Recently, our office in Malmö partnered with Women in Tech Sweden to host an inspiring evening dedicated to networking, awareness, and technological innovation. Marking the organization’s first face-to-face event in the region, we aimed to provide insight into the aviation industry and highlight the incredible career opportunities available in aviation tech.
The energy in the room was high as we welcomed 77 participants, 12 from our own team, and 65 external guests from the local tech community!
Over great food and drinks, we mingled with a wonderfully diverse crowd. We connected with aviation professionals, students eager to enter the field, and guests who previously had no idea what happened behind the scenes at an airport.
A Behind-the-Scenes Look
To help attendees see beyond the standard walk from the terminal to the gate, our colleagues Emmy Held and Zainab Alfredji had the privilege of taking the audience on a simulated “journey to Mauritius.” Through this traveler's perspective, we illustrated the numerous hidden touchpoints where our solutions support airport operations and enhance the passenger journey.
Following the presentation, we split the attendees into two groups to get a closer look at our technology. One group visited the ADB SAFEGATE showroom to explore our portfolio of connected airfield solutions, including our visual docking guidance systems.
The second group dove deep into the research and development behind our Foreign Object Debris (FOD) detection technology. FOD poses a safety risk on runways and aprons. We showcased how advanced technologies like machine learning, computer vision, and point cloud processing are being leveraged to automate the detection of these hazards. More importantly, we highlighted the impact women are making on these solutions.
Addressing Gender Gaps in Aviation
We hosted this event to address one of aviation’s ongoing challenges: attracting and retaining more women in technical and leadership roles. Women in Tech Sweden is a non-profit organization with over 30,000 members and 50 partner companies, working to increase female participation in the tech sector.
While recent IATA data shows women now represent about 42% of the global aviation workforce, representation remains significantly lower in specialized technical, operational, and senior leadership roles. By engaging directly with this skilled network, we wanted to demonstrate that diversity is not just a metric; it is the engine that drives innovation, solves complex problems, and creates better products for airports worldwide.
Our promise to the attendees was simple: Come curious. Leave inspired.
Seeing the networking and the genuine excitement for our engineering solutions, it is clear this event hit the mark. As attendee Caroline Joubert captured:
“It was genuinely fascinating to go behind the curtain of aviation tech and hear directly from the brilliant women driving innovation across their teams, sharing how their connected airfield and gate solutions are making airports smarter, safer, and more sustainable. Thank you, Pia Hantoft and Zainab Alfredji, for the cool presentation!”
Celebrating Women in Tech
By opening our doors, we are not just sharing what we do; we are ensuring that more women see aviation as a place where they can thrive, innovate, and shape the future.
Seeing the energy in the room that evening left us feeling inspired. In fact, it motivated us to launch a new blog series celebrating the women in tech across our own team. Over the coming months, we’ll be shining a spotlight on the women who are driving our technology and innovation forward every day.
By sharing their real, behind-the-scenes stories, we hope to inspire the next generation, highlight just how many different paths exist in aviation tech, and keep pushing for an industry where everyone has a seat at the table.
Interested in shaping the future of aviation tech with us? Explore ADB SAFEGATE career opportunities
