Women at Imperial Week: Celebrating I-X Women in AI Network

To mark International Women's Day and Women at Imperial Week, we spoke to I-X Women in AI Network Committee about their mission and impactful work.

In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women at Imperial Week, today we spotlight the Committee of the I-X Women in AI Network (IX-WAI). The network is dedicated to empowering women, non-binary people and other gender-discriminated groups* in the field of artificial intelligence.

Launched in April 2024, within a year of its inception, the IX-WAI has delivered several successful events as part of the AI: Cutting-Edge Overview and Tutorials and AI: Ethics & Diversity Seminar Series and established its Early Career Grants programme (with Round 3 currently open) to support women and non-binary individuals in overcoming barriers to entering the AI field. They have also just announced their first Women in Science Career Day, featuring exciting workshops, discussion panels, and skills-building sessions. And this is just the beginning—they have no plans of stopping there, with more initiatives and projects in the works for the Imperial community!

To celebrate their great work and achievements, we asked the committee members about the IX-WAI mission, what being part of the initiative means to them, and why it is crucial to engage more women in STEM and AI research.

* For readability, we refer to all of these groups as “women” throughout the text.

Dr Gema Vera González

Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

Alice, Eileen, Tracy, and I founded IX-WAI with the objective of empowering women, non-binary people and other gender-discriminated groups in the field of artificial intelligence, aiming to create a supportive and inclusive network that champions career advancement, addresses challenges, and fosters connections across all career stages. I am especially excited about the Women in Science Career Day that we are planning for 11 June 2025, as it will be an amazing opportunity for any woman or non-binary individual to obtain the practical skills and advice needed to take their next professional step, no matter their path: academia, industry or start-up founding. I am also very proud of our ongoing work with the Early Career Development Grant. By increasing visibility and funding opportunities for women’s voices in AI, we strive to correct underrepresentation and build a future where diversity drives innovation.

Dr Sara Veneziale

Chapman-Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

Being a member of the IX-WAI committee is a key part of my experience as a research fellow. To me, the IX-WAI initiative is about building community. It is a great opportunity to engage with AI researchers at Imperial, promote their work, and celebrate their success. Being part of a gender minority in STEM can feel isolating, and the IX-WAI network makes me feel like I am part of something much bigger than me. I hope other researchers experience this sense of belonging as well.

The part of the IX-WAI that I am most excited about is the Early Career Grant. It is really fun and interesting to read the submitted proposals: I feel like I get to learn a little bit more about the great work that women in AI are doing at Imperial. Being able to contribute to funding their ideas, travel opportunities, and learning goals feels like a great privilege and I really hope it serves as a valuable support for driving their research further.

Dr Laura Helleckes

Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

The I-X Women in AI initiative is a fantastic network of staff, fellows, and faculty at I-X, which has the mission of empowering women, non-binary individuals, and other gender-discriminated groups. All of these groups are still largely underrepresented in STEM and I believe that we can use our standing at I-X to contribute to a more diverse research and science community.

Within these aims, I am most excited to use our network to actively promote women and non-binary individuals in dedicated events at Imperial and beyond. For example, we are currently organising a Women in Science Career Day in June, which will be a fantastic opportunity to engage with academic, industrial and start-up experts. In my career so far, I have benefited from these kinds of events and the generous women within them sharing their incredible experiences. I am excited about the opportunity to now contribute to such an event myself, with the hope that it will empower women and non-binary individuals in their careers in STEM.

Beyond the inspiring work we do directly within the network, I also value the influence it has on our day-to-day work at I-X. The members within the Women in AI network provide continuous support for each other, which is positively changing the work atmosphere at I-X. Before joining the fellowship, I did not have such a fantastic team of supporting women around me. I am thus very grateful for the network and its great influence on my work and beyond.

Eileen Boyce

Manager of I-X Centre for AI in Science

Working in academic support I have been involved in many efforts to encourage women into STEM. The great thing about the I-X WAI network is that it was developed and shaped by the research fellows themselves, who are best placed to understand the challenges that women scientists face. Being a member of the I-X WAI committee allows me to see up close and personal the issues that affect women in STEM. Whether it is helping to organise a women’s career day or funding early career grants, being part of the committee is a great way to actively support the inclusion of women in AI.

Dr Tracy Bussoli

Professional Development Consultant for AI in Science Fellows

Being an IX-WAI committee member is very important to me. The perspective and mindset of women in science and the AI space brings new ideas, perspectives and ways of working.   

I look forward to our IX-WAI committee meetings where we are beginning to shape events and activities that will resonate with women working in science and the AI space. The committees are a safe space for participants to collaborate and share their ideas on initiatives to support women across Imperial and beyond. As a more experienced woman with leadership experience, it is a delight to see less experienced committee members grow in confidence as they chair meetings, brainstorm ideas and, increasingly, drive exciting new ideas forward to the implementation phase.  

With fellow committee members, I have been involved in several initiatives, including the production of some promotional videos to encourage women to apply for the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowships. We wanted to highlight that the fellowships are a great opportunity for women wanting to use AI in their scientific research, reassuring them that AI expertise was not a prerequisite for applying! A more recent initiative involved two committee members attending a careers day at a local school called The Phoenix Academy. We had the opportunity to spread the word about I-X and AI research to around 100 girls aged 11 – 18!        

Dr Elli Heyes

Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

Throughout my academic career, I have been part of various women in STEM networks, which I have found to be incredibly valuable. Being part of an underrepresented group can sometimes feel isolating, which is why building communities within these groups, including women in AI, is so important. I’m also very passionate about promoting the research of women in STEM and showcasing their amazing talent, which is something I have the opportunity to do through IX-WAI. 

I believe there are many reasons why it is important to have women involved in all areas of STEM research. It brings broader perspectives and can result in more effective solutions; it contributes to a more inclusive and supporting work environment; women in STEM can also be role models and mentors for young girls, inspiring them to pursue a career in STEM. I think it is particularly important to have women involved in artificial intelligence research because, as AI becomes central to decision-making systems, it brings along ethical considerations, such as bias. For example, an AI tool used by a company to pre-screen applicants for a job may display a gender bias if gender inequality in society is not accounted for. Diversity, including gender diversity, in AI development is not only a matter of representation but also a necessity to address issues that might go unnoticed in homogenous teams.

I am very excited about the “Women in Science” careers event we have coming up later this year. We have some great skills-based workshops planned across industry, academia and entrepreneurship. We also have a “raw truth” panel session planned where participants will be able to get the honest truth from our panellists about the ups and downs of different career paths. I hope that this event will provide a welcoming environment for women in science to network with each other as well as gain useful practical skills and insight into different career paths which will help them in their own career journey.

Dr Austin Mroz

Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

Being a member of the I-X Women in AI committee and working to empower women, non-binary individuals, and other gender-discriminated groups in AI and STEM is an incredibly rewarding experience. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with a talented team of women to mentor early-career researchers, offer funding through the Early Career Grant, and create spaces where gender-marginalized voices are amplified through the I-X WAI network. This is fundamental to building a supportive and inclusive community and driving innovation in AI and STEM that is representative of the society that they serve.

One of the upcoming events that I am most excited about is our Women in Science Career Day. This event will connect women and non-binary students with professionals working in several different STEM career tracks—with the goal of providing participants with guidance, inspiration, and tangible skills necessary to pursue a career in AI and STEM. It can be really challenging to figure out what you want to do after a PhD, and hard to identify different options—I'm excited to be a part of an initiative working to build a space for women and non-binary identifying individuals to have these conversations in an inclusive environment.