On Wednesday, 18 February 2026, United In Diversity Foundation successfully convened UID Talk #23 with the theme “Bridging the Future of Women in STEM” at UID Bali Campus. The event ran smoothly and became a tangible reflection of UID’s ongoing commitment to consistently involve the tri-sector approach—civil society, academia, industry, and government—in its programs and initiatives. By bringing together stakeholders from these three sectors in one forum, UID reaffirmed its belief that complex challenges such as gender inequality in STEM cannot be addressed in silos, but require collective dialogue, shared responsibility, and cross-sector collaboration.

This UID Talk was organized as part of the commemoration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed globally on 11 February. More than 80 students from STEM-related disciplines participated in the event, including students from Biology, Chemistry, Marine and Fisheries, Civil Engineering, and Informatics programs from Universitas Udayana and Universitas Mahadewa. Their active participation highlighted the strong interest among young people in understanding the realities of the STEM workforce and the opportunities—and barriers—that women continue to face within it.

The discussion featured speakers representing the tri-sector ecosystem. From the applied science and environmental management perspective, Indah Rufiati S. Yudono (Head of Applied Science and Adaptive Management, Blue Venture) shared insights from professional practice. From academia, Prof. Dra. Luh Putu Eswaryanti, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Head of the Undergraduate Biology Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Udayana) and Dr. Sc. Widiastuti, S.Kel., M.Si. (Head of the Undergraduate Marine Science Program, Faculty of Marine and Fisheries, Universitas Udayana) provided reflections on women’s participation and leadership in scientific education and research. Representing the private sector, Andi Aisyah Alqumairah, S.Psi., M.Psi.T. (Culture and People Engagement, XLSMART) discussed workplace dynamics and corporate strategies, while from the government side, Ketut Alit Putri Herlina Saraswati (Head of UPTD Industrial and Tourism Training Center, Bali Provincial Manpower and ESDM Office) shared policy and labor-related perspectives. The discussion was moderated by Nimas Mega Purnamasari, Director of UID Bali Campus & Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center, who connected the different viewpoints into a cohesive and reflective conversation.

Throughout the talk, all speakers acknowledged that the STEM field remains predominantly male-dominated. While there has been progress and more women are entering STEM-related education and professions, the gap between women and men—especially at leadership and decision-making levels—remains wide. The speakers agreed that this imbalance is not merely a matter of numbers, but also of culture, systems, and access to opportunities that shape women’s career trajectories over time.

One of the key reflections came from Andi Aisyah Alqumairah, who highlighted that opportunities at higher management levels are, in principle, open to everyone regardless of gender. However, in reality, many women choose not to pursue top leadership positions due to various circumstances, ranging from workplace culture and expectations to personal and social considerations. She emphasized that this is why structured training, long-term mentoring, and direct institutional support are essential to encourage women to step into strategic roles within male-dominated STEM environments. She also shared that large corporations such as XLSMART have developed specific programs to ensure women have equitable opportunities to occupy key positions, accompanied by initiatives designed to strengthen confidence, readiness, and motivation.

After the talkshow session, participants were divided into two breakout rooms to deepen the discussion. The first group focused on cultural dynamics and policy frameworks that can support women in pursuing and sustaining high-level careers in STEM, while the second group explored essential and fundamental skills needed for the future careers of women in STEM fields. From these discussions, participants noted that Bali alone is home to thousands of companies, making labor supervision a significant challenge and increasing the risk that employment regulations are not fully or consistently implemented. This reality underscores the importance of awareness at the individual level, as workers need to be proactive in understanding their rights and obligations, including employment contracts, responsibilities, and company policies, before entering into formal work agreements.

The breakout discussions also reinforced the idea that gender equality is not about compassion or charity, but about strategy and progress. Providing space for women in STEM brings real added value, including economic benefits and increased organizational competitiveness. Participants agreed that courage among women must continue to be strengthened, as diversification and managerial positions remain challenging spaces to navigate. Women are encouraged to explore opportunities more boldly, take calculated risks, and see leadership as an achievable and impactful role.

The event concluded with a shared sense of gratitude for the open exchange of ideas and the safe space for dialogue that had been created. UID expressed hope that UID Talk #23 would not only raise awareness, but also open pathways for collaboration, mentoring, and concrete action across academia, industry, and government. Through initiatives like this, United In Diversity Foundation continues to reaffirm its commitment to fostering inclusive leadership and ensuring that women are actively involved in shaping the future of STEM.