Saturday, 3 October 2026 – Day 1

10:00-11:00 Fireside Chat

11:00 – 11:45 Intergenerational Panel

Sunday, 4 October 2026 – Day 2

10:00-11:00 Executive Panel

11:00-11:45 Interactive Workshop

Fireside Chat

Engineering the Future: Women Securing their Place in Industry 5.0

Moderator: Dr. Jeewika Ranaweera, Co-Chair IEEE Metaverse

Saturday, October 3 | 10:00 – 11:00

Abstract: As we shift to Industry 5.0, driven by megatrends like human-machine collaboration, sustainability, and personalized solutions, women’s contributions in engineering are essential. This panel explores how gender-diverse leadership fosters innovation, adaptability, and inclusive team building, enabling women to drive transformative change. With insights from Industry 4.0 advancements, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies, highlighting how women engineers are shaping the future, leading innovation, securing their place in this new industrial era.

Fireside Chat Team

Dr. Dejan Milojicic, HPE Fellow and VP, Hewlett Packard Labs,

Mary Ellen Randall, President-Elect, IEEE 2025

Dr. Thomas Coughlin, IEEE Past President, IEEE 2025

Dr. Kathleen Kramer, President, IEEE 2025

Intergenerational Panel

Engineering the Future: Women Securing their Place in Industry 5.0

Moderator: Dr. Jeewika Ranaweera, Co-Chair IEEE Metaverse

Saturday, October 3 | 11:00 – 11:45

Abstract: As we shift to Industry 5.0, driven by megatrends like human-machine collaboration, sustainability, and personalized solutions, women’s contributions in engineering are essential. This panel explores how gender-diverse leadership fosters innovation, adaptability, and inclusive team building, enabling women to drive transformative change. With insights from Industry 4.0 advancements, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies, highlighting how women engineers are shaping the future, leading innovation, securing their place in this new industrial era.

Intergenerational Panelists

Dr. Dejan Milojicic, HPE Fellow and VP, Hewlett Packard Labs,

Mary Ellen Randall, President-Elect, IEEE 2025

Dr. Thomas Coughlin, IEEE Past President, IEEE 2025

Dr. Kathleen Kramer, President, IEEE 2025

Executive Panel

Track 1: Engineering the Future: Women Securing their Place in Industry 5.0

Moderator: Dr. Jeewika Ranaweera, Co-Chair IEEE Metaverse

Sunday, October 4 | 10:00 – 11:00

Abstract: As we shift to Industry 5.0, driven by megatrends like human-machine collaboration, sustainability, and personalized solutions, women’s contributions in engineering are essential. This panel explores how gender-diverse leadership fosters innovation, adaptability, and inclusive team building, enabling women to drive transformative change. With insights from Industry 4.0 advancements, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies, highlighting how women engineers are shaping the future, leading innovation, securing their place in this new industrial era.

EXECUTIVE PANELISTS

Dr. Dejan Milojicic, HPE Fellow and VP, Hewlett Packard Labs,

Mary Ellen Randall, President-Elect, IEEE 2025

Dr. Thomas Coughlin, IEEE Past President, IEEE 2025

Dr. Kathleen Kramer, President, IEEE 2025

Workshop Essential Leadership Skills

Workshop with Shilpa Shastri, Apptio IBM

Moderator: Dr. Jeewika Ranaweera, Co-Chair IEEE Metaverse

Sunday, October 4 | 10:00 – 11:00

Abstract: As we shift to Industry 5.0, driven by megatrends like human-machine collaboration, sustainability, and personalized solutions, women’s contributions in engineering are essential. This panel explores how gender-diverse leadership fosters innovation, adaptability, and inclusive team building, enabling women to drive transformative change. With insights from Industry 4.0 advancements, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies, highlighting how women engineers are shaping the future, leading innovation, securing their place in this new industrial era.