Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Time: 09:00
Location: Senate Room, 3rd Floor Needles Hall, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Media wishing to attend must register in advance by emailing Nick Manning.
A year ago, the University of Waterloo announced its involvement in the HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 alongside governments, leading universities, and global businesses.
As part of the initiative, Waterloo committed to:
- Boost female student participation in STEM outreach experiences and academic careers to build the pipeline of future female leaders in traditionally male dominated disciplines
- Enhance female faculty representation to improve the campus environment today and drive towards parity in the future.
- Attract and advance female leaders into senior academic and administrative university positions
Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka will share special remarks on the UN Women’s efforts to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women. As Executive Director of UN Women, Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka, leads the HeForShe initiative globally. She has worked in government and civil society, and with the private sector, and was actively involved in the struggle to end apartheid in her home country of South Africa. From 2005 to 2008, she served as Deputy President of South Africa, overseeing programmes to combat poverty and bring the advantages of a growing economy to the poor, with a particular focus on women.
Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka has spearheaded the introduction of the HeForShe campaign, a global effort to engage men and boys in removing the social and cultural barriers that prevent women and girls from achieving their potential, and together positively reshaping society. HeForShe was launched by UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September 2014.
