“Within every woman lies an infinite galaxy of potential, waiting to illuminate the universe of innovation. As leaders, our vision is not just to navigate the uncharted but to create stars, guiding lights for generations to come. Let us kindle the fires of change with our ambition, for in the constellation of humanity, women are the architects of a future so brilliant, it dazzles beyond imagination.”
– Asma Y. Zainal, Foresight Expert and Founder of the Futurist
“woman do not need quotas, nor special coaching, they just need to be given the same opportunities to show what they can do by merit”
– Dr. Lamya Al Haj, an Associate Professor, Public Speaker, Coach, an Award-Winning Scientist and A Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum
“Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have historically been dominated by men on a global scale. Notwithstanding recent advancements, the proportion of female STEM professionals worldwide stands at a mere 27%, signifying a substantial and stubborn gender imbalance within these sectors. Nevertheless, empirical data indicates that a shift is occurring, as an increasing number of women are securing engineering degrees and entering the workforce, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Arab women’s empowerment is central to the region’s transformation, which has far-reaching social and economic implications. UNESCO reports that 34-57% of STEM graduates in Arab countries are female, compared to 16% and 14% in the United Kingdom and the United States, respectively. Numerous Middle Eastern countries are instituting green growth strategies, increasing their contributions to clean energy in the built environment, and enhancing air quality. Consequently, innovative engineers are indispensable in generating blueprints for enduring structures and infrastructure that guarantee long-term security and sustainability. And all of this ensures a future of work and STEM that is equitable and truly open to women’s leadership and inclusion. This is essential in ensuring the participation of one half of the region’s economy and its most underutilised and precious natural resource – its female human capital. For this reason, at AIWF, we are resolutely committed to empowering and nurturing the next generation of women leaders in STEM, working closely with our valued Global Partners to train, engage and celebrate women leaders and their remarkable accomplishments in this sector which holds so much significance for the region’s future sustainability, human security, and economic stability and prosperity. We are delighted to support the admirable aims of the 2024 IEEE Women in Engineering International Leadership Summit in Dubai and wish you all a productive and highly collaborative Summit.”
–Haifa Al Kaylani OBE President & Founder, Arab International Women’s Forum Commissioner, ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work (2017-2019) Fellow, Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative 2017
“In the vast expanse of the digital universe, let every woman be more than a mere traveler; let her be the master of her journey, the shaper of horizons. In her hands, technology transforms, ideas soar, and innovation springs forth like a mighty river. She is not just a participant in the technological revolution; she is its driving force, its very heart. Let her spirit blaze a trail in tech, illuminating paths for future generations. For when a woman takes the helm in technology, the world doesn’t just change – it soars to dazzling new heights.”
– Dr. Kaoutar El Maghraoui, Principal Research Scientist, IBM Research AI, Adjunct Professor, Columbia University, ACM Distinguished Member
“Women empower each other through shared experiences, support, and a collective determination to pave the way for future generations.”
– Dr. Reem Ashour, Senior Researcher-Autonomous Robotics Research Centre at Technology Innovation Institute, Secretary IEEE WIE-UAE Section
