Equal opportunity and equal treatment in the labour market are at the core of decent work. Unfortunately, women around the world still face additional hurdles to access employment, and once in employment, to access decision-making positions and jobs in certain sectors or of certain characteristics. This horizontal and vertical gender segregation of employment, combined with the unequal distribution of unpaid work (including household and childcare activities), results in differences in working conditions such as the gender pay gap and the over-representation of women in part-time jobs.
Gender equality is crucial to economic growth and sustainable development. It is recognized as a cross-cutting objective within the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, and as a key goal within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In fact, Goal 5 of the SDGs is devoted specifically to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, but gender equality is also mainstreamed throughout the other sixteen goals.
The Bioeconomy is led by women. This year, as every year, for the International Women’s Day, we dedicate a tribute to all women who are making the bioeconomy happen all around the world. With their huge competences and their infinite passion, they are the stars of the world bioeconomy. Our best and warmest wishes to all women.
This is just a partial list:
Minna Aila, SVP Neste (Finland)
Ylwa Alwarsdotter, Executive VP Sekab (Sweden)
Iris Aquilina Anderson, leader of the Bioladies Network (UK)
Enrica Arena, CEO at Orange Fiber (Italy)
Catia Bastioli, CEO at Novamont (Italy)
Véronique de Bruijn, CEO at Photanol (Netherlands)
Giulia Gregori, Strategic Planning and Corporate Communication Manager of Novamont (Italy)
Carina Håkansson, DG at The Swedish Forest Industries Federation (Sweden)
Sarah Hickingbottom, General Manager at Circa Group (Australia)
Jennifer Holmgren, CEO at Lanzatech (USA)
Virginia Klausmeier, CEO at Sylvatex (USA)
Christine Lang, chairwoman at German Bioeconomy Council (Germany)
Katrien Molders, Communication manager at BioBase Europe Pilot Plant (Belgium)
Electra Papadopoulou, co-founder Greek Bioeconomy Forum (Greece)
Virginia Puzzolo, Head of Programme at CBE JU (Belgium)
Theodora Retsina, CEO at American Process (USA)
Tatjana Schwabe-Markovic, Senior Project Manager at Clib (Germany)
Kathryn Sheridan, CEO at Sustainability Consult (Belgium)
Claire Skentelbery, Director General at EuropaBio (Belgium)
Mariagiovanna Vetere, Global Public Affairs at NatureWorks (USA)
Mari Walls, President and CEO at Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)
Alex Ward, President at Origin Materials (Canada)
Marie Wheat, Industry Economist at USDA BioPreferred Program (USA)
Eleni Zika, Strategic Advisor at ERC (EU)
IL BIOECONOMISTA 