Maria Loumpourdi, Founder and Director of Made from Within, has announced that she has been appointed Vice-Chair of ACM-W Malta, the local chapter of ACM-W: ACM’s Women in Computing and ACM-W Europe, which forms part of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the world’s largest organisation advancing computing as a science and profession since its establishment in 1947.

ACM-W Malta is committed to supporting all genders in tech, aiming to tackle persistent challenges such as underrepresentation and systemic biases. Dr Loumpourdi explained that the organisation’s initial focus will include “collaborating with impactful organisations, educational institutions, and employers,” “building strong networks,” and “launching initiatives that inspire the next generation to pursue careers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).”

She also stressed that this is not a women-only initiative. Highlighting a philosophy she has often shared through her research and public talks, Dr Loumpourdi noted, “Women’s underrepresentation (in any field) will not be solved by gender quotas and women-only programmes. It takes collective effort across genders, disciplines, and organisations to create meaningful, lasting change.”

Calling for collaboration, she added, “If you’re a professional or represent an organisation that shares this vision, let’s connect. We’re open to partnerships, ideas, and collaboration.”

ACM-W internationally supports, celebrates, and advocates for the full engagement of women in all aspects of the computing field. It provides a wide range of programmes and services to ACM members and works within the larger community to advance the contributions of technical women.