Hosted by the Pinpoint Stewards, the 3rd Annual Women and Leadership in Engineering, Infrastructure and Innovation Conference will be taking place on 28 & 29 February 2024, Hilton Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg.

As recent as September 2023, Minister Blade Nzimande said:  “patriarchal attitudes, systematic barriers and certain practices and norms have defined women out of the research, scientific and technological developments that are engines of the Industrial Revolutions. The measures aimed at greater gender inclusion in our recently approved STI Decadal Plan (2022-2032), our ten-year plan, include the STI Transformation Framework, and the STI Gender Strategy that is aligned to the government-wide gender responsive planning and budgeting framework...”

Pinpoint Stewards, Co-Founder and organiser, Sudhira Sewsunker says: “Adding onto the recently approved Science Technology Innovation Decadal Plan, the women leadership conference will focus on how the public and private sector can join efforts and accelerate representation of women in these sectors, achieving the STI Transformation Network and STI Gender Strategy.”

It is abundantly clear that women still face innumerable hurdles when considering to enter formal employment within the STEM sector, says Sudhira Sewsunker, Co-Owner, Pinpoint Stewards. Sewsunker adds, “Being a women empowerment company vested in developing, uniting and empowering women, we have seen the impact of gender disparity across all sectors in South Africa. When you magnify the STEM sector it is a stark reminder that gender parity is the answer to boosting South Africa’s economy and women are contributing to these critical engines of  Industrial Revolution and Infrastructure developments.”

This objective platform will feature 15 prominent women who have been making an impact in their respective roles. Delegates can look forward to insightful dialogue and ground-breaking stories on how these women have made and will continue to leave their indelible mark in the various disciplines they represent.

Delivering the opening address will be Honnourable Deputy Minister, Bernice Swarts, Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. Eskom’s, General Manager for Research, Training and Development, Prudence Madiba will focus on becoming an employer of choice for engineering, infrastructure and innovation professionals and she will look at how these sectors can attract and retain a women workforce.

Dr Rakeshnie Ramoutar – Prieschl, Acting DG – Technology Innovation from the National Department of Science and Innovation will tackle, women in STEM giving an African Perspective. Managing Director of the SA Agency for Science and Technology & NRF, Dr Mamoeletsi Mosia will be looking at ways to change the current statistics.

Other women taking to the podium include: Charvinia Naidu, Head of Sustainability Strategy, Sasol; Nthwana Ngoma, ICT Services and Operation Lead, SANRAL; Naomi Naidoo, Founder, Pink Africa Consulting; Nthwana Ngoma, ICT Services and Operation Lead, SANRAL; Gugulethu Ndlovu, Project Manager, SANRAL; Dr Adwoa Boaduo Issaka, Unit Manager Safety, Goldfields; Phindi Mthambama, Africa Brewing and Quality Director, AB – InBEV; Tshegofatso Sibambato, Civil Engineer, Zutari; Alisha Raghoonanan, Project Manager, Enel Green Power; Gladys Magagula, Project Manager, South African National Space Agency; Sindisiwe Sono, Satellite Operations Technician, South African National Space Agency; Raksha Naidoo, Chairperson WiMSA.

Our media partners will be African Mining and Engineering News who will be profiling these incredible women and adding their voice to rid the sector of gender inequality among others.

Giants of industry within the public and private sector are called to participate and host a table at the event to ensure their current and upcoming talent keep abreast of the latest trends while networking and adopting best practices.

Get in contact with Pinpoint Stewards to register your team. Email info@pinpointstewards.co.za to avoid disappointment. Early bird registration ends on 15 December.

Pinpoint Stewards have 20 years’ experience in research, management and arranging conferences onsite and online training platforms. They are a 100% women owned, Level 2 B-BBEE company. To sponsor a table for the conference email info@pinpointstewards.co.za or follow Pinpoint Stewards on LinkedIn.