Celebrating 5 Years of Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators
The EIT Women and Girls in STEM celebrates the Girls Go Circular initiative, led by the EIT Community and supported by the European Commission. The initiative equips secondary school girls with green, digital, and entrepreneurial skills through a dynamic online programme.
Since 2021, over 4,600 participants have gathered every year to close the gender gap in STEM and ICT, challenge stereotypes, and empower girls to pursue careers in science and technology.
The EIT Education and Skills Days 2025 are the occasion to recognise five years of impact in raising awareness of gender gaps in STEM and promoting inclusive digital innovation across Europe.
This year’s focus is cybersecurity, a crucial field shaping privacy, safety, and national security. As young people engage more online, understanding cybersecurity is vital. Despite high demand, women remain significantly underrepresented. We will highlight how greater inclusion can drive innovation and strengthen Europe’s digital resilience.
Agenda | 16th October
8:30 - 09:00
REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE
9:00 - 9:30
Opening and announcement of the Girls Go STEM
9:30 – 10:00
Panel discussion: Cyber careers uncovered: from gaming to global security
Topics covered:
- Exploring a wide range of cybersecurity careers—beyond coding—including roles in design, psychology, law, and policy
- How diverse perspectives, especially from women, are essential to shaping a safer digital future
Moderator: Maria Metodieva
Student, Girls Go Circular Ambassador Cohort 1
Magda Lilia Chelly
Co-Founder and CEO, RiskImmune AI Platform and founder of Women on Cyber
Dominik Koehler
Product Owner for Vulnerability and Exposure Management, KONE
10:00 – 10:30
Fireside Chat: My Journey into Tech – What I Wish I Knew at 16
Topics covered:
- Personal journey of a young professional in gaming
- Challenges or doubts faced and how they overcame them
- Advice for teenage students, especially girls, considering careers in tech
- Q&A with audience
Moderator: Sofiya Chuzhda
Student, Girls Go Circular Ambassador Cohort 1
Mariina Hallikainen
CEO, Colossal Order
10:30 - 11:00
REFRESHMENT BREAK
11:00 - 12:15
Student Challenge Finale
Student Challenge Finale: The three Finalist teams of the Cybersecurity Challenge get to pitch their ideas on stage in front of an expert Jury and the public.
The Cambridge University Press & Assessment Prize offers a trip to Cambridge to meet inspiring women from various fields, with a chance to visit the campus and explore the CUP office.
Jury panel:
Wilhelmine Dubuisson
Key Account Manager - IT & Telco, Proximus Group
Swaathi Vetrivel
Postdoctoral Researcher, TU Delft, ENHANCE Alliance
Helen Lovekin
Head of the Office of the CTO, National Cyber Security Centre
12:15 - 12:20
Closing remarks
12:30 - 13:30
LUNCH
Our Speakers
Magda Lilia Chelly
Co-Founder and CEO | RiskImmune AI Platform and founder of Women on Cyber
Mariina Hallikainen
CEO | Colossal Order
Wilhelmine Dubuisson
Key Account Manager - IT & Telco | Proximus Group
Swaathi Vetrivel
Postdoctoral Researcher | TU Delft, ENHANCE Alliance
Moderator: Maria Metodieva
Student | Girls Go Circular Ambassador Cohort 1
Moderator: Sofiya Chuzhda
Student | Girls Go Circular Ambassador Cohort 1
Dominik Koehler
Product Owner for Vulnerability and Exposure Management | KONE
Helen Lovekin
Head of the Office of the CTO | National Cyber Security Centre
Anna Linden
Governing Board Member | EIT
Our Partners
Why joining?
- Join expert panels and interactive sessions on emerging digital threats, online ethics, responsible digital behaviour and the role of cybersecurity in shaping a resilient society
- Get inspired by discussions on how youth, especially girls, can protect themselves online, critically assess information, and navigate ethical challenges in AI and digital security
- Live the emotion of the Girls Go Circular Student Challenge Finale, with three teams of girls pitching their brilliant ideas on stage
- Don’t miss the opportunity to network with leading professionals from diverse backgrounds
