In the afternoon of Tuesday 14 May 2024, the IEEE Region 10 Women in Engineering – Industry Forum on “Shaping The Future: Women’s Role in Industry” was held in Senayan, Jakarta by the IEEE Region 10 WIE Committee. The event was supported by the government-owned television broadcaster TVRI and the IEEE Indonesia Section. The discussion forum featured a strong line-up of speakers consisting of the President of IEEE Thomas Coughlin, the Chairman of Indonesian Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN) Dr. L.T. Handoko, the Indonesian Ambassador to Kuwait H.E. Lena Maryana, and the Secretary General of Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Informatics (KOMINFO) Ms. Mira Tayyiba.
The panelists comprised of the IEEE Region 10 Director Prof. Em. Lance Fung, the Region 10 Director-elect Prof. Takako Hashimoto, representatives of various Sections of R10 who attended online, members and advisory committee of IEEE Indonesia Section, as well as professionals from the industry and representatives from the government. The forum was opened by Dr. Agnes Irwanti, acting as both a Member of TVRI Supervisory Board and the Chair of IEEE Region 10 WIE, whereas a closing remark was given by the Chair of IEEE Indonesia Section Prof. Gamantyo Hendrantoro.
The panel discussion indicated that there are still challenges for the society to overcome in improving the role and contributions of women in engineering and industry, but there are also big opportunities, mostly owing to the high motivation of the women themselves, including so many successful women engineers and leaders, who each can be a role model for the younger generations. As importantly, the society and the government are also expected to provide an environment where equal opportunities are offered to all members of the society.
In the case of Indonesia, the role of women in engineering and leadership has been generally well recognized, as testified earlier by H.E. Ambassador and the Chair of Research & Innovation Agency. Its is further expected that these could strongly reflect the ever-increasing role of women in Indonesia, which hopefully can also happen throughout the geographic areas covered by IEEE, including Region 10.
The forum was closed with a hope that activities such as this forum are continued by IEEE in every Section of Region 10 and also in all other geographic units of IEEE, with the Women In Engineering affinity groups being the initiators. It was also wished that every IEEE Section attempts to join forces with the government and the industry to boost the position of women pursuing a career in industry.
The recorded program can be viewed on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFpPvg-Eq5w.