Women’s Leadership in Academia in Times of Rising Geopolitical Tensions
Brussels, 10 June 2026
The European Women Rectors Association (EWORA) 2026 Conference brings together university leaders, policy-makers, and international stakeholders from across Europe. Set against a context of increasing geopolitical complexity, the conference explores the evolving role of academic leadership, with a particular focus on values-based leadership, academic freedom, and institutional resilience.
The programme below outlines the key sessions and speakers of the conference.
Date: 10 June 2026 | Location: Brussels, Belgium (Palace of the Academies)
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:30 | Registration & Welcome Coffee |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | 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 |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Keynote Session Chair: Pamela Gillies — Former Vice-Chancellor, Glasgow Caledonian University Speaker: Carlien Scheele — Director, European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) |
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Coffee Break |
| 11:15 – 12:30 | Plenary Panel 1 Universities at the Crossroads: Challenges for Higher Education Leaders Chair: Isabel Capeloa Gil — Rector, Universidade Católica Portuguesa Speakers: Fadime Üney Yüksektepe — Rector, Istanbul Kültür University Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir — Rector, University of Iceland Ulrike Beisiegel — Former President, University of Göttingen |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30 – 14:00 | Keynote Session II Chair: Kerstin Tham — President, EWORA Speaker: Annick Castiaux — Rector, University of Namur |
| 14:00 – 15:15 | Plenary Panel 2 Values-Based Leadership and Global Responsibility Chair: Inga Žalėnienė — Rector, Mykolas Romeris University Speakers: 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 Speaker: 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 Speakers: 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 From Reflection to Action: Strengthening Women’s Leadership for Europe’s Future Chair: Kerstin Tham — President, EWORA Speakers: Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz — Vice President, EWORA Birgit Riegraf — Former President, Paderborn University Inga Žalėnienė — Rector, Mykolas Romeris University Isabel Capeloa Gil — Rector, Universidade Católica Portuguesa Lucyna Woźniak — Vice-Rector, Medical University of Lodz Pamela Gillies — Former Vice-Chancellor, Glasgow Caledonian University |
| 18:30 | Cocktail Reception |
