For over a century, International Women’s Day (IWD) has been a global call to action for gender equality. Yet, at the current rate of progress, true parity remains more than a century away. The reality is stark—while women have made significant strides in STEM, their representation in leadership roles within quantum technology, deep tech, and space remains disproportionately low. Addressing this disparity is not just a matter of fairness; it is an economic and technological imperative.
At Vernewell Group, gender equity is a strategic priority embedded in every initiative, from quantum adoption and AI to cybersecurity and space innovation. Under the leadership of Mrs. Malak Trabelsi Loeb, we are creating pathways for women to lead, innovate, and shape the future of deep tech, ensuring meaningful progress through action, opportunity, and lasting impact.
From Advocacy to Industry Transformation
Long before quantum and space became central to global innovation, Mrs. Malak Trabelsi Loeb was at the forefront of policy advocacy, and systemic change. From fighting against modern slavery and human trafficking to championing women’s inclusion in governance and corporate leadership, her efforts have spanned industries, ensuring that women are not just part of the conversation, but at the center of decision-making.
This commitment has evolved into structured programs across STEM, law, business, and deep tech, creating real impact through initiatives such as:
- Mentorship and Capacity Building: Through platforms like SGAC (Space Generation Advisory Council), Dubai Business Women Council, and international advisory groups, fostering female leadership in science, business, and emerging technologies.
- Space for All Womenkind: A dedicated initiative under Vernewell Management Consultancies, bridging the gender gap in the space and aerospace industries, ensuring more women engage in space law, policy, and technology development.
- The Quantum & Deep Tech Gender Equity Agenda: Expanding from space into quantum computing, AI, and deep tech to ensure women are not only participating in but leading these industries.
The FemTum Leap Awards: Honoring Excellence in Deep Tech
In 2024, the Quantum Innovation Summit launched the FemTum Leap Awards, an initiative designed to recognize and empower women across quantum technologies. This award is not just about recognition—it is about redefining leadership.
This year’s FemTum Leap Awardees have demonstrated exceptional contributions across multiple domains:
- Nicole Yunger Halpern (USA) – Innovation Award – A physicist at NIST, whose groundbreaking work in quantum thermodynamics is reshaping our understanding of quantum systems.
- Dr. Sana Amairi-Pyka (UAE) – Innovation Award – A leading scientist at TII, pushing the boundaries of quantum communications and secure information exchange.
- Karina Robinson (UK) – Leadership Award – CEO of Redcliffe Advisory and a strategic force in bridging finance, quantum, and deep tech through international policymaking.
- Dr. Elvira Shishenina (France) – Leadership Award – A senior director at Quantinuum, driving quantum applications across industries and shaping the commercial landscape.
- Dr. Nadia Boutabba (Canada/UAE) – A Multi-Category Awardee – A physicist and educator whose leadership in optics, photonics, and academic development has pioneered new frontiers in quantum research.
- Anna Beata Kalisz Hedegaard (Germany) – Rising Star Award – CEO of QuantumPrime and Co-Founder of Quantum Security & Defense Working Group, developing cutting-edge quantum security solutions.
The FemTum Leap Awards are designed to drive real change. In an industry where women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership, funding, and research opportunities, recognition is only the first step. This initiative was launched to amplify women’s voices, accelerate their careers, and position them at the forefront of quantum and deep tech innovation.
This year’s awardees exemplify excellence, resilience, and transformative impact, spanning innovation, leadership, and rising talent. Their contributions are shaping the direction of quantum computing, AI, photonics, cybersecurity, and beyond, ensuring that the future of deep tech is built on diverse expertise, inclusive leadership, and groundbreaking discoveries.
By bridging the gap between research and real-world application, they are driving forward commercialization, policy, and industry-wide adoption, ensuring that quantum and deep tech deliver global, equitable, and sustainable solutions.
A New Era: Women in Quantum Global Network
Building on the momentum of the FemTum Leap Awards, today, on International Women’s Day 2025, we officially launch the Women in Quantum Global Network. This Vernewell Group’s initiative, under Qinnovsion Consortium, is not just another networking group—it is a global force for action, dedicated to:
- Cross-border collaboration to accelerate women’s leadership in quantum technologies.
- Policy advocacy and industry transformation, ensuring inclusive participation in research, commercialization, and investment.
- Capacity-building programs, mentorship, and strategic partnerships with academic institutions, industry leaders, and governments.
This global network aims to provide a structured and sustainable platform for women to lead the next phase of quantum innovation, from research to commercialization.
The Future of Tech Cannot Be Built Without Women
This is not just about inclusion—it is about necessity. The industries defining our future—quantum computing, AI, cybersecurity, space, and deep tech—cannot reach their full potential without diverse leadership at the helm. Innovation does not thrive in monolithic structures; it demands bold vision, varied expertise, and equitable access to opportunity.
On International Women’s Day 2025, Vernewell Group and Mrs. Malak Trabelsi Loeb reaffirm their unwavering commitment to accelerating women’s leadership in deep tech. From recognition to mentorship, investment to policy influence, we are not just advocating for change—we are actively shaping it.
The time for incremental progress is over. The time for acceleration is now.
If you are a company, investor, research institution, or policymaker, we invite you to collaborate with us. Join the Women in Quantum Global Network, support groundbreaking initiatives, and be part of the movement shaping the future of quantum and deep tech.
The future is quantum, and it must be inclusive. Let’s shape it together.
📩 For partnerships, media inquiries, and collaboration opportunities, contact us:
📧 Email: info@vernewellgroup.com
📞 Phone: +971 58 540 1480
🌐 Website: quantuminnovationsummit.com
