Annual NACI Symposium on Leadership Roles of Women in Science, Technology and Innovation

The NACI symposium entitled, Enhancing the leadership roles of women in science, technology and innovation was held on Friday 13 August 2010 at Premier Hotel, Pretoria.

The symposium, which was an initiative of Science, Engineering and Technology (SET4W), sub-committee of NACI, was attended by about 100 leaders and aspiring leaders (predominantly women) from a wide variety of institutions and organisations.

The objectives of the symposium were as follows:

• To provide a platform for engagement with women leaders in the STI;
• To identify strategies that can facilitate the participation of women at senior levels in the STI;
• To identify strategies that can be used to enhance women’s scientific outputs; and
• To enhance the participation of women in the STI.

Amongst others, delegates shared information on the current status of women as managers in the science, technology and innovation (STI) environment and as leaders of scientific research output in South Africa. The symposium also discussed possible policy interventions and/or strategies to facilitate and enhance the participation and contribution of women in the STI.

The Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor opened the symposium with a keynote address and also launched the NACI principles and good practice guidelines for enhancing the participation of women in the science, engineering and technology sector. NACI is of the view that implementation of these guidelines would greatly contribute to improving the participation of women within the SET sector.

Kindly contact the NACI secretariat for any further information related to the symposium. Presentations and proceedings of the symposium are available below.

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• The enabling environment for gender equity and womens empowerment – presentation by Dr. Botlhale Tema
• International Perspective of Womens Involvement in STI Leadership – presentation by Prof Inmaculada Garcia Fernandez
• Contribution of South African women in Science, Technology and Innovation – A perspective in nuclear and radiation science cluster – presentation by Ms Puleng Maseko
• Taking Stock – Policy Interventions and Impact in the STI – presentation by Dr Romilla Maharaj
• Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology – presentation by Dr Sibongile Gumbi
• Proceeding of the Symposium