EWORA 2026 Conference, 10 June 2026

Women’s Leadership in Academia in Times of Rising Geopolitical Tensions

Program

Conference

Brussels, 10 June 2026

Theme Program Chairs & Speakers Registration Venue & Practical Information

EWORA 2026 Conference Programme

Women’s Leadership in Academia in Times of Rising Geopolitical Tensions

The EWORA 2026 Conference explores academic leadership in times of geopolitical complexity, with a focus on values-based leadership, academic freedom, and institutional resilience. 

The programme below outlines the key sessions and speakers of the conference.

 

Please click here to download the programme as a PDF.

 

Date: 10 June 2026   |   Location: Brussels, Belgium

(Rubens room, Palace of the Academies)

08:30 – 09:30

Registration and Welcome Coffee
09:30 – 10:00

Opening Session

Kerstin Tham, President, European Women Rectors Association (EWORA)

Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, European Commission (video message)

Gülsün Sağlamer, Founding Honorary President, EWORA
10:00 – 10:30

Keynote Session I

Chair: Pamela Gillies, Former Vice-Chancellor, Glasgow Caledonian University

Carlien Scheele, Director, European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
10:30 – 10:45

Coffee Break
10:45 – 12:00

Plenary Panel 1

Universities at the Crossroads: Challenges for Higher Education Leaders

Chair: Isabel Capeloa Gil, Rector, Universidade Católica Portuguesa

  • Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, Rector, Istanbul Kültür University
  • Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir, Rector, University of Iceland
  • Ulrike Beisiegel, Former President, University of Göttingen
12:00 – 12:30

Keynote Session II

Chair: Kerstin Tham, President, EWORA

Annick Castiaux, Rector, University of Namur
12:30 – 13:30

Lunch
13:30 – 14:00

Featured Address

Lina Gálvez Muñoz, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the FEMM Committee, Member of the ITRE Committee.
14:00 – 15:15

Plenary Panel 2

Values-Based Leadership and Global Responsibility

Co-Chairs: Inga Žalėnienė, Rector, Mykolas Romeris University 

                    Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General, International Association of Universities 

  • Malin Ideland, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Doctoral Education, Malmö University
  • Vanessa Castejon, Board Member, AFDESRI
  • Lucyna Woźniak, Vice-Rector for International Relations, Medical University of Lodz
15:15 – 15:45

Coffee Break
15:45 – 16:15

Keynote Session III

Chair: Birgit Riegraf, Former President, Paderborn University

Oliver Günther, President, University of Potsdam
16:15 – 17:30

Plenary Panel 3

Academic Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights

Chair: Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz, Former Rector, Kadir Has University

  • Hanne Leth Andersen, Former Rector, Roskilde University
  • Katarína Slobodová Nováková, Rector, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava
  • Eva Åkesson, Former Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University
17:30 – 18:30

Closing Session

Chair: Kerstin Tham, President, EWORA

  • Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz, Vice President, EWORA
  • Birgit Riegraf, Former President, Paderborn University
  • Inga Žalėnienė, Rector, Mykolas Romeris University
  • Pamela Gillies, Former Vice-Chancellor, Glasgow Caledonian University
  • Prof. Eva Åkesson, Former Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University
18:30

Cocktail Reception

Theme Program Chairs & Speakers Registration Venue & Practical Information
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