International Women’s Day 2025: A Promising Future for Gender Diversity in Pharma

While the pharmaceutical industry has made strides towards diversity, equity, and inclusion, there is still room for improvement, asserts Sheryl Johnson, pharma application development manager at Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials. Many companies, such as Orbia, are taking proactive approaches to help improve gender diverse representations within their workforces. Ongoing commitment from all areas across the industry is required to achieve full diversity, she explains.

“Women in particular, can bring unique perspectives, talents, [and] approaches that can drive innovation, particularly in the pharma industry,” Johnson adds. “For instance, female leaders can often excel in collaborative and inclusive leadership styles, which I feel can help foster creativity and new ideas. I find women are very open to sharing of new ideas and provide supportive attitude to research management and development through considered and empathetic communication.”

Looking at sustainability challenges in particular and drawing on her experiences within the inhaled drug space, Johnson points to the groundbreaking research and leadership being performed by women helping to drive greater sustainable practices, “people like Sara Panigone from Chiesi, who's leading initiatives in developing carbon minimum inhalers and has been prominent voice in sustainability and in within the industry, and Maureen Hardwick from the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium, [who’s] been a key figure in advancing environmental policies and sustainable efforts,” she says.

“I think the future of gender diversity in the pharma industry looks promising with more women taking on leadership roles and contributing to decision making processes,” Johnson summarizes. “I think the shift will likely lead to a more inclusive, innovative approach to healthcare for inhalers and inhaled drugs, we can probably expect continued advancements in technology, in formulation and making treatments more effective, more environmentally friendly, and I think the industry is poised to make significant strides in both areas benefitting both patients and the world alike.”

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About the speaker

Sheryl Johnson, Pharma Application Development Manager at Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials

Sheryl Johnson is Pharma Application Development Manager at Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials. Sheryl is a highly respected authority in the pharmaceutical aerosol industry with almost two decades' worth of experience in medical chemical development and research. She is on the board at the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium on Regulation & Science(IPAC RS), frequently contributed to the publishing of papers through working groups, and actively participates at industry organised conference events such as Respiratory Drug Delivery. After earning her Master's in Organic Chemistry from the University of Hull, she worked as a senior development chemist at Contract Chemicals, where she discovered her love for laboratory work. Her subsequent role at Orbia provided experience in process development, hazardous materials handling and formulation chemistry. Now, with over 13 years at Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials, she serves as Pharma Application Development Manager, overseeing the safe production and development of Zephex 152a MDIs.