Reflections on Gender Equity in the ICT Industry: Anglophone Caribbean perspective brought to Havana during LACNIC 25!

   Some 700 technology experts and professionals from across Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in Havana, Cuba from May 2 - 6, 2016, for the 25th meeting of the Internet Registry for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACNIC). LACNIC is one of five organisations worldwide, responsible for managing the world’s Internet numbering resources. The organization also works to create conditions that will allow the Internet to become an effective instrument for social inclusion and economic development in benefit of all Latin American and Caribbean countries. LACNIC’s 25th meeting included activities such as workshops and training on new technologies, technical forums about Regional Interconnection, IPv6 protocol, Network Security and a Public Policy Forum on the allocation of Internet resources.

Ayanna Samuels speaking during LACNIC25 in Havana on May 4, 2016. Credit: Gerard Best

Headquartered in Uruguay and with a strong Latin America focus, LACNIC has long expressed a desire to incorporate more of a Caribbean Anglophone perspective in their work. As a result of my work in the field of ICTs and Technology Policy, with a strong focus on realizing the potential of affordable Broadband to foster socio-economic growth, along with my capacity building focused work on Gender Equity and ICTs and my personal journey as a Jamaican Aerospace Engineer, I was invited to deliver a presentation during LACNIC’s first ever panel devoted to Inspiring Women to Engage in ICTs on May 4, 2016. LACNIC wrote a review of the panel entitled "Greater Participation of Women in ICTs."

Feedback received is that my presentation resulted in increased understanding of the causes, barriers and solutions to the problem of gender inequality in the ICT industry. I was also heartened to have been told that my sharing insight from my personal journey in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), detailing some of the personal challenges I've faced and continue to face, and how I overcome them, particularly resonated with individuals.

Ernesto Majo, Deputy Executive Director of LACNIC, reflected to me during our ride back to the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, that he felt the proceedings were strengthened by this incorporation of an Anglophone Caribbean perspective. My extreme gratitude to LACNIC for having facilitated this seminal opportunity!

Awesome Keynote Opportunity at St. Lucia's Celebration of Girls in ICT Day on April 28, 2016!

I'm very honoured to report that on Thursday, April 28, 2016, I  gave the keynote address at CARCIP and the St. Lucia Coalition of Service Industries's celebration of Girls in ICT Day in the beautiful city of Castries, St. Lucia!

The Government of Saint Lucia has identified increased access to regional broadband networks and the development of an ICT-enabled services industry as priority areas in which ICT's potential could be harnessed for the reduction of poverty, opportunity, empowerment and security. Indeed these benefits should obtain equally for men and women, but presently that is not so. The Saint Lucian Women & Girls in ICT Campaign is a collaborative effort between CARCIP & the SLCSI to increase gender parity in the ICT Sector by encouraging more women and girls to pursue careers in ICT (Information and Communication Technology). 

2016 heralded St. Lucia's first celebration of Girls in ICT Day through the staging of a Women and Girls in ICT Conference! The conference represented a seminal opportunity to inspire and be inspired. Real heart-to-heart conversation was had about the reality of gender relations in the ICT Sector and the excellent opportunity we are now presented with for effecting gender mainstreaming in various social, cultural, technical and economic spheres. 

Many Anglophone Caribbean countries have developed policies and programmes to fulfill commitments to gender equality and the use of ICTs for sustainable development. Recent research in St. Lucia (2015, L. Dunn & A. Samuels) however shows significant gaps between policy commitments and practice along gender lines, with untapped opportunities for empowerment of women and unattached/at-risk males in the ICT sector, resulting in significant socio-economic fallout. My keynote examined the results of the 2015 Gender Equity in the St. Lucia ICT Sector Study, and examined ways in which the island's policy framework can be enhanced and the capacity of vulnerable groups improved to promote good governance, gender equity and broad stakeholder participation in, access to and use of ICTs for development. I wrapped up with a personal exploration of key lessons learned from my own journey in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Sights and scenes from the fun day that it was are below!

The day kicked off with a morning interview with Radio St. Lucia.

We then went to the conference location where I had chats with other St. Lucia radio and TV stations.

Front Cover of St. Lucia Women and Girls in ICT Day Conference Booklet

Agenda for St. Lucia Women and Girls in ICT Day Conference

More info on St. Lucia Women and Girls in ICT Campaign

Waiting in the audience before delivering the keynote

Speaking on the topic of gender equity about which I am most passionate!

Presenting to the audience on the findings of the 2015 Gender Equity in the St. Lucia ICT Sector Study (Dunn & Samuels)

Exploring ways to bring about gender parity

Enjoying a photo opportunity with some of the participants

Close of proceedings photograph with most of the Conference participants

Choice TV Interview with Christopher Roberts (to my left), Director of CARCIP St. Lucia, and our fun-loving host

All smiles post our TV interview