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Special Events

Discover the special events planned during the conference, offering unique opportunities for networking, collaboration, and engaging with industry leaders and fellow attendees.

Special Events & Workshops at the Future of the Women Conference 2027

The 10th International Conference on The Future of Women (FOW) 2027 will feature a range of engaging sessions and curated segments designed to enhance knowledge sharing, professional development, and meaningful dialogue. These sessions will bring together scholars, practitioners, advocates, and leaders from different sectors to explore innovative ideas and collaborative approaches that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

What to expect?

Participants can engage in practical sessions that support emerging researchers in developing publishable work, alongside dynamic short presentations that share innovative ideas and perspectives on women’s leadership, rights, and social change. The program will also feature insights from policy leaders, industry professionals, media innovators, and leading academics, together with voices from civil society working to advance gender equality. Discussions will explore the role of technology and media in amplifying women’s voices, while storytelling segments will highlight powerful lived experiences.

Why you should stay connected?

  • Interactive workshops designed to support professional growth and leadership in women’s and gender-related fields
  • Valuable networking opportunities with international researchers, activists, policymakers, and practitioners
  • Specialized sessions addressing emerging topics, innovative research, and practical strategies for advancing gender equality

Our team is working to finalize these exciting additions. Stay connected to this page as we gradually reveal the full lineup of special events and workshops for The Future of the Women 2027, a global platform dedicated to shaping conversations and actions for a more inclusive and equitable future.

Pre-Conference Workshops

Prof. Lina Gurung, PhD

facilitator

School of Education
Kathmandu University
Nepal.

Pre-Conference Workshop on “Research Methodologies for Feminist and Gender Studies”

Date: 14th August 2026 | Time: 03:30 PM – 04:00 PM IST

Overview

This workshop explores the diverse research methodologies employed in feminist and gender studies, emphasizing approaches that challenge traditional frameworks and center marginalized voices. Participants will engage with both qualitative and quantitative research methods while understanding their application in analyzing gendered experiences, power structures, and social inequalities.

Key Takeaways

  • Understand the foundational principles of feminist and gender-focused research.
  • Gain familiarity with qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups, and ethnography.
  • Explore quantitative and mixed-methods approaches for analyzing gendered patterns.
  • Develop skills to critically interpret data through feminist and intersectional lenses.
  • Identify strategies to challenge biases and structural inequalities in research findings.
  • Understand how research outcomes can inform policy, activism, and social change.
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Dr. Latoya Lazarus

Dr. Latoya Lazarus

facilitator

Research Fellow at the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies
The University of the West Indies
Cave Hill Campus (Barbados)

Pre-Conference Workshop on “The Politics of Publishing from the Margins: Gender and Sexuality Research about and from the Global South”

Date: 14th September 2026 | Time: 03:30 PM – 04:00 PM IST

Overview

The workshop is primarily aimed at knowledge producers who work or intend to do work on the Global South. Specifically, addresses four interconnected issues around research and publication, with emphasis placed on gender and sexuality research. These are:

  1. Whose knowledge matters and for what purpose? Gaining visibility for your research
  2. Choosing a suitable journal for the paper
  3. Addressing reviewers’ comments
  4. Navigating or dealing with rejection

 

Key Takeaways

  • The varied and sometimes conflicting ways in which impact is defined and evaluated by us, our various audience and by those who assess our work?
  • Factors bearing on our research/publication strategy: for any given project, is our primary goal to obtain institutional promotion, recognition from our peers, impact local policy decisions, fill knowledge gaps on a topic and/or region, transform the lives of those who are often the focus of our research or a combination of all of these things?
  • The fact that publishing in high impact international journals may not always be possible or desirable for a variety of reasons.
  • Treating reviewers’ comments as ideally an integral part of academic exchange between peers, versus a stumbling block to publication, while also being aware that differences in positionality and power imbalances may also shape this exchange.
  • Also, the first read through is not necessarily indicative of the overall tenor of the review.
  • The possibility of transformation after rejection.
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Dr. Christina Marouli

Dr. Christina Marouli

facilitator

Associate Professor
American College of Greece

Pre-Conference Workshop on “Gender-responsive Action Research: Thinking together”

Date: 06th November 2026 | Time: 03:00 PM – 04:00 PM IST

Overview

How can our research generate gender-sensitive knowledge and empower the participants for a sustainable and equitable world? This is the main question this workshop will try to address by looking into the Feminist Action Research methodology. Feminist Action Research is participatory; challenges the researcher-researched power dynamic; and aims to the valuation of different forms of, including everyday, knowledge. This workshop will discuss theory and practical considerations, hoping to offer a place where participants can share and reflect together on research methods that empower women and other marginalized peoples.

Key Takeaways

  • Which are the principles and practices of Feminist Action Research (FAR)
  • What makes feminist research distinct and what makes it challenging to implement
  • What contributes to rendering feminist research empowering for the participants
  • How can we use Feminist Action Research (FAR) for a more sustainable and equitable world
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Conference Day Workshop

Prof. Anita Singh, Conference Chair, Centre for Women's Studies, Banaras Hindu University, India

Prof. Anita Singh

Moderator

Centre for Women’s Studies and Development
Banaras Hindu University
India

Future of Women Vision Lab & Impact Pitch

The Future of Women Vision Lab & Impact Pitch is an interactive closing session designed to encourage reflection, collaboration, and forward-thinking discussions on gender equality and women’s empowerment. This session provides participants with the opportunity to share insights gained throughout the conference, discuss key global challenges, and present innovative ideas and solutions for the future.

Through guided roundtable discussions and short impact pitches, participants will contribute to shaping the “Future of Women 2035 Vision Statement” by identifying practical actions, collaborative opportunities, and transformative strategies that can create meaningful social impact. The session aims to inspire collective vision-building, cross-sector collaboration, and continued engagement beyond the conference.

A comprehensive report capturing the key discussion points and insights from this session will also be prepared following the segment.

Outcomes:

  • Increased engagement in discussions on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
  • Enhanced exchange of innovative ideas and practical solutions.
  • Greater collaboration toward meaningful social impact and future action.
  • Strengthened global dialogue and networking beyond the conference.
  • Valuable contributions to the “Future of Women 2035 Vision Statement.”
Prof. Em. Dr Saskia E. Wieringa – Keynote Speaker, Professor Emerita of Gender and Women's Same-Sex Relations, University of Amsterdam – FOW 2027

Prof. Em. Dr Saskia E. Wieringa

Moderator

Professor Emerita of Gender and Women’s Same Sex Relation Crossculturally
University of Amsterdam
Social Science Faculty
Indonesia

''Feminist Lightning Talks Session''

The Panel Discussion titled “Feminist Lightning Talks Session” is a vibrant platform that brings together voices from policy, academia, industry, activism, media, technology, and storytelling to share bold perspectives and transformative ideas that challenge inequality and inspire action.

Distinguished speakers representing these diverse sectors will explore pressing issues, innovative solutions, and lived experiences related to gender equality, women’s empowerment, inclusive leadership, social justice, and community transformation. Each speaker will present one impactful idea capable of sparking meaningful conversations and driving collective change.

Outcomes

* Showcase diverse voices and perspectives shaping a more inclusive and equitable future.
* Inspire dialogue, collaboration, and critical reflection on contemporary gender-related challenges and opportunities.
* Encourage participants to engage with innovative ideas and practical approaches that can contribute to lasting social transformation.
* Create opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and cross-sector collaboration among participants and speakers.

Prof. Rajinder Dudrah – Keynote Speaker, Professor of Cultural Studies and Creative Industries, Birmingham City University, UK – FOW 2027

Prof. Rajinder Dudrah

Panelist

Prof. Lindsey Churchill

Panelist

Prof. Lavinia Stan

Prof. Lavinia Stan

Moderator

Eic
Women’s Studies International Forum

'GUIDED-TO-PUBLISH WORKSHOP ON CONFERENCE DAY ''

Dr. Lavinia Stan is a Full Professor in the Department of Political Science at Saint Francis Xavier University (StFX) in Canada. She is serving as Victor Dahdaleh Chair in Democracy and Governance at the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government at StFX, and European Research Area (ERA) Chair at the University Lucian Blaga in Sibiu, Romania. A Comparative Politics specialist by training, Stan is the author or editor of eighteen books, over sixty peer-reviewed articles and scores of reports on democracy and democratization, religion and politics, transitional justice, as well as women’s studies. Most of her work has focused on Central and Eastern Europe. Among her books are the three-volume Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice (Cambridge University Press, 2013 and 2023). Stan is the editor in chief of the peer-reviewed Women’s Studies International Forum (published by Elsevier), and co-editor of East European Politics and Societies (published by Sage).

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