One year ago, at the ESG Adria Summit, Women on Boards Adria (WOBA) was born, marking the beginning of its regional journey to promote gender equality, remove barriers to boardrooms for women, and support their career path to senior management positions in the Adria region.
At this year’s ESG Adria Summit, the great progress of WOBA was celebrated. The Women on Boards Adria event allowed for an interesting discussion on strategies for advancing empowerment, gender equality, inclusivity, and diversity. The event was organised jointly with the AIRE Centre’s Western Balkans Programme, a renowned organisation that collaborates with judiciaries across the region to combat gender-based discrimination and violence.
At the event, Biljana Braithwaite, Chair of Women on Boards Adria, led the fireside chat with Dr. Anino Emuwa, Managing Director of Avandis Consulting and founder of 100 Women @ Davos, and Robert Spano, Partner at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Former President of the European Court of Human Rights. They discussed gender equality, women’s empowerment, the challenges women face in their careers and society, and strategies to increase the representation of women in corporate boardrooms.
Over the past year, WOBA has pushed boundaries to create a more inclusive and gender-diverse business environment.
This association has extended its reach across eight countries of the region and beyond, focusing its activities on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Serbia. WOBA has established a strong network of 40 leaders and ambassadors dedicated to championing its cause, and has partnered with 14 companies and institutions that support its initiatives.
Through three in-person events, as well as multiple webinars and mentorship workshops, WOBA have provided valuable space for knowledge-sharing and support for women in business. The impact has been significant, hosting more than 1,000 people at its events, and through its media content, reaching over 300,000 people.
