Unlocking Innovation: Inspiring Opportunities for Women and Girls in STEM

Date: Wednesday, 11 February 2026

HE Brenda Wills High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean with scientist Dominican Lana Athanaze-Francis in her lab

Her Excellency Brenda Wills High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean with our featured scientist, Dominican Lana Athanaze-Francis in her lab.

Roseau, Dominica, 11 February 2026: For those who have had the privilege opening a jar of skincare from Éclat Nova Luxuries, you have a full sensory experience, the texture, the scent, the promise of self-care. But for Lana Athanaze-Francis, the founder and formulator, what lies inside that jar is something far more rigorous: it is chemistry.

"Science is the foundation of how we turn botanical ingredients into products that are safe, stable, and effective. A simple emulsion could split, oxidize, or irritate the skin unless the pH, ratios, and ingredient interactions are right," Lana explains.

While the brand is celebrated for its botanical roots, the engine driving Éclat Nova is pure cosmetic chemistry.

It is a delicate balance. While the "craft" gives the product its story and visual appeal, Lana emphasises that it is the science that ensures safety. Her lab is a place of rigorous testing from stability checks, microbiological screens, to pH balancing, all ensuring that the plant actives she selects perform as expected.

From the Lab to the Global Stage

Dominican scientist Lana Athanaze-Francis

Lana’s dedication to excellence has propelled her far beyond the shores and shops of Dominica. Through opportunities with the Build Back Equal Project, a comprehensive approach to economic empowerment funded in part by the Government of Canada and being implemented by UN Women and UNFPA, Éclat Nova Luxuries has been showcased on international platforms, proving that small island businesses can compete globally.

In 2024, Lana was selected to attend The International Woman Leadership Conference (TIWLC) in Dubai. This high-level gathering connected her with global women leaders, offering a masterclass in scaling business impact and navigating the international trade landscape. It was here that the "formula" she speaks of confidence, discipline, and clarity was refined among peers from across Africa and the Diaspora.

Following this, Lana showcased Éclat Nova at the UN Women and CDB-convened SIDS Gender Equality Forum “Equality Village Entrepreneurial Marketplace” in Antigua and Barbuda. Held as a special event during the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), the Equality Village was a showcase of resilience and innovation. Here, Lana stood as an ambassador for sustainable Caribbean manufacturing, presenting her scientifically formulated products to heads of state, development partners, and investors.

To Lana, these experiences were not just trade shows; they were validation. They underscored that a woman-owned business from Dominica, built on chemistry and botanical science, belongs in the global conversation on economic resilience and sustainable development.

Inspiring the Future of STEM

Lana Athanaze-Francis on a panel of speakers

Lana’s work resonates deeply with the global call to action issued by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. As we celebrate the 2026 International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Secretary-General has stated:

"Excluding women from science weakens our collective capacity to address urgent global challenges, from climate change to public health to space security. To solve these problems, we must ensure that every girl can imagine a future in STEM, and that every woman can thrive in her scientific career."

The 2026 theme is “Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM, and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls” and Lana embodies this synergy, leveraging her STEM skills to create a product, and her financial discipline to build a business that closes the gender gap.
When asked what she would say to young girls who enjoy mixing potions in the kitchen but don't yet see themselves as scientists, Lana’s message is clear and empowering:

"You’re already doing science because science is curiosity, testing ideas, and learning from results," she says. She encourages the next generation to keep a notebook, observe, and measure. "The same skills you use to blend textures and scents are the skills scientists and formulators use every day. If creating is your passion, you belong in STEM."

The Formula for the Future

Lana Athanaze proves that the laboratory and entrepreneurship are not mutually exclusive spaces. By combining the "craft" of storytelling with the "chemistry" of formulation, she is doing exactly what the Build Back Equal Project envisions: showing that creativity can lead to real solutions, real careers, and a tangible future in science.
Lana says as her business - Éclat Nova Luxuries continues to grow - it stands as a testament to her belief that while passion sparks the flame, it is science that keeps the light burning.

About Éclat Nova Luxuries