SLASSCOM Women in Tech Conference 4.0, 2026 to spotlight global leaders driving inclusive digital leadership

The Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) is set to host its flagship Women in Tech Conference bringing together an exceptional lineup of global visionaries and local trailblazers to explore the evolving role of women in the digital economy.

Centred on theme “Give to Gain: Building Inclusive Digital Futures”, this year’s conference will feature distinguished speakers and multiple high-impact sessions designed to inspire, empower, and equip women to thrive in the tech industry.

The event will open with a keynote address by NASSCOM Managing Director and Chairperson Sindhu Gangadharan who will speak on “How AI Can Bring Millions of Women into the Workforce,” highlighting the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in creating inclusive employment opportunities.

Adding a global development perspective, World Bank Senior Digital Specialist Anna Metz will deliver an exclusive guest note on “Give to Gain: How Inclusive Digital Ecosystems Unlock Leadership Opportunities for Women.”

The forum will also feature a dynamic panel on “Future-Ready Leadership: Skills Women Need to Thrive in the Digital Sphere,” with insights from Lim Li San of Dialog Axiata PLC and Arjuna Nanayakkara of GTN Technologies, Wyomi Ranasinghe from Platned, moderated by Kaushalya Gunaratne (Uber) who will share perspectives on navigating leadership in an increasingly digital-first world.

Addressing the importance of inclusive workplaces, Dijital Global Director Peter Ward will present a guest session on “Performance Through Inclusion: Building High-Impact Teams in a Changing Tech Landscape.”

A key highlight of the event will be the panel discussion on “Women Leading with Responsibility: Governance, Risk and Digital Accountability,” featuring industry experts including Nikin Matharaarachchi, Ashwini Natesan, Sashiprabha Dharmadasa and Andreene Balthazaar moderated by Asela Waidyalankara. The session will explore governance frameworks, ethical leadership, and accountability in the digital age.

The forum will also include a fireside chat on “Leadership Superpowers for Women – Managing Performance, Pressure and Personal Wellbeing,” featuring Dr. Mihirini de Zoysa and Samra Aman, offering practical strategies for balancing high performance with personal wellbeing.

An inspirational standalone segment by Tilli CEO Kavindya Thennakoon will share her journey through “Fail Fast or Learn Faster: Lessons from a Woman Leading in Tech.”

Further enriching the program, a masterclass by Ayanthi Philip titled “Breaking the Perfect Woman Myth: Mindset, Momentum and Success,” will challenge conventional narratives and empower women to redefine success on their own terms.

A special board-level panel discussion themed “The Long Game: Leadership, Influence and Opening Doors for Others,” will feature leading female industry figures including Shehani Seneviratne, Sanjini Munaweera, Zahra Cader, and Thilanka Jayathilake moderated by Ajmal Hussain offering insights into long-term leadership impact and mentorship.

During the event there will be three key tracks on a specific session, Women Engineering the Future facilitated by LSEG, winning in the Age of AI Search: Rethinking Google Advertising for Tech Brands powered by Roar and Women Driving Decisions: From Dashboards to Strategic Impact facilitated by Octave. 

The event is supported by EY GDS as the Industry Knowledge Partner, Cloud Solutions as the Technology Partner, Roar as the Marketing Technology Ecosystem Partner, IIT as the Official Academic Partner and LSEG Technology as the Talent Development Partner.