Geneva, Switzerland — At the World Economic Forum 2025 (WEF25) in Davos, Ebru Özdemir, Chair of Limak Group of Companies, introduced KWEEP, emphasizing the importance of fostering opportunities for women in STEM and advocating for gender-smart policies in the private sector.

Özdemir was appointed Chair of the WEF Engineering and Construction Industry Group during the 55th World Economic Forum. She made history as the first woman and first Turkish representative to hold this position. Her two-year term (2025-2027) places her at the forefront of the Governors’ Community, a global network of CEOs and board-level leaders from over 20 global engineering firms.

“My experiences as a female engineer have made me acutely aware of the barriers women face when trying to enter traditionally male-dominated fields and taught me the importance of creating space for women who are following in our footsteps,” Ebru Özdemir stated.

Ebru Ozdemir emphasized the group’s priorities for the upcoming term, which include addressing workforce challenges, advancing technological integration, and promoting innovative business models: “Our focus will be on finding shared and lasting solutions to the global challenges faced by our industry. Workforce development is a key area—we prioritize narrowing the talent gap and building a workforce that meets the demands of our sector.”

The path to bridging the gender divide in STEM lies in fostering collaboration to cultivate mentorship and deliver solutions specific to individual countries’ challenges. Public-private-philanthropic partnerships can deliver large-scale outcomes when encouraging more women into STEM fields.

Governments can provide the framework and regulatory backing to ensure reach and equity, while the private sector contributes efficiency, agility, and innovation. Meanwhile, philanthropic partners ensure that initiatives are economically viable and aligned with sustainable human development goals.

When united by a shared mission, these collaborations can create a powerful synergy for impactful change. Limak puts this model to good use in various countries with positive results. In Kuwait, for example, a collaboration with the government and key partners from the private sector has advanced women’s economic empowerment through the Kuwait Women’s Economic Empowerment Platform.

As a founding partner of KWEEP, Limak remains a driving force for women’s economic empowerment in Kuwait, ensuring that STEM-focused initiatives create meaningful career pathways for female engineers. Özdemir’s leadership at WEF25 aligns with KWEEP’s mission to develop policies that drive recruitment, retention, and leadership for women in business and STEM.

(ENDS)