International Women’s Day 2026: Give to Gain

Celebrating 115 Years of Progress, Collaboration, and Collective Impact

At Abel + Imray, we are proud to join the global celebration of International Women’s Day 2026, marking 115 years of recognising women’s achievements and advocating for gender equality. This year’s theme, Give to Gain, resonates strongly with our values as a firm built on collaboration, knowledge sharing and the belief that innovation thrives when everyone has the opportunity to contribute.

Give to Gain: When We Give, We All Rise

The 2026 International Women’s Day Give to Gain Campaign highlights the transformative power of generosity. Giving, whether through time, expertise, advocacy, mentoring or resources, is not a loss. It is a multiplier. When individuals and organisations give intentionally, they help create opportunities, visibility and support systems that enable everyone to thrive. And when everyone thrives, communities, industries and economies rise with them.

At Abel + Imray, we see this principle in action every day. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is strengthened by colleagues who actively give back to their fields, their communities and the next generation of innovators.

Celebrating the Women of Abel + Imray
This year, we are proud to highlight three colleagues whose contributions embody the spirit of Give to Gain.

Peri Jones: Giving Through Knowledge, Visibility and Service
Peri’s work demonstrates how sharing expertise can inspire others and broaden access to science and innovation. Her commitment to public engagement is reflected in a wide range of activities, including:

• Radio interviews on astronomy and intellectual property for BBC Radio Cymru, helping make complex topics accessible to the public.
• Television interviews on S4C, including discussing her journey in science for International Women and Girls in Science on 11 February 2026.
• A Q&A session at the Welsh National Eisteddfod in 2024, engaging audiences in conversations about science and IP.
• Trustee of Medserve, a South Wales medical emergency service under BASICS, supporting volunteer responders from diverse medical backgrounds.

Peri’s commitment to public engagement and emergency service reflects the profound impact of giving time, knowledge and leadership.

Rachael Ker: Giving Through Mentorship, Outreach and Advocacy
Rachael’s dedication to supporting future engineers and IP professionals shows how giving guidance can shape careers and open doors. Her outreach and mentoring activities include:

• Mentoring students interested in becoming patent attorneys.
• Previous role as a STEM Ambassador - including, promoting engineering and IP careers in schools and sixth form colleges.
• Royal Academy of Engineering outreach as an ‘alumnus’ of the Engineering Leaders Scholarship, including mentoring programmes that support individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Speaking engagements on Intellectual Property, helping broaden understanding of innovation pathways and career opportunities.

Rachael’s work exemplifies how giving encouragement and expertise can empower the next generation of innovators.

Natasha Perks: Giving Through Opportunity, Guidance and Access
Natasha’s commitment to widening participation in STEM and supporting aspiring students shows how giving time and insight can transform educational journeys. Her work focuses on creating opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop skills and access pathways that might otherwise feel out of reach. Her contributions include:

• Training as a Mentor and Mock Interviewer for MyBigCareer and Target Oxbridge, two charities dedicated to supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Providing mock interviews and mentoring sessions for students applying to STEM degrees and other higher‑education routes, helping them prepare for competitive admissions processes.
• Coordinating and delivering mock interviews to support students exploring IP as a future career.

Natasha’s work highlights how giving structured support, real‑world experience and thoughtful guidance can open doors and empower students to pursue ambitious academic and professional goals.

Our Commitment
As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can contribute, grow and succeed. The progress of the past 115 years has been driven by countless acts of giving, large and small, and we are proud to play our part in continuing that legacy.

We are also an early signatory to the IP Inclusive scheme, reflecting our commitment to improving diversity and inclusivity not only within our own business, but across the wider legal and intellectual property community.

This year, we invite our colleagues, clients and partners to embrace the spirit of Give to Gain. Whether through mentoring, advocacy, education or amplifying underrepresented voices, every contribution strengthens our collective future.

Together, let us continue to forge a world where giving fuels equality, opportunity and shared success.