This article is written by Celeste Wang, a WES 2025 student journalist and writer for Sundial Press.
Warwick University hosted their twenty-fourth Economics Summit from January 24-26, 2025. As one of the largest student-run academic conferences in Europe, the Summit invites internationally celebrated speakers, such as Nobel Peace Prize winners and leaders at the forefront of policy-making. From panelists to keynote speakers to debate moderators, women in political economics built constructive conversation that catalyzed discussion.
Simonetta Sommaruga, former president of the Swiss Confederation between 2015 and 2020, spearheaded ideas of gender equality in her country by advancing equal pay and leadership opportunities for women. In her keynote speech, she underscored the importance of women's voices in politics, and in consequence, women helping the environment. Former president Sommaruga explained how by increasing the “presence” of women in education, further opportunities open for them. She cited 30% as a significant threshold for gender equality – the 30% Club, is an international mission vowing to increase the visibility of women in higher corporate positions. Sommaruga mentions how with such an increase in female representation in the workplace, more attention can be given to environmental issues, aligning her goals of climate cleanliness with bringing women to the C-Suite. Sommaruga championed gender equality by heading the Equal Salary Foundation in March of 2024, pushing her work for equal pay and opportunities for women beyond Switzerland.
Nigerian economist and author Chinwe Egwim extends Sommaruga’s desire for more female representation in the corporate world, speaking in the panel, “The Future of Global Development: Envisioning a Path for Economic Convergence.” During the panel, Egwin emphasized the pervasive gender roles in Africa, and how she aims to see 50/50 representation of women and men participating in the legal market. She recognizes that these “gender roles” still exist because of “cultural reasons.” In a February 2020 edition of Spark Magazine, Egwim described how in corporate spheres in Nigeria, workplaces marginalize women, especially with children, from participating as effectively as men do. Though she cites that women make up only a small percentage of directors in companies on the Nigerian stock exchange, they can often make better leaders and are vital parts of companies. Therefore, by leveling the “playing field,” and granting women equal opportunities to influential roles in influential companies, women have the potential to contribute to accelerating their nation’s economic growth.
One of the final keynote speakers at the Warwick Economics Summit, Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni journalist and activist, brings gender equality to the lens of humanitarian aid and social activism. Her non-governmental organization, Women Journalists Without Chains, or WJWC, aims to protect freedom of speech and the press in the Middle East and Africa. Its three main units, Rights and Freedoms, Media and Cultural Production, and Conferences and Training Courses, imbue women with passion in advocacy to speak up against injustice and use the media to raise awareness about the issues that matter to them.
Throughout her keynote speech, she brought to light the instability in the Middle East and Africa, particularly in Syria, Sudan, and Gaza. She consistently brought up the responsibility of Western governments to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, underscoring the importance of “lifting economic sanctions against Syria.” In an additional element to her plan for peace, Karman emphasizes the need to find a “real” solution in Palestine, by taking a solution to the “root,” rather than mere surface-level ideas. Her belief in giving Palestinians the “right to self-determination” is a key element in ensuring the freedom, justice, and democracy that the ‘Mother of the Revolution’ fought for during the Arab Spring.
The 2025 Warwick Economics Summit highlighted the powerful role women play in shaping both economic and political landscapes. Through the speeches and discussions of influential women like Simonetta Sommaruga, Chinwe Egwim, and Tawakkol Karman, it became clear that advancing gender equality is not just a matter of social justice, but a crucial driver of sustainable development and global progress. Whether it’s through increasing female representation in corporate leadership, challenging cultural gender roles in Africa, or advocating for humanitarian rights and peace in the Middle East, these women are not only reshaping economic paradigms but also fostering broader social change. Their efforts underscore the transformative potential of inclusive leadership and the pressing need for continued action to ensure women’s voices are heard at the highest levels of decision-making. As the Summit concluded, it was evident that a more equal, diverse, and inclusive world is not only desirable but necessary for the prosperity of societies worldwide.
The views and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Warwick Economics Summit.
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