Roundtable Experience

This series of six thematic roundtables at IEEE WIE ILS Tunisia explores emerging technologies beyond AI, including quantum computing, biotechnology, and Industry 5.0, from a human-centered perspective. It highlights the role of data, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, while emphasizing ethics, inclusion, and sustainability. The experience also focus on empowering women to move from participation to leadership and decision-making in technological and innovation ecosystems. In addition, they address storytelling, mentorship, and career development to support young professionals in building impactful and sustainable paths in STEM. Designed to foster interactive dialogue and meaningful knowledge exchange, each roundtable will take place in a face-to-face setting, with participants seated around a table to encourage open discussion and active engagement. Each session will be moderated by one or two moderators (Co-chairs) who will guide the conversation and ensure inclusive participation. To maintain a high level of interaction, each roundtable will host a maximum of 20 participants.

Each discussion will run for 50 minutes, during which an AI-supported system will capture and document key insights and contributions. Following the session, moderators will prepare a concise synthesis of the discussion with the support of AI tools. The roundtables will conclude with a plenary segment where each moderator delivers a 5-minute presentation summarizing the main insights, outcomes, and recommendations. Altogether, six short presentations will provide a comprehensive overview of the discussions across all thematic sessions.

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Round Table 1:

Beyond AI: Why Quantum-Biotech Convergence is the First Field Where Women Engineers Don’t Ask for a Seat; They Architect It

While most conversations remain fixated on AI, the deeper technological inflection point is already forming at the intersection of quantum computing and biotechnology, a convergence so nascent that its standards, ethics, and power structures are still unwritten. This RoundTable brings together women engineers and researchers at the frontier of these fields to discuss what this convergence means in practice: real projects, real barriers, and real leadership already underway. Rather than framing women’s presence in deep-tech as something still to be earned, this session positions them as architects of the next revolution, designing the infrastructure, governance, and ethical direction of Quantum-Biotech systems from the ground up. Aligned with the spirit of Industry 5.0, human-centric, sustainable, and resilient , and resonating with IEEE WIE’s mission to advance technology for the benefit of humanity, this candid, circular discussion will move beyond testimonials and pipeline debates toward concrete, actionable insight for the industry.

Key Focus Areas 

  • A blank-slate moment: Quantum-biotech as a rare opportunity to build a discipline without inherited biases hard-coded in
  • From inclusion to infrastructure: Architecting standards, governance, and culture — not merely meeting them
  • Participation to authorship: Practical pathways for women engineers to shape the field while the rules are still being written
  • Seizing the window: Why Industry 5.0 depends on getting the foundations right before the walls go up
Co-Chairs

Adel M. Alimi
Full Professor of Electrical Engineering, ENIS, University of Sfax
SMIEEE, IEEE Tunisia Section
Founder, Research Groups in Intelligent Machines (REGIM-Lab)
Tunisia
View Bio
Adel M. Alimi is Full Professor of Electrical Engineering at the National Engineering School of Sfax (ENIS), University of Sfax, Tunisia, where he has been on the faculty since the mid 1990s. He obtained his engineering degree and HDR from ENIS, University of Sfax, and a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the École Polytechnique de Montréal in Canada. He is Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and founder of the Research Group in Intelligent Machines Laboratory (REGIM-Lab), which he directed for more than two decades. His research focuses on neural networks, intelligent systems, pattern recognition, and applications of soft computing in engineering.Prof. Alimi previously served as Director of the National Engineering School of Sfax and as Director of the Tunisia European Erasmus+ Office, and has held visiting positions in Germany. He has a long record of publications, doctoral supervision, and patenting activity, and has led many national and international research projects. He has also served as associate editor and guest editor of scientific journals, chair of international conferences, and expert evaluator for engineering programmes, research projects, and quality assurance systems in Europe, Africa, and the Arab region. His distinctions include major international awards in neural networks and European scientific competition prizes, as well as top national honours for scientific research, technology, education, and science.

Dajana Cassioli
WIE Italy chair – Coordinator for Diversity
Equity and Inclusion activities of the IEEE Italy section
View Bio
Dajana Cassioli (Senior Member, IEEE) is an Associate Professor of Telecommunications Engineering with the University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy, where she served as the Elected Head for the Study Program in “Telecommunications Engineering: Advanced Technologies and Services” from 2021 to 2024. She co-authored more than 100 articles published in the most renowned international journals, magazines, and conference proceedings. She was a Summer Manager with the Wireless Systems Research Department, AT&T Laboratories-Research, NJ, USA, in 2000. She was a Short-Term Visiting Scholar with the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, hosted by Prof. Andy Molisch, in 2022. Her main research interests are in wireless communications, 5G/B5G networks and cybersecurity.
Dr. Cassioli is the Chair of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on “Propagation Channels for Next Generation Wireless Systems and Emerging Deployment Scenarios” and Chair of the SiG on Distributed and Massive MIMO of the IEEE P1944 Standard for Channel Models of Wireless Systems, both within the IEEE Communications Society. She also serves as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Activity Coordinator of the IEEE Italy Section. She is the Past Chair of the IEEE WIE AG Italy Section from 2016 to 2022 and the IEEE VT06/COM19 Italy Chapter from 2011 to 2017. She served as the Chair of the IEEE ComSoc RCC SiG on Propagation Channels for 5G&B from 2021 to 2025. Since 2015, she is the Coordinator of the University of L’Aquila Node of the CINI National Laboratory of Cybersecurity, where she led the CyberEquality WG from 2020 to 2021. She has been awarded the ERC StG VISION (Video-oriented UWB-based Intelligent Ubiquitous Sensing) in 2010 and the ERC PoC Grant iCARE (MobIle health-Care system for monitoring toxicity and symptoms in Cancer patients Receiving Disease-Oriented Therapy) in 2016. She was the CEO in 2014–2018, and 2019 of the spin-off of the University of L’Aquila “Smartly: Natives of Smart Living srl,” which designs and markets advanced ICT solutions to improve the quality of life. She served as the Co-Chair for Globecom 2025 WC, ICC 2024 MWN, ICC 2023 CISS, PIMRC2018 Industry, RTSI WIE Chair in 2018, 2019, and 2020, MELECON2020 and MetroInd4.0, and the TPC member of several International Conferences, including ICC, PIMRC, VTC, and GLOBECOM. She participated in the definition of the standard channel model for the IEEE 802.15.4 standard in 2005. She is an Associate Editor of IET Electronic Letters, and an Executive Editor of WILEY INTERNET TECHNOLOGY LETTERS and Transactions on Emerging Telecommunications Technology and served as an Associate Editor for IEEE COMMUNICATIONS LETTERS from 2018 to 2022.

Round Table 2:

Women in Decision-Making: Claiming the Power Layer

Industry 5.0 is framed as a human-centred paradigm where technology serves people, not the other way around. Yet this framing often obscures a more critical question: who defines what “human-centred” means, and whose priorities are embedded in the systems we build?

This interactive roundtable invites participants to explore the power layer, the spaces where key decisions are made and direction is set. Together, we’ll unpack why women are often underrepresented in these roles and share practical insights on how to move closer to decision-making positions.

Designed as an open, engaging conversation, this session creates space for shared experiences, honest dialogue, and actionable perspectives. It is for women ready to move beyond participation and begin shaping the systems that define the future of technology.

Co-Chairs

Jennifer D. Daniel
DR. / FOUNDER, SASIE
Nigeria
View Bio

Dr. Jennifer D. Daniel is a technology and innovation leader advancing inclusive growth in Africa’s digital ecosystem. As Founder of SASIE.org, she designs programmes that equip women to build scalable tech ventures. With a background spanning technology, and entrepreneurship, she brings a multidisciplinary lens to leadership and innovation. A sought-after speaker, she has delivered sessions at TEDx and the African Women Conference, championing pathways for women to lead in engineering and technology.

Emna Awadni
TBA
Tunisia
View Bio
TBA

Round Table 3:

Industry 5.0: Data, AI, and the Future of Smart Enterprises

Industry 5.0 is redefining the relationship between people, data, and intelligent technologies. This discussion will explore how organizations can leverage artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and data-driven decision-making to build human-centric, resilient, and sustainable enterprises. Drawing on practical experiences from higher education and digital transformation initiatives, the session will highlight the importance of AI governance, trusted data, cybersecurity, ethical innovation, and the leadership required to successfully integrate AI into business strategy while keeping people at the center of innovation.

Co-Chairs

Meriem Somai
Chief Digital and Information Officer at Honoris
Tunisia
View Bio

Meriem Somai is the Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Honoris United Universities in Tunisia. She leads artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and data strategy across institutions like Université Centrale, IMSET, and UPSAT.Somai is a major leader in digital transformation. She builds tech platforms that help schools study student choices. She also works with large software programs like Microsoft Dynamics 365 to make learning smoother. She believes technology can help women find good jobs.

Rushali Thakkar
Region 8 Lead Communications & Outreach Strategy Committee
View Bio
Mrs Rushali Thakkar completed her bachelors in Electrical Engineering from FCRIT in the year 1999 and then, pursued her Masters from Walchand college of engineering sangli with specialization in control systems with distinction. She has 20+ teaching experience and presently pursuing Ph.D at Sardar Patel Institute of Technology Andheri, Mumbai. Her research domain is Power Electronics, Renewable Energy sources, Battery Management Systems and EVs. She is currently working on Battery Management Systems and Design of Power converter circuits for Electric Vehicles. Currently She is working in Electrification Production department at Intercel Energy Solutions B.V Haarlem, Netherlands. She started her professional journey as a Design Engineer at Marine Electricals and Fabricons and worked on Power Circuit & Control Circuit drawings for 2 years before stepping into the field of academic and research. She won the Global Eminent Academician Award for Outstanding Service in Teaching by VIJ trust in 2021 and also received Minor Research Grant in the year 2021 from Mumbai University for the research project “Design and Development of Power Electronic Converter for Active Balancing lithium ion battery. She is senior member IEEE and currently serving as Secretary, IEEE PES HAC.She is a member of IEEE WIE Climate Change and Sustainability Adhoc Commitee and member of Women in Sensor Council.

Round Table 4:

Reinventing Education for Industry 5.0

Generative AI and user-centered design are reshaping how assessment, teaching, and learning happen in higher education. This session highlights the importance of building educational tools that are personalized, accessible, and aligned with the demands of an AI-driven workforce. Participants will gain insights into how pedagogical innovation can prepare the next generation of engineers and professionals, while fostering gender-balanced collaboration in the design of these tools.

Co-Chairs

Sonia Sahli
Co-creator of SmartExam
Senior Technologist at ISET Sousse
Tunisia
View Bio

Sonia Sahli is a Tunisian university professor with a strong focus on educational innovation and the integration of Artificial Intelligence in higher education. Co-creator of SmartExam, a Swiss-Tunisian generative AI-based assessment tool that automates the creation of personalized, multilingual exams, developed with a gender-balanced student team, and winner of IEEE Region 8 Entrepreneurship 2025. With a background in UI/UX Design, creator of SonyPlanner and the SonyPlanner Internship Journal, both designed to help students manage and track their academic projects. Organizer of RIPU Sousse, an international conference dedicated to innovation in higher education.

Mekki Ksouri
Emeritus Professor of Electrical Engineering, Senior Consultant
IEEE Life Member
Tunisia
View Bio
Prof. Mekki Ksouri is an Emeritus Professor of Electrical Engineering, Senior Consultant at ESPRIT, Tunisia, and an IEEE Life Member. He holds an Engineering degree from Supélec, Paris, and Doctor-Engineer and State Doctorate degrees from Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris VI).
Throughout a distinguished academic and leadership career, Prof. Ksouri has taught and conducted research in Tunisian universities since 1977. He has held senior leadership positions as Director of ENSET, ISET Radès, INSAT and ESSAI, and founded the Laboratory of Systems Analysis, Design and Control (LACS). His research interests include automatic and adaptive control, nonlinear and industrial systems, optimisation, intelligent systems, and engineering education.
A founding member of the IEEE Tunisia Section, Prof. Ksouri has also contributed extensively to national scientific and educational development through professional associations and advisory roles to the Tunisian Ministries of Research and Higher Education. His distinctions include the French Palmes Académiques, IEEE awards for leadership and contribution, and Tunisia’s National Order of Merit in Education.

Round Table 5:

YP Opportunities and Transitions

The transition from Student Member to Young Professional marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities, challenges, and important decisions. Beyond starting a career, it is about building a professional identity, expanding networks, developing leadership skills, and finding meaningful ways to stay engaged within the IEEE community.
This interactive roundtable will bring together students, recent graduates, and Young Professionals to discuss the opportunities available during this transition, including career development, volunteering, technical communities, entrepreneurship, mentoring, and international collaboration. Participants will hear real experiences, exchange perspectives, and explore how IEEE can support their personal and professional growth at every stage of their journey. Designed as an open discussion rather than a presentation, this session encourages active participation, honest conversations, and peer-to-peer learning.

Supported by:

Co-Chairs

Nadine Jalleli
IEEE YP R8 Representative
2026 Software Engineer Graduate from ENIS, University of Sfax
Tunisia
View Bio
Nadine Jellali is a Tunisian software engineer and IEEE volunteer from Sfax, Tunisia. She has been actively involved with IEEE since 2022, contributing to student and young professional development. She currently serves as the IEEE Region 8 Young Professionals Corresponding Member, IEEE Tunisia Section Student Activities Committee Student Branches Coordinator, and IEEE Tunisia Young Professionals Events Coordinator.She has held several leadership roles within IEEE. Most notably, she served as the Secretary of the IEEE Tunisia Student and Young Professionals Congress (TSYP 13), leading the coordination of one of the largest IEEE student events in the region. She has also contributed to numerous national and international IEEE initiatives.
Her interests include artificial intelligence, software engineering, and emerging technologies, with a particular focus on leveraging technology to develop innovative solutions and strengthen volunteer communities. Her contributions have been recognized through several prestigious IEEE awards, including the 2024 IEEE Region 8 Outstanding Women in Engineering Student Volunteer Award.

Mohamed Saeed Darweesh
Co-Director, Associate Professor, ECE Program, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nile University
IEEE MGA Student Activities Committee, YP Representative 2026
Egypt
View Bio

Mohamed Saeed Darweesh (M’17, SM’20) is an Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Electronics and Computer Engineering (ECE) Program at Nile University, Egypt. He received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. (with honors) in Electronics and Electrical Communications Engineering from Cairo University in 2013 and 2017. He has held academic and research positions at the American University in Cairo, Zewail City of Science and Technology, the Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport, and the Institute of Aviation Engineering and Technology.He is a Senior Member of IEEE and an active volunteer in global and regional leadership, currently serving as IEEE Region 8 Young Professionals Committee Chair (2025–2026), with additional roles across IEEE MGA, HTB, and major conference committees. He also contributes at the national level as a member of the Council of Education and Scientific Research Policies and the National Committee for Artificial Intelligence Sciences at ASRT (2025–2028).

His research interests include artificial intelligence and machine learning, with applications in healthcare and Industry 4.0. He has authored and co-authored over 100 publications and received the 2024 IEEE MGA Young Professionals Award.

Round Table 6:

From Engineer to Author: Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in STEM

This session explores the power of storytelling and creative expression in inspiring young minds to pursue careers in engineering and technology. It highlights how personal journeys, captured through books, illustrations, and mentorship, can make STEM feel accessible and relatable to the next generation, especially young women. Participants will gain insights into how engineers can become authors and advocates, using creative platforms to spark curiosity, build confidence, and open pathways into technical fields.

Co-Chair

Mohamed Ali Zormati
Network and Telecommunications Engineer
PhD Candidate, Heudiasyc
View Bio
Mohamed Ali Zormati graduated from the National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), Tunisia, in 2023 as a Networks and Telecommunications Engineer. Since December 2024, he has been a PhD student at the Heudiasyc laboratory. His research interests center on intelligent networks, network softwarization, and the Internet of Things, on which he has several publications. Since January 2026, Mohamed Ali has been elected as member of the Laboratory Council. In addition to his academic commitments, he has been an active IEEE volunteer since 2019. Currently, he serves as the IEEE Tunisia Section Vice Chair for Technical Activities, the Chair of the Tunisia Section Technical Activities Committee, and the Student Career Development Coordinator for IEEE Region 8 (Europe, Middle East, and Africa).

Round Table 7:

The Human Circuit: Where Technology Meets Purpose

Industry 5.0 marks a shift away from pure automation toward technology that serves people, communities, and the planet. Yet the tools of this new era : AI, robotics, IoT, advanced manufacturing; are only as human as the values guiding their design. This roundtable explores how women engineers, technologists, and entrepreneurs keep innovation anchored in human needs and social impact, rather than letting it become an end in itself.

The conversation echoes the Tanit concept underpinning ILS 2026: a feminine force of protection, vision, and continuity. Just as Tanit safeguarded and guided a civilization, today’s women engineers are called to guide technology toward purposes that protect, include, and uplift closing the circuit between Humanity in Technology and Tech4Impact. Bringing together professionals, academics, entrepreneurs, and students as equal voices around the table, the session surfaces lived examples of human-centered design and builds concrete, shared takeaways for embedding purpose into an engineering career.

Key Focus Areas

  • What “human-centered technology” means in practice across engineering disciplines: AI, robotics,
    energy, health tech, sustainability;
  • Tanit’s legacy today: how women engineers protect and steer the human element in an increasingly
    automated world;
  • Tech4Impact in practice: real moments where putting people first changed a technical outcome or
    design decision;
  • Looking forward: the skills and advice the next generation of women engineers needs to stay
    human-centered as Industry 5.0 accelerates
Co-Chair

Amira Ouerfelli
Electrical Engineer,
MGA Representative on the Humanitarian Technologies Board (HTB)
HTB SIGHT Global Chair
IEEE SIGHT Tunisia Section Chair
 
View Bio
Amira Ouerfelli is an electrical engineer specializing in robotics, embedded systems, and artificial intelligence. She holds a Master’s degree in Information System Technologies from the National Engineering School of Tunis (ENIT) and is passionate about leveraging technology to create sustainable and humanitarian impact. She was recognized with the Best Performance Sustainable Project Award at IEEE PowerAfrica 2024, and under her leadership the IEEE SIGHT Tunisia Section received the IEEE Region 8 Outstanding SIGHT Section Award in 2025. She currently serves in several IEEE leadership roles, including MGA Representative on the Humanitarian Technologies Board (HTB), HTB SIGHT Global Chair, IEEE SIGHT Tunisia Section Chair, Humanitarian Technologies Coordinator for the IEEE Tunisia Section, IEEE Smart Village Volunteer since 2021, IEEE IAS Women in Engineering Region 8 Representative, and a graduate of the IEEE Volunteer Leadership Training (VoLT) program. Beyond IEEE, Amira serves as Chair of the Disaster Response Team at the National Tunisian Red Crescent, a role she has held since 2020, where she focuses on disaster risk reduction and strengthening community resilience.

 
 
 
 

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