Royal College celebrates International Women’s Day

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow gathered Fellows, Members and friends at a special dinner last night (Monday 2 March) to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026. 

The College was joined by HM Lord-lieutenant Jill Young MBE, who highlighted the fantastic work of women in her community, as well as discussing her own inspiring journey working in the NHS. 

In honour of this year’s theme, Give to Gain, the College also hosted a suit drive in partnership with Dress for Success Scotland, a local charity which supports women into employment. 

At the event, Professor Christine Goodall, a founding member of the College Women’s Network and immediate past Vice-President (Dental), said: "It is wonderful to see so many people gathered together to mark International Women's Day tonight. As I look around at the successful women I see from all walks of life, I'm reminded of how far we've come in the fight for gender equality. 

"That effort doesn't stop today and there is still much more work to be done. It is up to every one of us, men and women, to ensure we keep doing that work to build a more equal future for the next generation of women and girls."

Attendees brought along their pre-loved work wear to be donated to women who are preparing for interview or getting started in a new job. The College is still welcoming donations for Dress for Success Scotland until Friday 6 March. 

On the night, the College was joined by HM Lord-lieutenant Jill Young MBE, who highlighted the fantastic work of women in her community, as well as discussing her own inspiring journey working in the NHS.

Jill began her career as an auxiliary nurse and worked in a variety of roles before becoming the Chief Executive of the Golden Jubilee Foundation 2004-2018. 

In 2020, she was called to lead the construction and management of Glasgow’s NHS Lousia Jordan Hospital, a temporary care facility hosted in the Scottish Education and Conference Centre designed to relieve pressure caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In December 2020, she was appointed Lord-lieutenant of Dunbartonshire and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 2020 Birthday Honour’s List. 

While recognising the achievements of women today, the College also honoured inspiring women of the past, who challenged the society of their time and helped to break down barriers for women in medicine. 

Author Deepta Roy-Chakrabarti opened the evening from Calcutta, India, to honour her great-great aunt, Jamini Sen, who became the College’s first female Fellow in 1912. .

The evening was hosted with the support of the College’s Women’s Network, which launched in March 2025. The group, which is open to all Fellows and Members, is dedicated to driving forward gender equality in healthcare. 

If you and your colleagues would like to get involved in the Women’s Network, please get in touch at policynetwork@rcpsg.ac.uk