Panel: Shaping AI, Empowering Women
Soroptimists Impact SustAInability European Congress

As artificial intelligence transforms our societies, the risk of deepening existing inequalities grows. This panel brings together global voices at the intersection of tech, gender, and activism to explore how we can challenge systemic bias in AI, amplify women’s leadership in innovation, and co-create technologies that serve equity, not exclusion. Join us to reimagine a digital future where inclusion is the default — not the exception.

Shaping AI, Empowering Women: Disrupting Bias, Building Inclusive Futures – the session takes on a clear, more action-oriented and visionary framing.

Panellists:
Caitlin Kraft-Buchman  is a distinguished leader and co-founder of the A+ Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms. She is also the founder and CEO of “Women at the Table”, and a co-founder of International Gender Champions.

Arikia Millikan Arikia Millikan 
Arikia Millikan is an activist journalist and builds an enterprise to change the long-term operating model on journalism. She addresses the topic of intellectual property and fact-based journalism. Based on her long-term view she is shaping the future of journalism in a world threatened by fake news. Being a role model in the field of journalism and AI, she encloses the perspective of women on AI: With her latest book on consent-based AI agent training she replaces the order-driven training of AI agents by an inclusive human-machine collaboration.

Katarzyna Cieślak Katarzyna Cieślak
Katarzyna Cieślak works for the Department of Society and Technology Studies at the Faculty of Humanities and the Space Technology Centre at AGH University of Science and Technology, University of Krakow. As s sociologist she is scientifically and professionally engaged in new technologies: from perceptions of people when designing new technology like an AI chatbot to usage of AI and its impact on inequality. She is also a member of her university’s Gender Equality Plan Team, contributing to policies and initiatives that promote gender equality within the realm of technology.

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Caitlin Kraft-Buchman will also deliver the conference Keynote | AI Belongs to All of Us: Understanding the Problems, Processes, and Potential at the upcoming European congress, “Soroptimists Impact SustAInability,” which will be held from October 23rd to 25th, 2025, in Krakow, Poland.

• About the Event: Soroptimist International Europe, registered as an NGO, is hosting this congress. Soroptimists are women in professions and business who work together at local, national, and international levels to educate, empower, and enable women and girls with the aim of improving their lives. This event is expected to gather around 750 participants, providing an ideal opportunity for learning, engagement, exchange of views, and gaining experience. The forum will bring together volunteers, academics, and business representatives to discuss the most pressing issues faced by women.
•  Focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI):  Since last year, Soroptimist International Europe has been actively addressing the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the lives of women and girls. They have recently launched an AI Taskforce on European level to tackle this topic with the power of committed experts. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance the lives of women and girls through innovative and impactful projects.
• History and Network: Soroptimist International was founded in 1921 and has since been a strong international network of approximately 65,000 women, with almost 30,000 members in Europe. Their members are effective advocates for women’s and girls’ rights. The national Unions and Clubs of Soroptimist International of Europe initiate, support, finance, and implement well over 4,000 projects annually, investing millions of euros to provide concrete and practical help to women and girls.