Women in STEM Network
Stakeholder Report - February 2026
Strategic Overview
2026 represents a structured development year for the Women in STEM Network. The organisation is transitioning into a more formal hybrid model combining a global annual convening, in-person national hubs, strengthened governance systems, structured feedback mechanisms,
accreditation exploration, and sustainable revenue pathways.
This year is focused on disciplined scale, financial prudence, and operational clarity.
Annual Global Women in STEM Network Event
We are planning the introduction of a formal Annual Global WiSN Event beginning in 2026/27. The event will be delivered entirely via Zoom to ensure accessibility across time zones, professional commitments, and caring responsibilities.
Two structural
formats are under consideration.
*A one to two hour global assembly would include a strategic update and moderated discussion.
*A full-day global conference model would include a themed programme, keynote speaker, and structured breakout sessions for members, ambassadors, and sponsors.
The preferred model is the full-day format, subject to sponsorship viability.
Breakout sessions under consideration include:
*New
Members
Platform navigation and orientation.
*Existing Members
Structured feedback on programme direction and development priorities.
*New Ambassadors
Clear guidance on representation, responsibilities, and organisational expectations.
*Sponsors and Vendors
Dedicated visibility and engagement rooms within the event structure.
A unifying
theme will anchor the event. Themes discussed include
- Balancing Commitments in STEM Careers
- Leadership in STEM
- Women in Governance
- AI in STEM.
Governance and Financial Discipline
A conditional framework has been agreed for the annual event.
If approximately £5,000 in sponsorship is secured in advance, the Network will proceed with a full-day conference model incorporating sponsor visibility and extended
programming.
If sponsorship is not secured, the event will revert to a one to two hour global meeting format.
If delivered as a full-day conference, the need for separate time-zone meetings may be removed, as participants can join sessions suited to their region.
A structured pricing model is under consideration:
- Free access for paying members.
- Paid access for non-members.
- Consideration of
differential pricing or pay-what-you-can options for developing regions.
A two-tier sponsor strategy will be implemented:
- First, secure larger sponsors to underwrite core platform costs such as Zoom licensing and speaker fees.
- Second, invite smaller partners to participate at lower contribution levels for visibility presence.
This framework ensures ambition is matched with financial prudence.
Launch of Local WiSN
Hubs
Alongside the global event, 2026/7 will mark the launch of Women in STEM Network Local Hubs.
These will be in-person meetings led by designated ambassadors within their respective countries.
The purpose of the hubs is to strengthen peer networks, increase national visibility, and create structured local engagement opportunities.
Work is underway to establish leadership guidance, role clarity, safeguarding principles, and
communication pathways between hubs and central operations.
The combination of a global Zoom convening and distributed in-person hubs represents a significant structural maturation of the Network.
Structured Feedback and Testimonials Programme
A formal survey process is being rolled out initially to ambassadors and then to the wider membership to ensure strategic alignment between member expectations and organisational delivery.
Approximately
eight feedback/testimonials have already been received and additional feedback will be collected on a rolling basis .
The purpose of this initiative is twofold:
- To ensure we remain aligned with member needs.
- To curate high-quality testimonials for use across the website and promotional materials.
Survey coordination and testimonial collection is being led by Rim El Harchi.
Continuing Medical Education Accreditation
We are
exploring Continuing Medical Education accreditation for selected WiSN activities to enhance professional value and institutional credibility.
Dr Vasiliki Kalodimou is investigating accreditation pathways through relevant professional bodies in Greece.
The objective is to secure accreditation without incurring prohibitive ongoing costs. Even one accrediting body would represent a strong foundation, with additional bodies potentially added over
time.
There is also consideration of aligning CME credit with attendance at the annual event if delivered in full-day format.
Digital Strategy and Brand Consolidation
Following internal review, social media volume is being rationalised.
Website publishing activity will continue to support search visibility and authority. However, social media posting frequency will be reduced significantly to improve engagement
quality.
Instagram will move to approximately one post every three days.
LinkedIn will focus primarily on high-value announcements, newsletters, and core updates rather than high-frequency posting.
This adjustment reflects a shift from volume to strategic visibility.
Website Authority and Contributor Ownership
The website contains a substantial bank of drafted articles. Ambassadors and contributors are being invited to refine,
edit, and publish articles in their own voice to ensure accuracy, credibility, and professional ownership.
Training materials are available to support onboarding of contributors.
This approach strengthens authority, trust, and search visibility while ensuring content reflects genuine professional expertise.
The ambassadors page of the website is also being updated as part of ongoing governance refinement .
Commission-Based Growth
Framework
To support sustainable growth, a formal commission-based referral structure is being introduced.
This will apply to individuals who secure paid memberships or introduce sponsors.
A draft structure discussed includes 20 percent commission for sponsor introductions and 10 percent for paid membership referrals .
The finalised framework will include governance safeguards and clear operational guidance.
This
model formalises revenue contribution pathways and aligns growth incentives with organisational sustainability.
Anne Park, Deputy Director of Internal Operations, will coordinate operational implementation of this structure.
Outreach Infrastructure and Referral Systems
To support ambassador-led recruitment efforts:
- QR codes have been produced linking to both the main website page and the membership join page.
- Membership join links
are being pinned on social platforms to simplify access.
- Affiliate attribution tracking is under development to support commission transparency.
Dr Trupti Gaikwad is actively engaging early-career students and professionals and will utilise these materials in upcoming university sessions.
Ambassador Accessibility and Meeting Structure
Ambassador meeting times will alternate between weekends and weekdays to improve accessibility across working patterns. This
reflects responsiveness to volunteer feedback and a commitment to inclusive governance.
Leadership Strengthening
We formally welcome Anne Park as Deputy Director of Internal Operations.
Anne is supporting Dr Shara Cohen with internal administration, volunteer coordination, governance processes, and operational resilience as the Network expands internationally.
International Ambassador Engagement
Your Personal Journey into STEM was delivered by
ambassadors Chandan Seth Nanda and Paula Darley on 11 February 2026 at St George International School and Preschool in Sofia, Bulgaria. The session reached students from Grades 4 to 12 and focused on diverse STEM pathways and global opportunity.
Advancing Mentorship and Skills Development for Women in EdTech was presented at BETT UK 2026 in London by ambassador Dr Taisiia Mukii. As part of the Women in EdTech Mentorship Circle, the session highlighted
inclusive progression, skill development, and international professional networking.
These engagements demonstrate growing international visibility and ambassador-led outreach.
Featured Publication
Designing Institutions for the Age of Advanced Computing
Author: Dr Shara Cohen
Published in: NovaReason, 16 February 2026
URL: https://novareason.org/article/designing-institutions-for-the-age-of-advanced-computing
This publication positions institutional design, governance integration, and leadership architecture as central determinants of sustainable technological advancement.
Strategic Direction Summary for 2026
In 2026 we are
developing/launching:
- A conditional global Zoom conference model subject to sponsorship.
- In-person international hubs.
- Structured member and ambassador feedback systems.
- Commission-based growth modelling.
In addition we will
- further explore CME accreditation exploration.
- Consolidate our digital brand consolidation.
- Expand our outreach infrastructure.
- Strength operational leadership.
This represents
structured, systems-led development grounded in financial discipline and member alignment.
Further updates will follow as sponsorship discussions progress and hub frameworks are formalised
