International Women’s Day Shaping the Future: Women at the Helm

To mark International Women’s Day, the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Bulgaria are pleased to invite you on March 6th, 2026 to an inspiring event dedicated to women leading change across diplomacy, technology, defense, and the digital age.

Under the motto “Shaping the Future: Women at the Helm”, the forum brings together prominent speakers and thought leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s world.

The program includes in-depth panels dedicated to women in leadership positions in technology, diplomacy, and defense, women in non-traditional professions, as well as a look at the legacy of women in science through an interview generated with the help of artificial intelligence.

What to Expect

High-level speakers such as:

• H.E. Irene Maria Plank, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany,
• H.E. Olesia Ilashchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine,
• Captain II Rank Dimana Slavova, Head of Administrative Department, Naval Academy “Nikola Vaptsarov” / Association of Women in the Armed Forces,
• Estefania Melendez Chacon, Political Advisor and Founder of Women for Democracy in Venezuela,
• Desislava Ivanovich, Deputy Managing Director, Schwarz IT Bulgaria
• Eliza Bakardzhieva, Senior Director Aircraft Material Management & Logistics, Member of the Strategic Leadership Team, Lufthansa Technik Sofia
• Yana Neykova, Project Manager at Adesso Bulgaria and representative of the Data Science Society.

The event will also be attended by other distinguished guests. Follow our channels for more up-to-date information.

• Engaging discussions on technology, defense, and leadership in the digital age
• An innovative AI-generated interview with Elisaveta Karamihailova
• 250 ambitious women from international companies, institutions, political organizations, and NGOs
• Exclusive networking cocktail reception

Event Details

Date: March 6, 2026

Registration: from 9:30 AM

Venue: Théatro otsam kanala, ul. Vurbitsa 12, Sofia

Language: Bulgarian & English (simultaneous interpretation provided)

Admission: Free of charge (registration required)

Be among the first to gain insights into the political and economic developments that will shape 2026 and discover how women are actively driving this future.

Program

09:30 – 10:00 Registration

10:00 – 10:20 Welcome

10:20 – 10:50 Informal discussion: “Navigating in times of crisis: Women as drivers of solutions”

10:50 – 11:20 Discussion panel I – Women at the forefront of technology and defense

11:20 – 11:30 Women from the past: Life in science – Elisaveta Karamihailova, Artificial intelligence-generated interview with Maria Chakarova, founder of “The Face of Sofia”

11:30 – 12:00 Panel discussion II – Leadership in the digital age

12:00 – 14:00 Cocktail reception