The Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership 2025 – Anna Raper
I applied for the Herschel Programme because, as a bioimaging and flow cytometry facility manager, I wanted to strengthen my leadership skills and build the confidence needed to effectively manage, support, and inspire my team. As the first single parent accepted into a PhD programme at the University of Dundee, I understand the unique challenges faced by women in science and technical roles. This experience has given me a strong sense of responsibility to do well and make the most of the opportunities I have been fortunate to receive, as I hope it will pave the way for the next person.
I am particularly motivated to contribute to the development of future technical leaders. As a member of the Technical Steering Committee, I am dedicated to supporting and advocating for technicians and have first-hand experience with the challenges faced in career advancement. From the outset, I viewed this programme as a valuable opportunity to learn from peers and explore w
ays to address these challenges. I hoped to gain insights and strategies to improve opportunities both for my own career and for future technical leaders.
The Herschel Programme is a six-month course. I was initially unsure what to expect. The entire programme is delivered online and brings together technicians from across the UK. There were around 200 participants from a wide range of fields and at various stages of their careers. The course comprised interactive online seminars and tutorials, but most importantly, we were divided into action learning sets. Your action learning set is the group you work with throughout the six months, completing activities and tutorials together. Through this, you gain a deep understanding of the challenges faced by each member and discover how different people benefit from varied approaches to problem-solving.
I loved the Herschel Programme. It taught me far more than I had expected. The main themes were learning about yourself as a leader, building confidence and empowerment, the importance of influencing and negotiating, and understanding culture and context. It was wonderful to see everyone in our action learning sets evolve over the course. At the start, many of us experienced elements of imposter syndrome, lacked confidence, and struggled to own our successes. It was incredible to witness the transformation within our group. For example, one member who initially felt undervalued and whose contributions were unrecognised at work gained the courage to have some difficult conversations and demonstrate leadership skills, which ultimately led to her being offered a promotion.
The programme concluded with an in-person celebration event. This event was brilliant, as it allowed us to meet our action learning sets face-to-face and hear a series of talks that were incredibly inspiring. One that will stay with me was given by Anita Coppock, Head of Technical Operations at the University for the Creative Arts. She gave a very honest and humbling account of her role as a technical manager, sharing her experiences, challenges, and how she works with a diverse range of talented technicians.
I would highly recommend the Herschel Programme at any stage of your career. You learn so much throughout the course, and they also provide further learning opportunities to continue your journey. I can now clearly reflect on where I was as a leader before the programme and where I want to be, with a better understanding of the skills I need to get there. The Herschel Programme has equipped me with the tools to enhance my effectiveness as a technical leader. It provided a valuable opportunity to step back, reflect, and identify more efficient approaches to various situations. This experience has reinforced my commitment to continuous learning and leadership development. I am now more confident in my ability to lead with purpose and inspire positive change within my team and the wider technical community.
Applications for the 2026 program are opening soon!
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