“Empowering Women Leaders in the Furniture Sector” webinar to take place on 12 November 2025

On 12 November 2025 at 10:00 CET, the first session of the Women for Circular Furniture Conferences Cycle will take place online, bringing together inspiring women leaders and organisations driving transformation in the European furniture industry. 

Hosted by CETEM within the framework of the CirCLER project, this webinar will explore gender equality, leadership, and the transition towards a circular and sustainable economy in the furniture and wood sectors. 

The event will open with a keynote speech by Raquel Ortega (CETEM) on “Leadership skills for women working in traditional industries: challenges and opportunities.” 

Following the keynote, participants will learn from several European initiatives promoting diversity, inclusion, and circular innovation: 

• ForGEDI – Course on gender equality, diversity, and inclusion
  Todora Rogelja, International Union of Forest Research Organizations 

• FLIER – The Future of Furniture: Circular Furniture
  Irene Burroni, Experimental Centre for Furniture and Furnishings 

• Be-WoodEN – Building and Education in Wood Ecosystem for the New European Bauhaus
  Marta Casanova, University of Genoa – Department of Architecture and Design 

Mariachiara Santoro – winner project design competition 

• Pact for Skills – Lombardy
  Lucia Devescovi, FederlegnoArredo 

• Women in Construction, Wood and Forestry: A Resource Toolkit for Gender Equality at Work
  Paula Cravina de Sousa, European Federation of Building and Woodworkers 

This online conference marks the beginning of a broader initiative to empower women in leadership roles and foster collaboration among organisations advancing the circular economy in the furniture sector. 

“Through this series, we aim to give visibility to women driving sustainable innovation in the furniture industry and to create a network of leaders shaping a more inclusive and circular future,” said Raquel Ortega from CETEM. 

🔗 Registration is open: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_V4Jsk16HSqS6JIavDXh_cw