Sunday Times 2
Symposium on ‘Empowering scientists through enhanced entrepreneurship skills’
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The Executive Committee of the SLNC-OWSD (from left): prof. Sunethra Atukorala, Dr. Thilina Wanigasekera, Dr. Hermali Silva (Secretary), Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, Prof. Nadira Karunaweera (President), Prof. Sirimali Fernando, Prof. Sugandhika Suresh (Vice President) and Dr. Tharanga Thoradeniya (Treasurer)
A Symposium on ‘Empowering scientists through enhanced entrepreneurship skills’ will be held on March 28 from 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. at the Jetwing Colombo Seven, 57, Ward Place, Colombo 7.
Organised by the Council of the Sri Lanka National Chapter of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (SLNC-OWSD), under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences Sri Lanka (NASSL), the symposium is being held to identify the need to enhance the entrepreneurship skills of and related opportunities for scientists, who lag behind in this sphere. This is due to wide gaps remaining with regard to the knowledge and skills required for commercialisation of scientific outputs.
The Chief Guest at the symposium Dr. Shahani Markus, CTO and Chairperson of Emojot Pvt. Ltd., and Cofounder, President and Board Member of Auxenta Pvt. Ltd. and Million Spaces Pvt. will speak on ‘I CAN!’ instead of ‘CAN I?’ and the Keynote Speaker Dr. Bandula Wijay, Ambassador for Science Technology and Innovation for Sri Lanka, Hon. Visiting Professor, KDU and CEO of ProSumInc, Houston, Texas on ‘Education and entrepreneurship to lead Sri Lanka into Global Leadership’.
The symposium Chairs are Dr. Ruanthi De Silva (Consultant/Director-SCM PLUS (PVT) Limited) and Rathika de Silva (Executive Director/Network Representative UNGC Sri Lanka).
The interesting line-up speakers will include Hettigoda Group of Companies Director Vidyani Hettigoda on ‘To start – Climbing up the business ladder starting from the lowest rungs’; Buddhi Batiks Creative Director Darshi Keerthisena on ‘To rise – Moving forward from local to the international level’; Good Market Co-Founder and Director Achala Samaradivakara on ‘Innovative ideas and timely implementation’; Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce Chairperson Chathuri Ranasinghe on ‘Regulatory framework related to start-ups’; SLINTEC COO Heminda Jayaweera on ‘Social innovation and entrepreneurship to solve grand global challenges’ and an ‘Overview of financial opportunities for potential entrepreneurs’ by representatives from the Sampath Bank, the National Science Foundation and the National Research Council.
The target participants of the symposium are scientists from universities, research institutes and industries both in the government and private sectors. For further information on registration please e-mail: srilankanowsd@gmail.com or call: 0112-678770.
NASSL President Dr. Ranjith Mahindapala said that the symposium is timely and opportune as there is an effort to encourage increased participation of women in the economic development of Sri Lanka.
“The galaxy of women entrepreneurs who will be resource persons at the workshop will no doubt have many stories to share with the participants – on how to start-up and develop a successful business,” he added.
The SLNC-OWSD Council comprises: President – Prof. Nadira Karunaweera; Vice President – Prof. Sugandhika Suresh; Secretary – Dr. Hermali Silva; Treasurer – Dr. Tharanga Thoradeniya and Executive Committee – Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, Prof. Sirimali Fernando, Dr. Thilina Wanigasekera, Dr. Himalee De Silva, Dr. Ureshani Karunarathna, Dr. Kalpani Ratnayake, M.S. Risfa, Dr. Thamarasi Senaratne and Ex-officio – Dr. Ranjith Mahindapala (President, NASSL).
The SLNC-OWSD, launched in March 2018, under the auspices of the NASSL is the local arm of the OWSD. With a membership of more than 100, its aim is to promote female participation in science and technology and in scientific leadership and decision-making processes, both at the national and international levels.