The third episode of the TechIsland Podcast powered by payabl. turns the spotlight on one of the most urgent conversations in Cyprus’s growing tech ecosystem: female representation in tech fields, and the need for systemic change. Hosted by TechIsland’s General Manager and Director of the Women in Tech® Cyprus Chapter, Tanya Romanyukha, together with TechIsland’s Head of PR & Communications, Artemis Pnevmatikou, the episode arrives just days before the Women in STEM Cyprus Summit, a flagship event co-organised by Women in Tech® Cyprus and TechIsland®.

This episode brings together two of this year’s Summit speakers: Christina Orfanidou, Head of Group AI at Columbia Group, and George Savva, Global ESG Practice Lead at Amdocs. Together, they unpack what it truly means to build a tech ecosystem where women not only participate, but also lead.

The Reality Behind the Numbers from TechIsland’s recent research with IMR/UNIC:

• Only 1 in 4 ICT professionals in Cyprus are women

• Just 3 in 10 ICT students are female

• Women earn 14% less than men in ICT roles

• Women remain significantly under-represented across leadership positions, particularly in emerging fields like AI and data science

“These numbers aren’t just statistics,” Tanya notes. “They represent untapped potential for the economy and for our country’s GDP.”

Women in STEM Cyprus Summit

This conversation sets the stage for the upcoming Women in STEM Cyprus Summit, taking place on 21 November at the Loft Bar & Restaurant (Rooftop of UNIC Residences - SIX) in Nicosia, under the auspices of his Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

The Summit will feature keynotes, debates, and hands-on workshops under this year’s theme: Voices of Change, moving beyond conversations and into structural reform.

Both Christina and George will take the stage: Christina with her keynote Sitting in the Front Row: Shaping a Human-Centered AI Future and George as a speaker in the first-ever Oxford-style debate on the future of women’s empowerment.

Christina’s Journey: From Academia to Corporate AI Transformation

Christina’s story is one of bold decisions, agility and purposeful risk-taking.

She holds an engineering degree, postgraduate studies in applied mathematics, and a PhD in AI from the University of Oxford, where she became the first woman to graduate with a PhD from her research group. Her early work included building one of the first voice-based systems resembling today’s deepfakes.

Her career took a transformative turn from academia into consulting, a move she describes as “a bold jump into the unknown.” She later joined Columbia Group, where she now leads AI transformation across diverse business units.

Yet, even with such achievements, Christina highlights the barriers she faced:

• The motherhood penalty and balancing caregiving duties

• Exclusion from informal networking spaces that often accelerate men’s careers

• Subtle “benevolent biases” that cast doubt on women’s ambition or availability

• Imposter syndrome driven by social conditioning

Her strategy for breaking through?

“Sometimes, you just need to knock, and ask for the seat you want.”

George’s Perspective: Why Male Allies Matter

George brings an essential viewpoint to the conversation: the role of men.

As a corporate ESG leader and father of two daughters, he stresses that gender equity must be everyone’s responsibility, and men must actively participate, not simply support from the sidelines.

He highlights two core drivers:

1. The professional responsibility to advance diversity as part of ESG and corporate sustainability

2. The personal responsibility to create a fair future 

He also calls for a cultural shift around paternity leave:

“If we truly want equality, we must give fathers the flexibility to share caregiving responsibilities. That’s how women can re-enter the workforce earlier and pursue their ambitions.”

Shifting the System: What Needs to Change

The guests explore structural changes needed to truly move the needle: Flexibility, Embedding DEI into all processes and Transparency. 

Christina adds that all these actions need measurement, not just intention.

“We need KPIs around promotion rates, pay equity, representation on boards. If you don’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”

Cyprus is evolving fast. More women are stepping up, more men are becoming allies, and more corporate, academic, and community initiatives are driving change.

The TechIsland Podcast powered by payabl. is available on Spotify and YouTube. 

Women in STEM Cyprus Summit

Date: 21 November

Location: Loft Bar & Restaurant, (UNIC Residences-SIX Rooftop) Nicosia

Agenda & Free Registration: https://womenintech-cyprus.org/