On 5th December 2024, the "No AI Without Women" conference took place at the prestigious Palace of the Elysée in Paris. Organised in collaboration with La Villa Numeris and with the support of Anne Bouverot, President Macron's Special Envoy for AI, this event served as a crucial precursor to the AI Action Summit set for February 2025. The conference addressed the challenges and opportunities of AI, bringing together leading experts and thought leaders in the field to highlight the remarkable contributions of women and their innovative visions for the future. Key discussions focused on the development of responsible and sustainable AI, its transformative potential in life sciences, its role in pivotal sectors such as construction and energy, and the evolving strategies within the finance industry. Read more for key takeaways from this inspiring event:

                       

On 5 November, WIL hosted its 14th General Assembly, bringing our community together to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future. The assembly began with interventions from WIL President Thaima Samman and WIL Vice President Nathalie Wright, who highlighted the significant milestones we achieved in 2024.

A key moment of the assembly was the election of our new and returning Board directors. We extend our warm congratulations to Helena Kazamaki, Marielle de Spa, Charlotte West, Maria Pernas Martinez, Nathalie Wright, Marina Niforos, Dr. Milena Harito, Paulina Dejmek Hack, Inga Karten, and Emanuela Palazzani.

The array of events and initiatives planned for the coming year, all aimed at empowering women and promoting female leadership across Europe, were discussed. Our Members also took part in a dynamic brainstorming session that will play a vital role in shaping WIL's strategies for relevance and impact in the year to come.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of our General Assembly!

On 13th March 2024, nearly 150 members of the WIL network convened at the iconic Palace of Westminster in London, hosted in partnership with Kering. The session, held within the elegant Cholmondeley Room and Terrace, featured discussions centred around sustainability and leadership, with a key focus on 'Embracing Biodiversity for a Sustainable Future.' The event opened with insights from WIL Board Members and Kering executives, including Marie-Claire Daveu. Esteemed speakers ranged from ambassadors to top executives in environmental and fashion sectors, sharing their expertise. The gathering culminated in a networking cocktail at The Royal Horseguards Hotel, providing a perfect backdrop for dialogue and connection among leaders.

                       

On 8th June 2023, nearly 150 members of the WIL network and guests gathered at the beautiful Palazzo Farnese (French Embassy) in Rome. Held in partnership with Kering, the event involved debates and interventions around the theme of climate and sustainability, a dedicated session for the women on the Women Talent Pool (WTP) leadership programme, exchanges with students, networking, and more. We welcomed many prominent speakers including WIL Member, Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering, Francesca Chiara Gennaro, Chief Investment Officer at CDP Venture Capital SGR SpA, and Christian Masset, France's Ambassador to Italy. 

   

We were pleased to have the chance to catch up with our Members virtually at WIL’s 12th General Assembly on 30th November, where we heard from WIL President, Thaima Samman, WIL Board Member Paulina Dejmek-Hack, and WIL General Manager Nicola Whitehead about our activities and achievements in 2021 and 2023 and plans in the pipeline for 2023. Following the vote on the four resolutions ahead of the meeting, WIL Member Maija Corinti Salvén was appointed as a Director on WIL’s Board – a fantastic opportunity for WIL given her passion for and experience in mentoring and coaching, and her commitment to further developing our community in Germany!  

On 20-21 October 2022, we celebrated our 10th Anniversary with support from event partners Orange and Capgemini, attended by over 140 people. And what an event it was!

The festivities kicked off on 20th October with a networking cocktail hosted by Capgemini, a perfect opportunity for the women in the WIL network and guests to mingle and exchange ideas. This was followed by the main event at Orange the following day, offering the chance to reflect on what we have achieved in the last decade of the life of our association and where we go next; to hear discussions on the changing world order in the last ten years and what prospects there are for the future in Europe; and to network.

To learn more, read our Event Report.

  

It was great to see so many Members at our General Assembly on 30^th November, where we heard presentations from WIL President, Thaima Samman, WIL Secretary General Pinuccia Contino, and WIL General Manager Nicola Whitehead on successes in 2020 and 2021 and what we have to look forward to in 2020. Following the vote on the four resolutions ahead of the meeting, we are delighted that WIL Member Milena Harito has formally been appointed as a Director on WIL’s Board. We look forward to collaborating with her, and to an inspiring and eventful year in 2022!

On the 26^th of October, WIL Europe organised an Online Debate on the EU Green Deal in the face of COVID-19, sponsored by Kering. The event, which was moderated by Thaima Samman, WIL’s President, featured a high-level panel of speakers, including Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice; Heidi Hautala, MEP; Antoine Colombani, Member of Cabinet of Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal; and WIL member Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of International Institutional Affairs at Kering.

This conference provided an opportunity for sustainability experts from different sectors to come together to share their perspective on the future prospects for a Deal which has been at the heart of the EU Commission’s agenda since 2019, given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. During the debate, the high-level speakers debated both opportunities and challenges in generating engagement for the EU Green Deal during COVID-19. Among the issues debated were the critical role of consumers and producers for achieving the SDGs, and the importance of collective buy-in and action to make the Deal a reality.

   

On the 10^th and 11^th of October 2019, our members, talents, and friends met in Barcelona for one of our big gatherings of the year to explore the topics of The Future of Work and Digital Health.

We started on Thursday evening with a Welcome Afterwork at the office of Osborne Clarke and we continued on Friday with high-level discussions and networking sessions at the headquarters of Grifols S.A. We rounded off the day with a visit and cocktail at the Grifols Museum.

During this event, we also kicked-off the 5^th edition of our Women Talent Pool program and were extremely happy to welcome the 39 new participants!