Date: 26 November 2020, 10:00 – 13:00 CET
There is a consistent lack of tech professionals in Europe. It has been proven that diverse teams increase potential for innovation in tech companies. Gender equality in the workforce increases even countries’ GDP. Yet, even with all these potential benefits, women still make up only 16% of the Information Technology (IT) workforce. How to increase gender diversity in tech?
The half-day online conference “Towards gender equality in tech: the DiversIT Charter launch” gathered stakeholders from public, private and non-governmental sectors. Several keynote speakers provided insights into the importance of diversity in ICT industry, the benefits of diverse teams for companies, and, of course, practical information about the Charter and its implementation. A panel of experts shared best practice examples of attracting and retaining female talent.
Below you can find the presentations of the event. You can find the recordings of the sessions on the CEPIS YouTube channel.
Useful links:
CEPIS DiversIT Charter
Ministerial declaration on women in digital (European Commission)
S. Van Uffelen: Dare for Tomorrow: Leading, Working, Learning and Living in a Digital World
Analysis of the Gender Gap in the Digital Sector in Malta
Guidelines to Increase and Retain Women in ICT – eSkills Malta
Programme
Welcome address and presentation about CEPIS
10:00 – 10:15
- Byron Nicolaides, President, CEPIS
The importance of gender diversity – EU policy perspective
10:15 – 10:30
- Message from Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
- Evelyn Regner MEP, Chair of Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, European Parliament
What is DiversIT Charter?
10:30 – 10:45
- Gillian Arnold, Chair, CEPIS Women in ICT expert group
The importance of diversity in ICT industry
10:45 – 11:00
- Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, Director General, DIGITALEUROPE
Gender diversity in tech: the perspective of employees and trade unions
11:00 – 11:15
- Marta Ochoa, Director of Youth and Senior Coordinator for Equal Opportunities, UNI Europa
Break
11:15 – 11:30
Best practices in retention and attraction of women to ICT roles – panel discussion
11:30 – 12:30
Moderator: Saskia van Uffelen, Corporate Vice President INETUM, Digital Champion of Belgium
- Vessela Karloukovska, Policy Officer, European Commission
- Eva Fabry, Managing Director, European Centre for Women in Technology
- Christine Regitz, Vice President, SAP
- Valeria de Flaviis, Head of Innovative Models, Novartis
- Sevil Kayas, Head of Talent Strategy & Development, Vodafone Turkey
- Jef Van In, CEO, Axa Insurance Belgium
DiversIT Charter in practice
12:30 – 12:45
- Petra Kotuliakova, member of CEPIS Women in ICT expert group
- Arnheiður Guðmundsdóttir, member of CEPIS Women in ICT expert group
Call to action and closing remarks
12:45 – 13:00
- Austeja Trinkunaite, Secretary General, CEPIS
Working towards gender equality in tech requires involvement from all stakeholders. Contribute to achieving gender balance by sharing the information the DiversIT Charter with your network!
