.  Both men and women are empowered and encourage each other.  There is no bias to getting hired or being promoted, as we evidence.  I am proud of our inclusive work culture that finds solutions for the challenges that women experience whilst working.

“Our senior men recognise the female talent pipeline as much as we do; and together we are able to celebrate our differences, working together in a stronger fashion.  Our male colleagues  act as champions to help women advance and succeed.  I really believe that they agree women should not be the exception in any decision-making process; hence the 50/50 ratio that we have.”

Kate Fisher joined Hospital Innovations in 2012 and has been Operations Manager since 2020. Kate has overall responsibility for the day to day running of the supply chain department at our Pontyclun and Brentford sites, and splits her time between the two locations.

Of the responsibility of her role, Kate said: “As a tissue company, audited by the Human Tissue Authority, we strive to ensure that our behaviours and actions are dependable and ethical. We understand that there are times of emergency and part of my role is to ensure that we deliver an outstanding service in those circumstances, whilst maintaining the standards that we are held accountable to.”

On #InspireInclusion Kate added, “I’m fortunate to have a fantastic team at each of our supply chain sites, who represent a mix of not only genders, but also ages and ethnicities. We are proud to celebrate diversity within our modern-day workforce.

“I’m confident in the knowledge and experience that I bring to my role but welcome ideas and suggestions from my team to improve the processes we perform and the service that we offer to our customers. I strongly believe that a diverse team is integral to the generation of new ideas, across a mix of different strengths and views.

“I have two young daughters and hope to inspire them and to show them that they can follow whatever career path they choose in the future”.

Rachel McClure joined Hospital Innovations in 2023, as the Medical Education Manager.  Rachel had previously worked in Marketing and Sales for a large Orthopaedic company for almost 20 years, and brings with her a significant amount of knowledge and experience of the UK market.

Rachel said of joining Hospital Innovations: “Having worked for one of the big Ortho companies for many years, I was well aware of the benefits that a Medical Education network can bring. Sharing best practice and delivering education around the subject of Human Tissue allograft is key to Hospital Innovations’ success and I am excited to have the opportunity to support and grow this further.”

When asked about IWD and #InspireInclusion, Rachel added, “I have been passionate about IWD and their work for many years.  I believe in inspiring inclusion by leading as example.  It’s up to all of us to break down gender bias and encourage those around us to fulfil their potential.”

In celebrating International Women’s Day and embracing the theme of #InspireInclusion, we not only recognise the invaluable contributions of Sarah, Kate, and Rachel to Hospital Innovations, but also reaffirm our commitment to fostering a culture of diversity and equality within our organisation and beyond.

As we honour these women for their leadership and expertise in traditionally male-dominated fields, we are reminded of the importance of paving the way for future generations. Together, let us continue to champion inclusivity, empower individuals to reach their full potential, and promote an industry where every voice is heard and valued.