Festival of the Boy - Role models (part two)
The organisers of Festival of the Girl launched a new non-profit, Festival of the Boy, in May 2025 that aims to celebrate boys and challenge the limiting gender stereotypes that often affect them in dysfunctional ways.
They have asked RESILIENCE to contribute to their campaign focussed on providing support and resources to parents and carers to help them raise their boys in a less stereotyped way. The first part of their campaign is to publicise the stories of inspiring male role models from individuals to learn about the men and boys in their lives.
Dr Bernice Wright shared her male role models, just after the launch of Festival of the Boy. She is a teaching lecturer in cell and gene therapy and a research scientist in the Department of Biochemical Engineering at University College London as well as the lead for STEM outreach for the RESILIENCE Centres of Excellence. My male role models in my professional environment are Professor Gary Lye, Professor Daniel Bracewell, Dr Darren Nesbeth, and Dr Stephen Morris.
In part one of our blog, we heard from some of University College London’s research scientists. Isa Senica, Beatrice Melinek and Eleanor Mathias and Eshaan Saigal revealed their male role models.
Here, in part two of our blog, we will hear from Rachel Melinek, Olha Semenyuk and Alex Baxter as they share their thoughts on their positive male role models.
Rachel Melinek
I like Peter Tatchell because he has fought for human rights for years often putting his own safety at risk. Even if I don't agree with everything he says he is very principled and champions a lot of important causes. I suppose I could also add that Peter Tatchell not only champions human rights but environmental causes. He stands by what he believes and he is a great speaker who is not afraid to debate people with radically different views. He is inspirational as he has inspired me to campaign for change.
Louis Theroux is actually another role model and one that influenced me to start filming. I've watched a number of his documentaries and I love the way that he approaches his subjects in a non-judgmental fashion and really listens.
I admire John Snow because he went against the prevailing wisdom of the time and battled to get his theory heard. More on John Snow; he cared about preventing deaths in vulnerable populations. He believed healthcare should be for everyone not just the elite. His influence is felt in disease tracking public health infrastructure and environmental health and sanitation. He was also influential as he is one of the people that has inspired me to think about the evidence base to what I engage with.
Olha Semenyuk
Professor Farzin Farzaneh, Professor of Molecular Medicine at the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at King’s College London, has played a significant role in shaping both my scientific career and personal growth. During my time working with him at King’s, he taught me how to think and work like a scientist and helped me grow in confidence. His mentorship has had a lasting impact on me, and I will carry the lessons I learned from him into the next stages of my career.
He encouraged me to pursue a PhD, which I am now undertaking at UCL. His belief in my potential gave me the motivation to take that step. What makes Professor Farzaneh truly exceptional is not only his scientific expertise and kindness, but also his excellent sense of humour and supportive leadership. He never tore people down when things went wrong. Instead, he encouraged reflection, resilience, and learning from mistakes. He made science feel engaging and inclusive, and involved me in exciting projects, including collaborations with external partners.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and I was visiting family there, Ukraine’s airspace closed, and I had to travel by land to Romania to catch an evacuation flight. Throughout that difficult time, Professor Farzaneh stayed in constant contact with me, from when I crossed the border on foot to when I landed safely back in London. Knowing that someone cared that much gave me strength during a very uncertain time.
Professor Farzaneh is not only an outstanding scientist and mentor but also a compassionate, generous, and deeply human individual. I would not be where I am today without his support, and I will always be grateful for everything he has done for me.
I also had the pleasure of working with Dr Hemant Dhamne during his time as Head of the Process Development team and my manager at the Gene Therapy Vector Facility (GTVF) at King’s College London. Hemant is an exceptional leader whose mentorship and support played a major role in shaping my growth as both a scientist and a person.
Hemant consistently led by example. He was always willing to share his knowledge and was just as happy to roll up his sleeves and get the work done alongside the team. His humility, generosity, and dedication created an environment where people felt valued and empowered. He brought out the best in those around him, and his leadership helped build not just strong processes, but strong people.
He also gave me opportunities that had a lasting impact on my career. I attended my first scientific conferences thanks to him, where I heard inspiring stories from patients receiving gene therapy. That experience strengthened my belief in the importance of our work. Alongside that, Hemant encouraged and supported me to pursue a PhD, which I am now undertaking in the field of gene therapy.
Hemant is more than a talented scientist and manager. He is a role model in how to lead with integrity, kindness, and purpose. I feel fortunate to have learned from him, and I carry those lessons with me every day.
Alex Baxter
Throughout my youth, Chris Hemsworth stood out as a powerful male role model. While my early admiration stemmed from his portrayal of Thor, it’s his personal journey—marked by a dedication to longevity and family wellbeing despite constant public attention—that I find truly commendable.
I recently watched Limitless, a documentary series that follows Hemsworth’s exploration of physical and mental resilience. In one particularly moving episode, he opens up about his increased genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, revealed through genotype analysis. This discovery became a driving force behind his commitment to not only physical fitness but also long-term brain health and emotional wellbeing.
His openness about such a personal health concern is a breath of fresh air in a world often dominated by superficial influencer culture. Having experienced the impact of dementia within my own family, Hemsworth’s vulnerability and proactive mindset deeply resonates with me.
Beyond his personal health journey, Hemsworth is also environmentally conscious, supporting organisations such as the Australian Childhood Foundation and engaging in wildlife conservation. His willingness to use his platform for good demonstrates leadership and integrity—qualities I aspire to embody.
For me, Hemsworth represents a gold standard of how to thrive professionally while maintaining a balanced, purpose-driven life.