ATHENA Project Final Conference : Entrepreneurship as a path to socio-economic inclusion of migrant women

On the 16th of March 2023 Athena project partners organize the final project conference on the topic of “Entrepreneurship as a path to socio-economic inclusion of migrant women” to present and discuss with European stakeholders and policy makers the project results including the policy recommendations and actions plans to be implemented to support and improve the inclusion of migrant women entrepreneurs. The event will hybrid (in presence and online) and simultaneously translated to German and Spanish.

Agenda

The event will be moderated by Ms Katja Legisa, Entrepreneurship Director at the Digital Leadership Institute 9:30h – 10:00h Registration 10:00h – 10:15h Introduction & Welcome

• Mr Stefano Mallia, President of the Employers’ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee
• Mr Pablo Morales, Coordinator of the Athena project, Chamber of Commerce of Seville

10:15h – 11:00h – Athena Project outcomes and findings:

• Analysis of the needs of migrant women towards entrepreneurship across Europe and good practices identified – Presented by Ms Paola Andrisani, Project officer at Nova Onlus
• Capacity building and preparation of new services of support for migrant women entrepreneurs – Presented by Ms Daiva Jonuskiene, Project Manager at Siauliai Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts
• Lessons learned from the implementation of business services for migrant women – Presented by Ms Anna Borowa, Project officer, IHK-Projektgesellschaft mbH
• Policy recommendations & sustainability – Presented by Ms Cheryl Novak, Research Associate and Project Officer at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy

11:00h – 11:30h Coffee break 11:30h – 12:30h – Expert panel discussion 1: Policy priorities for the inclusion of migrant women entrepreneurs What actions should the EU take to facilitate the integration of migrant women entrepreneurs? Policy recommendations from the experts and ATHENA project Moderated by Ms Cheryl Novak, Research Associate at the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy

• Ms Maria-Helena De Felipe, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee and Spokesperson of the SMEs category

• Ms Virginia Paloma, Director of the Center of Community Research and Action at the University of Seville
• Ms Birgit Arens, Senior Project Officer at EUROCHAMBRES
• Ms Ursula Hoenich, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission
• Ms Carmela Cotrone, Public Officer at the Regional Administration of Campania
• Ms Anastasia Benekou, Integration Associate, the UN Refugee Agency
• Dr. Sinem Yilmaz – integration Policy Analyst at Migration Policy Group

12:30h – 14:00h – Networking lunch 14:00h – 14:45h – Expert panel discussion 2: Opportunities or obstacles? Recommendations addressing the challenges faced by migrant women entrepreneurs What steps should be taken and by which stakeholders in order to facilitate the financial and legal integration of new migrant women entrepreneurs?

• Ms Mamen Soria, Entrepreneurship expert at the Chamber of Commerce of Seville
• Ms Loubna Azghoud, Expert in digital economy, gender equality and entrepreneurship strategy
• Ms Siham Zarkan, Project Manager at SheDIDIT
• Ms Tina Marquart, consultant at Jumpp Ihr Sprungbrett in die Selbständigkeit, Frauenbetriebe e. V.
• Ms Rosy Cascella, Camera di Commercio Bari – Progetto Futurae

14:45h – 15:30h – Success stories of women entrepreneurs Moderated by Ms Loredana Bucseneanu, Development Director at the Digital Leadership Institute

• Ms Sofiia Shevchuk, Founder of VONA, Consultant, Researcher and Project Manager in Climate, Gender and Security
• Ms Magna Solange Dos Santos , Entrepreneur in the hospitality sector
• Ms Albina Savciuc, Entrepreneur in the sustainable jewellery sector
• Ms Viviana Santana, Entrepreneur in external services to hotels
• Blessing Ayomonsuru, Entrepreneur in trading ethnic food products

15:30h – 16:00h – AMIF future opportunities Focus group Moderated by Mr Pablo Morales, Coordinator of the Athena project, Chamber of Commerce of Seville

• Mr Juan Guerrero Caballero – General Manager and Head of the Department of International R& D Projects at INCOMA
• Ms Ursula Hoenich – Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission
• Ms Carmela Cotrone – Policy Expert

16:00 – 16:15 Closing of the conference

Please note that registration is mandatory for attending the event: https://www.eventbrite.be/e/entrepreneurship-as-a-path-to-socio-economic-inclusion-of-migrant-women-tickets-535756521177. Your personal data will be shared with the European Economic and Social Committee Visitors Office in order to grant you access to the building on the day of the event.

The event is organized with the support of the Employers’ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee . For more info about the project visit www.athenaproject.net and the Facebook and Instagram page.