Governor Northam announces Women in Innovation Conference March 17 in Richmond

~ Theme: Grow, Empower, Mentor, and Succeed ~

RICHMOND—On February 8th, Governor Ralph Northam announced that biochemist and STEM advocate Camille Schrier will keynote the Commonwealth’s second annual Women in Innovation (WIN) conference. She also serves as Miss America 2020. The Virginia Information Technologies Agency’s (VITA) Innovation Program will host the conference in Richmond on Tuesday March 17, 2020, during Women’s History Month.

The conference celebrates the achievements of Virginia women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and aims to inspire the next generation of women innovators.

“The Women in Innovation conference will once again bring together a diverse community of successful women leaders and entrepreneurs to share their stories and empower one another,” said Governor Northam. “Events like this help encourage more young women to pursue their passions and join the ranks of Virginia pioneers in fast-growing, high-demand STEM fields.”

The conference will focus on the exchange of knowledge and ideas, offering a range of networking opportunities where participants can connect with their peers, collaborate on new ideas, and generate new energy to continue their work. This year, through a unique collaboration with CodeVA, the event will also include a new session designed to engage K-12 women.

Featured guests also include National Correspondent for ABC News and Good Morning America Adrienne Bankert, plus a special performance from American Idol finalist Shayy Winn.

“This conference is a forum which offers attendees engagement, growth, and mentorship opportunities,” said Secretary of Administration Dr. Keyanna Conner. “Women in Innovation is geared to provide advice and guidance to individuals of all ages and genres to move forward in today’s society and be productive while in route.”

Dr. Gladys West, a mathematician known for her integral role in the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS), will be recognized with the 2020 Honorary “Powerhouse” Female Innovator Award. Secretary Conner and Nelson Moe, Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth, will present The Maggies, a Women in Innovation awards program named in honor of Maggie Lena Walker.

The event will be held at the Dewey Gottwald Center at the Science Museum of Virginia and the registration fee is $75. To register, or for additional event information, including the program schedule, please visit the Women in Innovation website.