The second edition of the STEM WOMEN CONGRESS Montreal took place on September 26, 2025, at the ServiceNow Offices in Montreal, bringing together more than 100 participants committed to advancing gender equality and boosting female talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Hosted by Hakima Zara Yahi, PhD, MBA, President of the Canada Chapter of the STEM Women Association and Founder & CEO of Global Science Transfer, the event provided a space for dialogue, inspiration, and networking among leaders from the corporate, academic, and institutional sectors.

A day of knowledge and inspiration

The congress began with welcoming remarks from Marie-Ève Marchand (ServiceNow), Eva Díaz (CEO & Founder of Global STEM Women and STEM Women Congress), and Magda Popeanu (Ville de Montréal), setting the tone for a day focused on collaboration and impact.

The STEM Women Annual Report – Canada was presented by Susanna Cabos, Victoria G. Torp, and Julia Kingston, highlighting national initiatives that aim to close the gender gap in STEM.

Another key moment was the presentation of the STEM Women Commitment, with contributions from professionals such as Geneviève Abbott, Ana Palacio, Andrée-Ann Lemieux, Anne Nguyen, Cybèle Robichaud, Hanna Abdel Hamid, Johanne Bohn, Kadidia Haïdara, and many others. Their testimonies reflected how institutions and individuals are working to create inclusive ecosystems and attract more women into STEM fields.

The agenda featured outstanding talks, such as Marie-Eve Laplante on her career journey in IT and Marina Sánchez presenting a breakthrough innovation: a bra capable of detecting cancer.

Panels fostering dialogue

Interactive panels gave voice to diverse perspectives:

• Olympes de la Parole Canada, showcasing student-led research on the barriers and opportunities for immigrant women in STEM and the role of early education in shaping STEM paths.

• “From Impostor to Impact: Thriving Authentically in STEM”, moderated by Nancy De Santis, addressed  strategies for authentic leadership.

• Engaging Women in Cybersecurity, hosted by Delphine Avomo Evouna, gathered experts from CIRA, KPMG, RBC, and GIRO to discuss strategies to close the cybersecurity gender gap.

Additionally, Joan Ofulue (Deloitte Canada) inspired the audience with insights on thriving in the AI era.

Strengthening the STEM Women global network

The Montreal edition reaffirmed Canada’s role in the global expansion of the STEM WOMEN CONGRESS. Since its creation in Barcelona in 2019, the SWC has become a reference point for diversity and inclusion in STEM, now celebrated in cities such as Madrid, Lisbon, Milan, Montreal, São Paulo, Toronto, Cartagena, and Medellín.

Check out some of our best photos. To see them all, visit our Flickr account.

We thank everyone who participated in this event, and we invite each of the initiatives, ambassadors, speakers, and women in STEM to join this movement, this reality.

This is just the beginning, we’re going for more…