The Women in STEM Cyprus Forum brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and professionals to address the critical issues of gender equality and inclusion in technology. The event featured insightful speeches and panels, including a keynote address by Tasoula Hadjitofi, who inspired attendees with her message on resilience and empowerment.

The forum also provided a platform for discussions on funding strategies, digital transformation, and leadership, aiming to empower women entrepreneurs and professionals to thrive in the evolving technological landscape.

Tanya Romanyukha, General Manager at TechIsland & Director Women in Tech Cyprus, delivered an opening address at the inaugural Women in STEM Cyprus Forum. She emphasized the importance of creating a recurring, annual platform for dialogue, focusing on the inclusion, engagement, and advancement of women in STEM. The event aims to inspire women of all ages—young girls, career switchers, and those returning to the workforce—by showcasing technology as a viable career path. Tanya highlighted the need to address the global shortage of tech talent by tapping into the untapped potential of women, advocating for initiatives that retain and uplift women in the field, including entrepreneurs. She stressed the importance of fostering societal support for women through policies that enable dual career paths and flexible work arrangements, and called on parents, mentors, and role models to encourage young girls and boys to explore STEM without the constraints of traditional gender roles. Quoting Timothy Snyder’s book on freedom, she encouraged breaking free from limiting beliefs to create more opportunities. Tanya concluded by expressing gratitude to sponsors, speakers, volunteers, and key supporters, including President Nikos Christodoulides and the Gender Equality Commissioner, emphasizing a collective effort to build a community where freedom, equality, and opportunity are realities.

The Gender Equality Commissioner delivered a speech at the Women in STEM Cyprus Forum, representing President Nikos Christodoulides, emphasizing the importance of gender equality in STEM. The address highlighted historical milestones for women's rights, underscoring the ongoing global struggle for gender equality, with a call to view progress reports as tools for improvement rather than competition. The Commissioner cited the need for more women in STEM, pointing out persistent gender imbalances in fields like ICT and healthcare, influenced by stereotypes. Despite these challenges, Cyprus has seen progress, with increasing female participation in science and engineering.

The speech also addressed concerns about biases in AI, noting that gender stereotypes embedded in training data can lead to biased outputs. The Commissioner stressed the importance of balanced representation in tech to address these biases, as well as the role of government policy in fostering equality. Current initiatives include data collection on women's participation in STEM, digital skills training for women in rural areas, scholarships, and educational reforms to combat stereotypes. Furthermore, the government has introduced measures to support work-life balance, such as extending maternity and parental leave, enhancing childcare infrastructure, and early education initiatives.

The Commissioner concluded by celebrating the success of a team of young Cypriot women in a STEM competition, encouraging continued collaboration between the government, private sector, and other stakeholders to create an environment where all children can pursue their interests and aspirations equally.

Valentinos Polykarpou, speaking at the Women in STEM Cyprus Forum emphasized the importance of talent in the technology sector, noting that technology, a key driver of the global economy, is built on intellectual property and skilled people. Polykarpou stressed that talent development should not be limited by gender; both women and men are essential to the future of tech.

He highlighted the potential of Cyprus's emerging tech ecosystem and the need to attract more young people, particularly in STEM fields, by providing opportunities for all, rather than just focusing on a subset of the population. Polykarpou advocated for changing traditional norms, such as outdated titles like "chairman," to pave the way for more inclusive leadership and opportunities. He encouraged young entrepreneurs and students to actively engage with peers, participate in workshops, and seek out experiences to grow. He concluded with gratitude to everyone involved in making the event possible and expressed optimism for more initiatives to come.

Tasoula Hadjitofi, a cultural activist, author, and entrepreneur, shared her inspiring journey at the Women in STEM Cyprus Forum. At 27, she became the first female and youngest honorary consul of Cyprus in the Netherlands. Her fight against art trafficking, which led to the repatriation of stolen cultural artifacts, earned her international recognition, including the title "Woman of Europe." Drawing on her background in computer science, she applied her analytical skills to expose illegal networks and collaborated with international law enforcement, including Interpol, to tackle art crimes. Through her NGO, Walk Of Truth, she blends entrepreneurship with cultural heritage protection, advocating for the preservation of historical and religious symbols.

Hadjitofi emphasized the deep connection between cultural heritage and human rights, arguing that the destruction of religious icons undermines freedom of worship. She has expanded her work to educate policymakers on this issue and empower other communities to protect their cultural identity. She encouraged the audience to join her efforts, highlighting the importance of helping others reach their full potential. Hadjitofi expressed her gratitude for platforms like the Women in STEM Forum, which foster community, support, and progress, and offered her assistance to those looking to advocate for gender equality and cultural preservation.

The "Beyond Biases: How to Attract More Women in STEM" panel at the Women in STEM Cyprus Forum featured insights from leaders across different sectors. Moderated by Freda Yannitsas, CEO of Cyprus Mail, the panel included Polina Georgakopoulou, Chapter Leader of the Dataflow team at MUFG Investor Services, Monica Ioannidou Polemitis, Founder and CEO at Hybrid ConsulTech, Christos Papadopoulos, Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth and Yulia Tarasova, Co-Founder at KidIT

They discussed challenges women face entering and thriving in STEM, particularly for those returning from career breaks or starting anew. Polina highlighted the need for supportive company policies, structured onboarding, and inclusive environments, emphasizing that awareness and continuous training play key roles in breaking down gender barriers. Monica stressed the importance of shifting the narrative around STEM careers to focus on problem-solving and real-world applications, while also pointing to the benefits of mentorship and networking.

Christos outlined national initiatives aimed at integrating STEM education from an early age, such as curriculum revisions, after-school clubs, and partnerships with industry to inspire young girls. He noted the importance of inclusive teaching practices to foster equal participation. Yulia shared her experience with Kid IT, emphasizing that early exposure to technology should be seen as a tool rather than a gendered skill, and advocated for breaking stereotypes by showing parents and children the wide range of creative applications in tech. The panelists collectively agreed on the need for broader cultural change, better policies, and increased collaboration between government, private sector, and educational institutions to create a more supportive ecosystem for women in STEM.

Dr. Eliza Patouris, Managing Director of RESET, introduced the "Fem STEM Initiative" at the Women in STEM Cyprus Forum. She highlighted RESET's mission to foster social change through sustainability, inclusion, and gender equality, emphasizing the importance of increasing women's participation in STEM. The Fem STEM Initiative is a transnational project involving partners from Greece, Cyprus, Lithuania, and Spain, aimed at addressing gender disparities by supporting women in higher education, promoting mentorship, and bridging the gap between academia and industry. Dr. Patouris identified key barriers such as stereotypes, caregiving duties, and the lack of mentorship that hinder women's success in STEM.

The initiative seeks to equip educators with better resources and training, facilitate job shadowing and networking, and encourage young women to pursue STEM careers. Utilizing a participatory approach, RESET involves stakeholders throughout the project to ensure it meets real-world needs. The Fem STEM Initiative will also create an online platform offering mentorship, educational resources, and Vlog talks to support women in the field. Dr. Patouris concluded by inviting the audience to engage with the project and announced a transnational summit planned for next year in Spain.

The panel discussion, titled "From Inclusion to Leadership: Retention Strategies for Women in Tech," was moderated by Raluca Ioana Man, Vice Chair at ICC Women Network Cyprus and founder of RSEVEN and BSA. She was joined by esteemed panelists: Savia Orphanidou, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Cyprus; Jim Sukar, Managing Director of Global IT Services at MUFG Investor Services; Cleo Papadopoulou, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer and Chief Learning Officer at PwC Cyprus; and Marianna Hadjiantoniou, Executive Vice President at Energame. The conversation focused on addressing the barriers women face in advancing to leadership roles in tech, effective retention strategies, and fostering true inclusivity within companies.

The panelists shared valuable insights and recommendations, including the importance of government support, flexible working conditions, and improvements in workplace infrastructure, such as on-site childcare and breastfeeding facilities. They emphasized the need for mentorship, equal parental leave, and accountability within leadership structures. Each speaker concluded with advice for the next generation of female leaders, encouraging networking, challenging norms, and maintaining resilience. The discussion highlighted that inclusivity should be seen not just as a societal goal but as a business imperative, necessitating concrete support and mentorship to enable women in tech to thrive.

Manel Bondi, Chief of Digital Markets Growth at the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), addressed the Women in STEM Cyprus Forum, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and empowerment for women in STEM fields. She highlighted the need for diverse representation in technology and innovation, noting that while women make up half of the global population, they are significantly underrepresented in the STEM workforce. Bondi commended Cyprus for its leadership in promoting digital inclusion and supporting women's participation through initiatives like the "Superior Women in Digital Strategy."

She outlined the DCO's commitment to bridging the gender digital divide, focusing on education, mentorship, and policies that foster equal opportunities. Stressing that overcoming barriers requires coordinated efforts across sectors and borders, Bondi urged collaboration among governments, educational institutions, and the private sector to create pathways for women in tech. She concluded by reiterating that empowering women in STEM is not just about achieving equality but is essential for building a more innovative and equitable global economy.

The third panel at the event, titled "Women Entrepreneurs and Funding: Strategies for Accessing Venture Capital," was moderated by Yuriy Romanyukha, Managing Partner at ICLUB Global. The panelists included Andrei Kouzel, Angel Investor and Co-Founder of Flo Health; Liza Charalambous, Co-Founder and CTO of Malloc; Natallia Cvetkovich, Lawyer at Zubr Capital; and Kyriaki Pantziarou, Senior Officer of Digital Policy at the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy.

The discussion focused on practical insights and strategies for fundraising, especially in challenging market conditions. Key topics included the importance of empathy and active listening in securing funding, opportunities for female founders in the tech sector, and the benefits of government initiatives in driving digital transformation. The panelists emphasized the role of collaboration, the support of digital policy initiatives, and the adoption of emerging technologies such as AI and cybersecurity. They highlighted the need for female entrepreneurs to believe in themselves, build strong support networks, and leverage global connections to propel their ventures forward.

Andreas Tsouloftas, President of the Limassol Chamber of Commerce, delivered a speech at the Women in Tech Cyprus conference, emphasizing the need to support and advance women's roles in technology. He highlighted the challenges women face, including gender bias, unequal pay, and limited access to funding and resources. Andreas called for increased financial support, targeted entrepreneurship programs, and comprehensive educational initiatives to address these gaps. He praised examples from European countries that incentivize gender equality and noted the importance of collaboration between education, industry, and government.

Furthermore, Andreas announced that the chamber plans to launch a comprehensive program to empower women entrepreneurs and professionals in tech. This initiative will include workshops, speeches, networking events, and mentorship opportunities, aiming to boost women's participation and leadership in the digital sector. He expressed hope that the conference would be a catalyst for positive change, fostering a more inclusive and innovative ecosystem in Cyprus.