Women in STEM Summit 2026
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Women in STEM Summit 2026

Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi
September 3, 2026 - September 4, 2026
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM (East Africa Time)
04
Days
20
Hours
07
Minutes
41
Seconds

Discovering Talent. Driving Innovation. Shaping Africa’s Future

Africa is rapidly emerging as a global hub for innovation, digital transformation, engineering, entrepreneurship, and creative technology. Across the continent, a new generation of women and young innovators is developing groundbreaking solutions in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, fintech, robotics, climate technology, advanced manufacturing, and the creative economy.

 

Yet despite this momentum, many talented innovators continue to face persistent barriers, including limited visibility, inadequate access to financing, unequal opportunities, and underrepresentation in leadership, investment, and decision-making spaces. These challenges are systemic and require deliberate, coordinated action to ensure that Africa's innovation ecosystem is inclusive and fully harnesses its talent.

Conference Image

Positioning Africa’s Creative and Technological Talent for the Global Innovation Economy

The Women in STEM Africa Summit 2026, hosted by Women in Technology and Innovation Africa (WITIA), responds to these challenges by creating a platform that connects talent with opportunity, investment, knowledge, and strategic partnerships.

 

The Summit aligns with the objectives of Kenya's Research Financing and Capacity Strengthening Masterplan (2026–2036), which aims to increase research and innovation investment to at least 2% of GDP, and contributes to the achievement of five Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The Summit will convene innovators, investors, policymakers, industry leaders, academia, development partners, startups, students, and corporate organisations from across Africa and beyond to explore how the continent can identify, nurture, finance, and scale its scientific, technological, and creative talent while strengthening Africa's position in the global innovation economy.

 

Through high-level policy dialogues, keynote addresses, innovation showcases, exhibitions, investor engagement, talent discovery platforms, and strategic networking opportunities, the Summit will serve as more than a conference. It will be a catalyst for collaboration, investment, and inclusive innovation, generating actionable partnerships and opportunities that translate policy ambition into tangible outcomes for women and girls in STEM across Africa while strengthening the continent's innovation ecosystem.

Target Audience

The Summit is targeted towards:

01

Women in technology and engineering

02

Startup founders and innovators

03

Investors and venture capital firms

04

Corporate executives

05

Policymakers and regulators

06

Universities and research institutions

07

Development organizations and NGOs

08

STEM students and young professionals

Speakers

Meet the visionary leaders, innovators, and changemakers spearheading Africa’s technological and scientific revolution. Our distinguished speakers bring hands-on expertise, ground-breaking research, and bold perspectives from many industries - ready to inspire, challenge, and lead the next era of Women in STEM.

CIO, Sarova Hotels & Resorts
Chief Executive Officer, Moringa
Prof. Eucharia Kenya
Prof. Eucharia Kenya
Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Planning, Administration and Finance, University of Embu
Chief of Strategy and Growth Officer, Pathways Technologies Limited
Velma Amondi
Country General Manager, IBM East Africa
Fridah Inchoga
Senior Advisor - Digital Commerce, Trade & Industrial Policy, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Eliud Luutsa
Eliud Luutsa
CEO & Co-Founder, Innobid
Dr Akati Khasiani
Dr Akati Khasiani
Head of Grants and Inclusion, HEVA Fund
Dr Shikoh Gitau
Dr Shikoh Gitau
CEO & Founder, Qhala
Victor Mulindi
Victor Mulindi
Managing Partner, Khayesi & Khayesi Advocates
Dr Zippy Okoth
Dr Zippy Okoth
Film Lecturer, KCA University
Eng. Millicent Alooh
Eng. Millicent Alooh
Head of Biomedical Engineering, MP Shah Hospital
Geoffrey Kasangaki
Geoffrey Kasangaki
CEO, Asante Africa Foundation
Sylvia Mukasa
Sylvia Mukasa
CEO, GlobalIX Innovation
Agenda
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Registration, Networking & Innovation Showcase Opens
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Opening Ceremony
National Anthem, Opening Prayer, Welcome Remarks, Introduction of Guests & Partner Recognition
9:45 AM - 10:20 AM
Opening Keynote
The Future is African: Building a Globally Competitive Innovation Ecosystem
10:20 AM - 11:05 AM
Women Leading Africa's Innovation Economy
Velma
Velma Amondi
Country General Manager, IBM East Africa
Becky
Becky Abraham
Chief of Strategy and Growth Officer, Pathways Technologies Limited
Deborah
Deborah Ngina
CIO, Sarova Hotels & Resorts
11:05 AM - 11:35 AM
Innovation Showcase Tour
11:35 AM - 12:25 PM
Ministerial Policy Dialogue - Building an Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem
The Future of Africa’s Innovation Economy
12:25 PM - 1:10 PM
Panel Discussion
Engineering Africa's Future: Infrastructure, Manufacturing & Green Growth
Fridah
Fridah Inchoga
Senior Advisor - Digital Commerce, Trade & Industrial Policy, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
panelist
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM
Lunch Break & Innovation Showcase
Afternoon Plenary
2:10 PM - 2:40 PM
Keynote
Positioning Africa's Creative and Technological Talent for the Global Innovation Economy
2:40 PM - 3:25 PM
Artificial Intelligence & Digital Transformation: Unlocking Africa's Next Frontier
Dr Zippy
Dr Zippy Okoth
Film Lecturer, KCA University
Dr Shikoh
Dr Shikoh Gitau
CEO & Founder, Qhala
Victor
Victor Mulindi
Managing Partner, Khayesi & Khayesi Advocates
3:25 PM - 3:55 PM
Coffee Break & Exhibition Networking
3:55 PM - 4:40 PM
Panel Discussion
Powering Life: STEM Solutions for Climate-Resilient Health Systems
4:40 PM - 5:00 PM
Innovation Spotlight
Selected exhibitors and startups showcase breakthrough technologies (5 minutes each)
5:00 PM - 5:10 PM
Day 1 Summit Close
Partners

By investing in women and young innovators across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, these visionary organisations are directly driving Africa’s innovation landscape forward. Discover the industry leaders, institutions, and changemakers uniting with us to unleash the full potential of Women in STEM.

UNESCO
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