Women in Technology: Past, Present and Future

Speakers:

Eileen Trauth, Professor Emeritus of Information Sciences & Technology, and Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies at The Pennsylvania State University

Eileen Trauth is Professor Emeritus of Information Sciences & Technology, and Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies at The Pennsylvania State UniversityHer research, writing and outreach focus on barriers to inclusion in the information technology profession experienced by women and other marginalized groups. Her work in Europe, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and North America has been supported by the Fulbright Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and Science Foundation Ireland. Her findings have been published in journals such as MIS Quarterly, European Journal of Information Systems, Information Systems Journal, Information Technology & People, Information and Organization, The Data Base for Advances in Information Systems, and Communications of the ACM, as well as in several books, and a play, iDream. She has advised EU gender projects, is co-editor of Handbook of Gender and Technology: Environment, Identity, Individual (Edward Elgar, 2023), was co-editor-in-chief of Information Systems Journal, and was founding president of the Association for Information Systems special interest group on social inclusion. (www.eileentrauth.com).

Dr Helen Maher, Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at University of Galway 

Dr Helen Maher is currently Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Galway. Helen’s experience has primarily been in the field of equality and social justice, working in a wide variety of contexts in higher education, civil society organisations and consultancy work. Helen holds a BA degree from University College Dublin, an MA in Peace Studies from the University of Bradford, and a PhD on the gendered nature of the transition to democracy in South Africa, from the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University. A substantial aspect of Helen’s career in higher education has been in curriculum design, lecturing and programme leadership. She has worked with An Cosán, Tallaght; Waterford Women’s Centre; the Inner City Organisations Network Dublin and Carlow College, St. Patrick’s and Greenpeace. Within the EU context, Helen has developed, implemented and evaluated projects under the Equal Programme, the Equality for Women Measure, Erasmus+ strategic partnerships and Irish Aid. These projects have focused on engaging with diverse constituencies to address issues of gender, citizenship, identity, equality, inclusion and social change. Helen also designed training programmes under the EU Grundtvig programme examining equality, inclusion and social justice concepts and pedagogical practices for participants working in the field of education across Europe.

In a voluntary context, Helen has also served as an International Human Rights Observer in Mexico in the 1990s and as a member of the Carlow County Development Partnership board since 2015 with specific reference to her expertise in governance, gender equality and social inclusion. She is a founder member of Rohingya Action Ireland.

Ruth Lennon, Global Chair for ACM-W Association of Computing Machinery and Lecturer, Atlantic Technological University

Ruth Lennon, she/her, is a lecturer with over 20 years of experience in the Department of Computing in Atlantic Technological University Donegal, Ireland. Ruth has been a member of the ACM-W for 20 years and is the Global Chair of the ACM-W and a member of the DEI committee. Ruth joined the AnitaB community to help connect women in Ireland whilst showcasing our local talent at the Grace Hopper EMEA Celebration. She is a member of the IEEE UK & Ireland DEI committee and WIE executive committee member to promote inclusive strategies for computing. She has worked on projects to support and encourage women in computing and engineering career pathways for as long as she has been involved in computing. Highlighting the vital role that women can play in any technical team is core to her voluntary work. Ruth has worked as the ATU Donegal Senior Lecturer in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion since 2022 in order to promote sustainable support for EDI across the ATU.

Rosemary Gallagher, Programme Manager at Galway City Innovation District

Rosemary is Programme Manager at Galway City Innovation District, working closely with Irish tech start-ups and SMEs to foster innovation and creativity, and providing guidance and advice. With experience in European Healthcare Accelerators she has worked with start-ups at all development stages, but her heart lies in early-stage development towards unmet needs. Rosemary completed her Doctorate at NUI Galway, and certification in Design Thinking from IDEOU. ‌

Tara Dalrymple, Employee Engagement EMEA, Genesys 

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Before moving to Ireland Tara worked in multinationals and well-known household brands across different industries working in consultancy, banking, retail and licensing. During that time her work highlights were working with the Beckhams, Disney and Harry Potter brand in Marks & Spencer, George Lucas and the Star Wars franchise at publishing house Dorling Kindersley.

Tara has spent twenty years as a corporate communicator, where she led total rewards, employee engagement, and diversity & inclusion communications. A key thought leader for recruitment and retention, oversaw business resource group councils and partnered with HR to establish inclusive awareness and employee engagement initiatives across multiple campuses. Tara has appeared on the Irish Dragons Den pitching her reward and recognition SAAS platform.

Over two years ago, Tara joined Genesys Employee Engagement Manager for EMEA.

Tara is a regular sea swimmer at Blackrock, loves mud runs, is a devoted yogini and loves dancing especially to 90s hip hop and RnB.

Chair:  Dr. Deirdre Curran, Vice Dean, EDI, University of Galway

Dr Deirdre Curran has been employed as a lecturer in the University of Galway for 25 years. Her main area of teaching surrounds the employment relationship, how it is formed, how it is conducted, and how it might be improved, and her work is informed by her core values of justice, equity, and voice.

Deirdre is a Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and she also represents the College of Business, Public Policy, and Law, as a Steering Committee member for the University of Sanctuary initiative aimed at making the university a welcome place for refugees, asylum-seekers, and members of our travelling community.

In 2012 Deirdre completed the PG Diploma in mediation at Maynooth University, and she has been involved in mediation research ever since. She was one of the founder members of the Kennedy Institute Workplace Mediation Research Group. (www.kiwmrg.ie)

Deirdre is currently involved in researching the lived experience of hospitality workers in Ireland with a view to highlighting issues and promoting positive change. In 2021 she published a research report entitled ‘Inside Out Hospitality’. http://whitakerinstitute.ie/inside-out-hospitality-a-study-of-working-conditions-in-the-hospitality-sector-in-ireland/ 

The survey Deirdre designed for this research has been replicated in a number of countries worldwide and has led to the formation of the Global Hospitality Research Alliance [GHRA].

Deirdre lives in Galway city with Miss Poppy Shortstocking (the dog). Her two sons, Luke and Jake Morgan, are film-makers and they live close by.