12-05, 18:00–18:30 (UTC), AI/ML Track
This talk focuses on the underrepresentation of women in AI and data science, where only 22% of AI professionals are women. We will explore how addressing the missing 78% is critical to creating inclusive, innovative solutions that benefit society as a whole. Attendees will learn about the current challenges women face, the importance of diverse perspectives in AI development, and actionable strategies for empowering women in the field through community engagement, mentorship, and data-driven policies.
The gender gap in AI and data science is one of the largest barriers to inclusive innovation in the tech industry, with women making up only 22% of professionals in these fields. This talk explores how the missing 78%—the underrepresented women—can significantly contribute to solving complex problems, building more ethical AI, and driving socially impactful innovations. Through data-driven insights, real-world examples of women leaders, and actionable frameworks for mentorship and community building, we will show how empowering women in AI can transform the future of technology.
The session will also include an exploration of the business case for diversity, demonstrating how gender-diverse teams outperform and contribute to the development of fairer algorithms and better decision-making systems. Attendees will gain insight into concrete steps they can take to promote diversity in their organizations and help scale representation in the AI field.
Target Audience:
AI practitioners, data scientists, and tech professionals interested in building inclusive AI teams.
Business leaders looking for insights into diversity-driven innovation.
Community organizers and mentors focused on supporting women in tech.
Anyone passionate about equity and inclusion in AI and data.
No previous knowledge expected
Noor Aftab is the Global Program Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where she leads the Strategic Customer Program at Amazon S3, overseeing the largest cloud, data, and analytics workloads globally. With her foundation as a data scientist, Noor brings deep technical knowledge and strategic vision to help organizations optimize their data infrastructure and leverage AI-driven solutions on a massive scale. Her leadership in managing complex, mission-critical cloud operations has positioned her as a leading figure in the fields of cloud technologies and data science.
Noor has spoken at 13 global locations, sharing insights on how AI and data can transform industries and promote inclusivity in technology. Her presentations focus on advancing AI adoption, fostering diversity in tech, and driving innovation through cloud solutions.
She is also the founder of the International Women Economic Council (IWEC), a digital platform that provides networking, mentoring, and global profiling opportunities for women worldwide. IWEC empowers women to break glass ceilings and close the wage gap by connecting them with mentors and industry leaders, helping them achieve greater success in their careers.
Noor’s achievements have earned her international recognition, including the Australia Alumni Excellence Award and the Asia Pacific HRM Congress Award for her contributions to business leadership and women's empowerment. Her work has attracted media attention from outlets such as BBC, Martha Vineyard Times, and Hindustan Times, underlining her global impact in advancing diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.