Women in Tech Sri Lanka partners Mark and Comm to strengthen women’s participation in STEM

Monday, 2 September 2024 01:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Women in Tech Sri Lanka Chapter Ambassador Chathini Uduwana (centre) exchanging the agreement with Mark and Comm Managing Director Thanzyl Thajudeen

Women in Tech, the world’s foremost organisation for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in STEAM, with a mission to empower 5 million women by 2030, entered into an agreement with Colombo-based leading PR agency Mark and Comm Ltd., with the latter as its strategic communications partner for the Sri Lanka Chapter.

The agreement was exchanged on 26 August at Uga Residence between Women in Tech Sri Lanka Chapter Ambassador and Typefi Systems Vice President People and Country Head Chathini Uduwana and Mark and Comm Ltd. Managing Director Thanzyl Thajudeen. Also joining were Women in Tech Sri Lanka Chapter Partnerships Director Jezla Latiff and Mark and Comm Ltd. Director Chamanie Nanayakkara.

Women in Tech launched its Sri Lanka Chapter in November last year, followed by an insightful panel discussion at Monsoon Colombo together with other sponsors. This marked a significant milestone as Sri Lanka is now part of a global movement with chapters spanning 48 countries across six continents, boasting a membership of over 200,000 individuals.

Uduwana commented: “We are excited to announce our official partnership with Mark and Comm given their rich and vast experience in working with diverse stakeholders in strategic communications. Together, we hope to increase our visibility and advocacy in all our areas of interests and activities, to not just empower women but also build a movement comprising passionate members who will be the torchbearers in taking our vision and drive forward.”

Thajudeen was instrumental in setting up the Women in Tech Sri Lanka Chapter, after months of discussion with the Women in Tech global expansion team and the initial correspondence with Women in Tech Global Founder and CEO Ayumi Moore Aoki, following his passion to encourage more female participation in STEAM related disciplines throughout the country and a desire to make Sri Lanka a strategic talent hub in the APAC region. Thajudeen is also its Marketing Director. Commenting on the partnership, Thajudeen said: “Sri Lanka has a lot of potential when it comes to talent, and more so in the STEAM area, with an upward trend among females. We are truly humbled to be partnering with the Women in Tech Sri Lanka Chapter to raise awareness of STEAM education and inspire the next generation through advocacy, mentoring, and capacity building. We also collectively call out for appropriate reforms, measures, and infrastructure in place to enable achieving this.”