APEC Symposium Held in Songdo, Incheon on August 13
Emphasizing Women’s Participation and Leadership in Building the AI Ecosystem
"Talent from Diverse Backgrounds, Including Women, Must Participate"
"Gender equality in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) is not merely a matter of fairness. It is a wise and strategic choice to make technology more trustworthy, inclusive, and sustainable." (Moon Aeri, Chairperson of the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology)
On August 13, a symposium hosted by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was held to emphasize the cultivation of female talent and women's leadership for building a sustainable AI ecosystem.
Participants are taking a group photo at the 'APEC 2025 Women in STEM Symposium' held on the 13th at Songdo Convensia in Incheon. Provided by Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET) hosted the symposium at Songdo Convensia in Incheon as part of the third APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM3), under the theme "Empowering Women in AI for a Sustainable Future."
The symposium aimed to expand women's participation and leadership in the sustainable development of AI technology and to establish a practical framework for cooperation among APEC member economies.
This event served as a platform to strengthen global partnerships and regional collaboration among APEC members through joint initiatives, expert exchanges, and capacity-building for women scientists during the process of AI technological innovation.
The event consisted of a pre-symposium workshop, the main symposium, and a post-event networking session sharing best practices of young AI leaders. Over 400 global AI experts and stakeholders from industry, academia, and research, including Nancy Shukri, Malaysia's Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, and Jeff Robinson, Australian Ambassador to Korea, attended the event.
During the pre-event, Nisreen El-Hashemite, President of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT), shared her experience in establishing the "International Day of Women and Girls in Science," emphasizing the need to expand women's participation in the global science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Lim Hyewon, President of the Association of Korean Women Scientists and Engineers, provided guidance on career exploration for the next generation of women in science and technology. Joanne Boyce, CEO of IncludeAI, presented approaches for developing inclusive and responsible AI technologies. In addition, Kim Kyeongeon, a student at Korea Science Academy of KAIST, shared her experiences in STEM under the theme "Beyond Bias," resonating strongly with the audience.
During the main event, Moon Aeri, Chairperson of WISET and host of the symposium, stated in her opening remarks, "Women make up only about 30% of the STEM workforce, and the proportion of women in leadership roles is even lower in fields like AI. Now is the time for change. We must build an ecosystem where women can lead, innovate, and drive the future of AI together."
In the subsequent keynote speeches, three AI experts presented strategies for sustainable AI development and highlighted the importance of women's leadership.
Cha Miyoung, Professor at KAIST and Director of the Max Planck Institute, delivered a presentation titled "Good AI: The Journey of Leadership, Innovation, and Social Responsibility." She emphasized, "AI is a powerful tool for solving social problems and shaping policy," adding that "human-centered design and women's leadership are key to sustainable AI."
Asha Saxena, Professor at Columbia University, in her presentation "Leading the AI Revolution: Women’s Leadership at the Heart of Innovation," stated, "The future of AI depends on who designs it, and it is essential that talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, including women, actively participate."
Hazami Habib, Chair of the APEC Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI), in her presentation "Empowering Women in AI: Regional Cooperation Strategies for the Post-Normal Era," stressed that "empowering women is not just a matter of equity, but a strategic necessity for a sustainable AI ecosystem," and proposed strengthening cooperation among APEC economies.
The panel discussion was moderated by Bae Sunmin, Executive Director of KT AI Future Lab. Moon Aeri, Chairperson of WISET, presented on "Korea's Policies for Fostering Female Talent in the AI Era," while Frances Sims, Associate Dean of ICT at Humber Polytechnic in Canada, discussed the need for global cooperation to strengthen representation in the AI sector.
Panelists included Lisa Harvey-Smith (Professor at the University of New South Wales), Supiya Charoensiriwat (Principal Researcher at Thailand's National Electronics and Computer Technology Center), Mei Mei Soo (Chief of Global AI Solutions at Dell Technologies), and Juan Ignacio Stark Isla (Head of AI Consulting at Chile's National Center for Artificial Intelligence).
They agreed that expanding women's participation in AI is directly linked to the sustainability of technology, and proposed concrete international cooperation initiatives to build women's AI networks and strengthen capacity.
At the pre-symposium luncheon, Koo Hyukchae, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, emphasized, "Fostering female talent in STEM fields is a key strategy for addressing population decline caused by low birth rates and an aging society, and will be a major driving force for the sustainable growth that APEC pursues." He also stated, "Women's participation in AI will lay the foundation for creating a responsible and inclusive AI ecosystem."
Meanwhile, on the same day, WISET was recognized as an "Outstanding Institution" by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) for its contributions to empowering women and girls in STEM, policy development, educational program operation, and the promotion of international cooperation.
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