ABI-ONE ghc program v14.indd - Grace Hopper Celebration of ...

[ Welcome] From
The Anita Borg Institute for Women in
Technology (ABI) is pleased to join with
our partner ACM in welcoming you to the
tenth Grace Hopper Celebration of Women
in Computing Conference. The Anita
Borg Institute is committed to a world where women
are equal partners in creating technology, and in driving
the innovation that is part of our global future. We work
with industry and academia to recruit, retain and advance
technical women. The Grace Hopper Celebration provides
its attendees – students, faculty, industry and government
professionals – the chance to learn about new technologies,
new research, and to learn
from each other, as well as
develop skills and knowledge.
The theme of this year’s
Grace Hopper Celebration
is “Collaborating Across
Boundaries”. There is no
question that the outcomes
of innovation benefit through
collaboration across cultural,
technical and geographical
boundaries, and the results
will change your lives.
From students to senior
leaders there are workshops,
posters, keynote speakers
and plenary sessions which will excite you, inspire you,
and provide you with concrete ideas about how to move
forward your career. I encourage all of you to reach out to
each other and make new connections with our speakers,
our award winners and our attendees that will lead to your
own future collaborations.
We are also pleased to welcome back ABI’s Technical
Executive Forum for senior leaders working on the issues
of changing the culture of technology, as well as the K-12
Computing Teachers Workshop, held in partnership with
the Computer Science Teachers Association, for middle
and high school teachers. The Grace Hopper Celebration
provides an opportunity for these very diverse people to
meet, exchange ideas, and develop a future together.
For each one of you, I encourage you to think carefully
about your own conference goals and to choose wisely. But
most of all, this is a celebration, so have fun!
Welcome.
Telle Whitney
Co-Founder, Grace Hopper Celebration
President and CEO, Anita Borg Institute for Women
and Technology
ACM’s long-standing partnership with the
Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology
serves as a catalyst for influencing
change and improving the work environment
for women—indeed, for all—fortunate
enough to be pursuing a career in computing. Certainly
the theme of this year’s GHC conference—Collaborating
Across Boundaries—is one that parallels ACM’s steadfast
efforts to increase its visibility
and relevance to the global
computing community. It is
a lofty challenge and it will
take the concerted efforts of
both associations to discover,
welcome, and nurture talent
from all corners of the world.
ACM remains committed
to addressing the challenges
faced by women—
worldwide—working in the
computing arena today. Real
change can only come by
understanding the roadblocks
and working collectively to
clear the way in order to draw the next generation of leaders
and great innovators into the fold. Through committees
and initiatives such as ACM Women’s Council, The
Coalition to Diversify Computing, and the Computer
Science Teachers Association (CSTA) for middle- and highschool
computing teachers, we are helping to build balance,
diversity, and opportunity for all who may be interested in
technology and computer science.
Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper firmly believed the
future of the computing field depended on young, eager,
and innovative minds (which, as an octogenarian, she
defined as anyone half her age). She often advised new
computing professionals to focus on building leadership
qualities rather than management skills. I can’t think of a
better venue for fostering those wise words.
Enjoy the conference!
Alain Chesnais
ACM President
The Anita Borg Institute for
Women and Technology &
The Association of Computing
Machinery (ACM)