Instruct-ERIC prides itself on being a champion of gender equality within the research infrastructure community. Following the lifecycle of the first gender equality plan, Instruct has enhanced an already strong historical track record of gender equality, raising the base level of understanding and engagement with diversity practices and actions, whilst also reaching new heights of equality in the wider structural biology community. Instruct has expanded its ambition to include diversity in its equality activities, hence its second iteration being a diversity and gender equality plan – it was crucial to use the momentum gained from the initial audit of Hub staff and activities to measure feedback to develop impactful actions that Instruct can commit to. The culture of gender equality in Instruct runs from the decision-making level, through the Hub and its committees, to the way in which calls and access are provided to users, resulting in an increasingly diverse community of researchers that access Instruct services, providing the launchpad for continuing and improved equality in the structural biology community for years to come. Support from the Newcomer Gender Equality Champions prize will help Instruct to be even more ambitious with its future targets for gender equality and diversity.