Automate 2024 to highlight women leaders in automation

Automate 2024 will be celebrating and empowering women in automation. The annual trade show and conference, running May 6-9 in Chicago and hosted by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), will open its third day with an inaugural Women’s Empowerment Forum and a keynote address by MIT Professor Daniela Rus.

The Women’s Empowerment Forum, free for show registrants, will reportedly feature a panel of female executives in automation, including Marina Bill of ABB Robotics, Adi Leviatan of 3M and Rashmi Misra of Microsoft. The panel will discuss breaking barriers and staying motivated to make a mark in this male-dominated industry. Following the Empowerment Forum, Professor Rus will delve into the future of automation and robotics, exploring the transformative potential of the next 60 years in the industry. The show will wrap up its final day with Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic, discussing advances at the intersection of robotics and AI to solve real problems in industrial automation.

“Automate has always been at the forefront of innovation. Yet, as technology continues to evolve and its economic impact grows at an unprecedented rate, the need for diverse voices in the conversation has never been more critical,” said Deb Kling, vice-president of marketing for A3. “The Women’s Empowerment Forum, combined with our featured keynotes, not only recognizes these incredible female leaders who are driving change but also helps to strengthen awareness of the critical need for women in the industry. We would also like to extend a special thank you to our Empowerment Sponsors: United Robotics Group and Teradyne.”

Julia Astrid Riemenschneider, vice-president of business development, industrial, for United Robotics Group, added, “At United Robotics Group, we’re dedicated to empowering humanity with technology. Our range of solutions is crafted to benefit individuals in both industrial and social settings. With our robots, we strive to empower all people, irrespective of their background, culture, technical expertise, or gender. We take immense pride in our CTO, Dr. Nadja Schmiedl, who stands as a beacon of inspiration for women in automation. Following her example, we’re witnessing a growing presence of female talents within both United Robotics Group and the broader industry. That’s why we’re thrilled to extend our support to the Automate Empowerment Forum and eagerly anticipate connecting with everyone here in Chicago!”