EWORA Conference 2025 Held in Lisbon: Advancing Values-Led Leadership for Gender Equality in Academia

The 2025 EWORA Conference took place on June 26–27 at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) in Lisbon, bringing together distinguished leaders from the academic world to address one of the most pressing issues in higher education today: the fragility of gender equality in university leadership. Centered on the theme “Gender Equality in the Academy is Fragile: Is Values-Led Leadership the Answer?”, the conference created a space for in-depth dialogue, strategic reflection, and the exchange of practical solutions.

Over the course of two days, participants engaged in five thematic sessions addressing critical issues such as:

• The fragility of progress toward gender equality in academia,

• Strategies for securing and sustaining women’s leadership in higher education,

• Gender disparities in Artificial Intelligence (AI),

• The role of inclusive leadership in institutional transformation.

The sessions featured high-level speakers, including university rectors and vice-chancellors, international association leaders, and senior researchers, who shared institutional practices, personal insights, and collective strategies to ensure continued progress in academic leadership equity.

A central highlight of the conference was the EWORA Honorary Award Ceremony, held during the formal Conference Dinner at the Museu do Oriente. This year’s award was presented to Prof. Manuela Veloso, renowned for her pioneering work in Artificial Intelligence and her contributions to research and leadership. The ceremony included remarks by Prof. Isabel Gil, Rector of UCP, a keynote speech by Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, and the award presentation by Prof. Kerstin Tham, President of EWORA.

The event also included a welcome reception at UCP, informal networking opportunities, and closing reflections led by members of the EWORA Board of Directors.

The conference reaffirmed EWORA’s commitment to fostering values-led academic leadership and providing an international platform for collaboration, solidarity, and strategic action toward gender equality in higher education.

Photos and full report will follow soon.

🎥 Watch the highlight video below.