In honour of International Women’s Day, we virtually sat down with our Chief Research and Development Officer, Teresa Layer, to find out a little bit more about her role at GAMA, incredible career in science and who inspired her along the way.

What is your role at GAMA Healthcare?

I am the Chief Research and Development Officer at GAMA Healthcare.

What do you love most about working at GAMA?

I love the entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment, the innovative science, the wonderful people and the passion to make a real difference to people’s lives in the area of infection prevention and control. The company growth agenda is also so exciting with science and innovation at the heart.

Where were you before life at GAMA? 

I am a PhD Chemist and studied at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge. Before joining GAMA, I spent 22 years at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare where I led the Oral Health and Skin Health Category working on a portfolio of brands including Sensodyne, which we were able to grow to a £1bn sales brand in 15 years through a combination of great innovation, leading edge science, fantastic marketing and geographic expansion. 

Following my PhD, I also worked at P&G at the start of my career as an oral care formulation and process scientist – so I know what it takes to make three batches of toothpaste a day and clean a mixer! I also hold a professional qualification/affiliation as a ‘Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry’.

What advice would you give to a woman looking to start their career in the field of science? 

To ‘dream big’ and believe that anything is possible. If you can dream it, you can do it, if you have drive, ambition and a desire to make a difference! Encouraging other women in their careers is a real passion of mine and I hope by sharing my story I have inspired others.

Do you have a female role model that has inspired you? If so, tell us a little bit more about her. 

Role models for me have included Florence Nightingale and several senior female (and male) mentors whom I’ve been so fortunate to meet along the way in my career. They encouraged me to believe that I was ‘good enough’ to be both a scientist and senior business leader. Additionally, when I was a student at Cambridge, I was inspired by the structure of DNA in the Chemistry department. I was fascinated by the way the structure had been solved and hoped to make a similar difference in my own career.

When you’re not at work (or in lockdown), what do you like to do in your spare time? 

In more normal times, I love spending time with my parents, travelling (favourite destinations include Barbados, New York and Capri!), yoga and being with my 10 godchildren.

If Teresa’s story has inspired you to start a career in science, take a look at our current positions available. For more information about our Research and Development team, explore our Research page.