In celebration of International Women’s Day, we are honoured to feature an exclusive interview with the three remarkable women leading the EBMT Nurses Group Board: Michelle Kenyon (President), Hilda Mekelenkamp (President-Elect) and Elin Öfverberg (Secretary). They share their personal and professional journeys, reflect on their leadership roles, and discuss how EBMT can drive greater gender equality in the BMT community.
Personal and professional journey
Question: Can you share a bit about your journey in the field of BMT nursing? What inspired you to pursue this career?
Michelle Kenyon:
I didn’t even know that nursing was part of me until I started my nurse training, but I think I was probably born to be a transplant nurse. I remember very vividly walking on the transplant ward, my last training placement, feeling daunted by the challenges faced by patients but at the same time struck by their phenomenal courage and resilience. I can honestly say that I feel that same inspiration as strongly today as I did 35 years ago.
Transplant nursing embraces unique set of features - the combination of scientific advances, complex and evolving therapies means that learning is continuous and there are many opportunities to improve patient care through education and research. My roles have always enabled me to look after patients, supporting them through treatment and into their long-term recovery and this is definitely one of the most meaningful parts of my role and professional journey.
I don’t recall ever having a career plan as such, but a series of small goals and achievements, steps and opportunities that have led me here and I’ve remained committed to delivering exceptional care that puts our patients at the centre. As a Nurse Consultant, I wear many hats! I have clinical practice, education, leadership and research responsibilities and support other nurses to develop these skills. I’m passionate about improving the lives of HCT patients, making a difference at the bedside and as a leader, influencing the issues that matter.
Hilda Mekelenkamp:
I began my journey in BMT nursing more than 23 years ago as a young, inexperienced nurse, fresh from my bachelor’s training. It all started when I saw an advertisement in a nursing journal titled "Checkmate Leukemia." It caught my attention, and from that moment on, I knew this was the specialty where I wanted to make a difference.
Today, my center transplants patients with non-oncological diseases, a unique and growing population with its own challenges. Many of the conditions we see are rare, and with the rapid evolution of cell therapies and ongoing research, our field is constantly advancing. This means that every day brings new learning opportunities.
Caring for vulnerable young patients and their families, guiding them through the challenges of intensive treatment, helping them build resilience, and supporting them during the whole process, remains one of the most meaningful aspects of my career.
Elin Öfverberg:
When I started my employment at the paediatric oncology ward as a new nurse 15 years ago, I was introduced to the journey that the child and family went through when going through a stem cell transplant. I immediately felt that this is something I want to know all about. After a few years, when the opportunity arose, I applied for the position as a HSCT coordinator, and my journey in HCT and cell therapies begun. After a few years, I became a quality manager and responsible for quality management according to JACIE standards.
After several years of working with HCT patients and participating in several EBMT conferences, inspired by the great leaders in the EBMT Nurses Group, I dared to push myself to something new. I wanted to do more, and I wanted to learn more. Learn from others and get the chance to share my knowledge. I applied for a role in the EBMT NG Global Education Committee, and it was successful and less than two years after, I got the chance to carry the role as the EBMT NG Secretary. And another journey began.
Question: Are there any women that have inspired you in your career? If so, who and why?
Michelle Kenyon:
Gosh there are many women that I admire and have inspired me right throughout my life as well as my career and I consider myself very fortunate in this regard. Role models have influenced me in many ways, and I have tried to learn and borrow a little from each of them.
My mum was an incredible, resourceful and caring woman; a real force of nature with a zest for life. Despite the considerable challenges that life threw at her, she had a ‘can do’ attitude that rarely faltered. Even though she died more than 20 years ago, she is very much a part of the mother, nurse and woman that I am today.
At the beginning of my career, I worked with some senior nurses with a true flair for nursing, amazing capacity for knowledge, compassion and humility and an ability combine technical skills with the fundamentals of nursing to support patients at the most vulnerable time in their lives. I have also worked with some inspiring women in my current role – those that exemplify what nursing means for me, with clear and strong values and the ability to support those around them in the same way. I am inspired by individuals and teams who embody values that I appreciate and create an environment where brilliance and opportunity can flourish. I often see these values modelled by brilliant nursing leaders but also in the diversity of the multiprofessional team. I take inspiration from behaviours and attitudes I see in the younger generation of health professionals and those at beginning of their careers. Their approach to nursing and navigating the challenges of transplant care in 2025 is informed by different experiences and this motivates me to be better.
Alexandra Babic, a former president of the EBMT Nurses Group, is an individual I hold in high regard as a leader. She is an innovator, possessing creativity, astuteness, and exceptional foresight in navigating the evolving landscape of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) and cell therapy. As a leader, she embraces change, demonstrating remarkable adaptability. Her inclusive approach fosters inspiration, and she articulates a compelling vision for the future that resonates with those around her.
Hilda Mekelenkamp:
Many women have inspired me throughout my career, starting with my mother, whose dedication, perseverance, and love for her work greatly impacted me.
In my professional journey, I have learned from incredible senior nurses who demonstrated their clinical expertise while balancing technical and psychosocial aspects of patient care. Their knowledge, skills, and compassion influenced me. I also find inspiration in the younger generation of nurses (our future!). Different generations bring different insights, and I continue to learn from my younger and older colleagues' insights and individual skills.
Leadership and innovation require a pioneering spirit, and from early in my career, my ambition was to combine clinical nursing with research, a path that was (and still is) quite unconventional. One influential role model was my first head nurse, who pursued a master’s degree as one of the firsts in our hospital. Our multidisciplinary team has also played a vital role in my career, with many physicians supporting and mentoring me through my PhD journey, for which I am grateful.
To this day, I continue to find role models in various areas—leadership, research, ethics, and clinical practice—all of whom challenge and inspire me to keep growing.
Elin Öfverberg:
Yes, absolutely. I have two nurse leaders who I come to think about right away. One of them, a paediatric nurse who was responsible for our stem cell transplant patients when I started as a new nurse. She knew everything about HCT, and she was the person who trained and supervised new nurses, as well as me. She was also responsible for patient education and supported the families through transplant. I quickly felt that I wanted to have her knowledge, both for personal growth but also to be able to share it with others, to educate. She was confident and committed. Her skills made me dare to visualise a future career in HCT nursing.
Another nurse leader who has inspired my career is a paediatric nurse who previously was a quality manager and involved in our wards first JACIE accreditation. Her way of thinking and reasoning about quality and patient safety has inspired me in so many ways. She has been a real mentor and still is. She always advocates for patients and guide others to focus on the patient. She also has tireless encouraged me and pushed me to develop as a leader, to do new things, think outside the box and she has always been there to give me feed-back.
Women in leadership
Question: What advice would you give to young nurses aspiring to leadership roles in organisations like EBMT?
Michelle Kenyon:
Get to know EBMT! Familiarise yourself with the work that the organisation does and how, as a nurse, it aligns with your own interests, values and aspirations. Use opportunities to network with people involved in the organisation – meeting in person, or via social media. Look at ways you might be involved yourself – gain experience, develop your talent, identify your role models, share your ideas and reach out if you would like help. I highly recommend it! Our EBMT community is all about paying it forward and this can be a great first step.
It can feel difficult at first! We have all been at the beginning and it can be hard to put yourself forward. Aspirations drive progress and keep us and our community moving forward so try not to let cautiousness get in the way of doing something that can be rewarding and enriching. It may not always work out the way you can reflect on every experience as a part of your development journey.
Get to know yourself! Be conscious of your thoughts and beliefs and show up with integrity and authenticity. Leadership is not something that you do or something that you are, but a set of actions that inspire trust, commitment and collaboration and fosters a culture where the next generation of nurse leaders can grow and flourish!
Hilda Mekelenkamp:
Showcase your talents! Take initiative by submitting abstracts, applying for vacant roles, and actively engaging in organizations like EBMT. Seek role models, share your aspirations with them, ask questions, and don’t hesitate to request mentorship.
Even if you’re shy, take that first step. Never let go of your dreams. You may start small, but don’t be afraid to take bigger steps, even when they feel intimidating. A common trait among nurses and women is modesty, which can be commendable but sometimes holds us back. Don't doubt your abilities; see challenges and mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.
Leadership is not a solitary journey—we must support and uplift each other. By working together, we can create more pathways for future nurse leaders.
Elin Öfverberg:
Believe in yourself. Dare to trust that you have something to share with others. The effort of all the work that is done gives so much back all the time, both to yourself as a person but also in terms of what you can give back to your colleagues at home. It is a chance to grow in your profession, both as a specialist nurse but also as a leader. The lessons never end and the network of nurses across Europe and beyond is growing rapidly and at the same time it feels closer than ever.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Question: The EBMT’s ED&I Committee plays a crucial role in fostering a more inclusive and diverse community. How do you see EBMT evolving in terms of gender equality and leadership opportunities in the coming years?
Michelle Kenyon:
It has been a privilege to contribute to the EBMT EDI agenda and the transformation in gender equality in these recent years. With a female EBMT Board, selected on merit not gender; and faculty gender balance reported at all major meetings, EBMT is an exemplar in the field of professional scientific organisations. The foundations of EDI culture are embedded in EBMT and EBMT uses its platform to collaborate with colleagues in Europe and around the globe, strengthening the voice of equality and naming barriers to inclusion. Through education, research and other initiatives, we address issues of inequality and disadvantage and their significant impact not only on leadership opportunities, but also patient care and access to treatment.
I’d also like to mention the important strands of work led by the Nurses Group in the past couple of years to reduce the barriers to education that exist for nurses. We have made significant investment to ease the extent to which language impedes access. We have translated resources such as the EBMT Textbook for Nurses and provide local language translation at our major meetings. As a predominantly female workforce, nurses are often overlooked for financial support to attend educational meetings. We have highlighted the need for equality in access and have increased the Annual Meeting educational grant provision and introduced a new grant scheme supporting nurses at the beginning of their careers in HCT and cell therapy. This investment supports the development of our future leaders and promotes equality, inclusion and diversity in transplant care.
Hilda Mekelenkamp:
As a collective, EBMT must actively advocate ED&I as fundamental values. Progress doesn’t happen by chance; it requires intentional efforts in policy development, awareness, and meaningful engagement. By fostering an environment where all voices are heard, we can ensure that leadership opportunities are accessible to everyone. We all share this responsibility, not just for the future of EBMT but also for the broader impact we have in healthcare and research. Our commitment to ED&I will enable EBMT to remain at the forefront of innovation, inclusivity, and excellence. Let this be a call to action for all of us!
Elin Öfverberg:
I think EBMT has an important role when evolving in the coming years and I think we are on the right path with EDI&I on the agenda. It is a privilege to be able to impact, but it is also a great responsibility. It is important for members to be able to relate to leaders in the community for it to have the greatest power.
International Women’s Day & future outlook
Question: This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Accelerate Action”. How does this theme resonate with you?
Michelle Kenyon:
International Women’s Day offers an opportunity to pause, reflect and celebrate women and their achievements. However, the reality beyond is that significant issues of gender inequality persist. There is a lack of education access, talent development, leadership training and support and we must draw attention to the need for economic empowerment. The 2025 campaign ‘Accelerate Action’ highlights that although advances have been made, progress is too slow, awareness needs to be replaced by action and global solutions that focus concurrently on gender equality, inclusivity and intersectionality with measurable outcomes and visible accountability are needed. We are the people that can change the future. On International Women’s Day let’s empower each other, stand united and Accelerate Action on gender equality together!
Hilda Mekelenkamp:
For me, "Accelerate Action" means celebrating every success. We amplify our collective impact by sharing our knowledge, supporting one another, and creating opportunities. Success isn’t just about achieving goals; it’s also about enjoying the journey, building strong relationships, and having fun. Bringing passion and positivity into our work inspires others, breaks barriers, and drives meaningful change. So, let’s step forward with confidence, lift each other, and accelerate the future of nursing leadership together.
Elin Öfverberg:
For me Accelerate Action stands for being proud and strong together. Dare to shine and enjoy on your journey, be confident in yourself and the women around you. For me it also stands for being supportive and proud for others as well as helping others to shine and grow, both professionally and personally. We need to be there for each other and help each other forward. Inspire and lead, and let your self be inspired and lead.