Female executives and technology experts place women’s talent at the heart of the digital revolution at the close of the 5G Forum

• Leading female executives and experts from the technology sector championed the role of women in STEM careers during the fourth day of the 9th edition of the 5G Forum and analysed the impact of AI, 5G, cybersecurity and innovation on society and industry.

The fourth and final day of the 9th edition of the 5G Forum focused on female talent as an essential driver of digital transformation. Throughout an intensive virtual session featuring exclusively female leaders from the technology sector—executives, researchers and experts from companies, government bodies and national and international organisations—the impact of technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, the IoT, cybersecurity, advanced connectivity and space, whilst inspiring and assertive messages were put forward to promote a greater female presence in STEM careers.

One of the most frequently repeated messages during the event was the need to combine technology, diversity and leadership to build a more competitive, hum e and inclusive digital ecosystem. “Women should not merely be users of technology, but also designers, developers and decision-makers of the digital future,” argued María Pérez, Project Officer at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, who highlighted the importance of integrating artificial intelligence into organisations in a way that is safe, useful and people-centred.

AI, digital transformation and new leadership models

Artificial intelligence featured prominently in many of the day’s presentations. Berta Fernández, CTO of IBM Consulting – SPGI (Spain, Portugal, Greece, Israel), highlighted that “generative AI is succeeding in transforming real-world processes and delivering tangible value that other technologies had not achieved until now”, emphasising that the real challenge is not solely technological, but also human and organisational.

In the same vein, Mercedes Fernández, Innovation Advisor at NTT Data, argued for the need to approach digital transformation from a strategic perspective based on collaboration and open innovation. “Companies that know how to capitalise on this unprecedented technological moment will be the ones leading their sectors,” she stated, also highlighting the value of hybrid profiles capable of connecting technology, business and people.

Mercedes Fernández, Innovation Advisor at NTT Data, during her participation in the 9th edition of the 5G Forum.

The role of people in technological transformation was also a key focus for Anna Ferrando, Cybersecurity Service Manager at Babel, who noted that “people are the foundation of a successful project”, emphasising the importance of continuous training, active listening and team management in an environment characterised by rapid technological change and the growing complexity of cybersecurity.

5G, smart cities and technology with social impact

The real-world applications of 5G and connected technologies also featured prominently during the event. Alicia Izquierdo, Councillor for Innovation and Digitalisation at Málaga City Council, explained how the city has become an international benchmark for innovation thanks to a strategy sustained over more than three decades based on public-private collaboration, the university and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Alicia Izquierdo, Councillor for Innovation and Digitalisation at Málaga City Council, during her participation in the 9th edition of the 5G Forum.

Izquierdo cited the municipal project CentESiMal (Hundreds of smart buildings and sensors in Málaga) as an example, described as “the city’s nervous system”, a platform integrating over 1,200 sensors and hundreds of buildings connected via 5G and IoT technologies to optimise public services and make data-driven decisions. She also highlighted the need to tackle the digital divide and continue to promote the presence of women in the technology sector.

In the healthcare sector, María José Escalona, a professor at the University of Seville, highlighted the transformative potential of IoT, 5G and artificial intelligence to move towards a more preventive and personalised form of medicine. “The combination of IoT, artificial intelligence and 5G allows us to move from reactive healthcare to preventive and predictive healthcare,” she said.

María José Escalona, professor at the University of Seville, during her participation in the 9th edition of the 5G Forum.

For her part, Carmen Barrantes, Programme Manager for 5G & B5G Innovation at Gamma Solutions, focused on how 5G is already moving “from the laboratory to real-world critical environments”, thanks to projects linked to remote surgery, emergencies, industrial automation and advanced private networks developed in collaboration with public authorities and research centres.

Cybersecurity, resilience and technological sovereignty

Cybersecurity and the protection of critical infrastructure were another of the conference’s key themes. Mónica Salas, founder and CTO of GuardedBox, argued that “it is no longer enough to protect the perimeter; we must protect information wherever it is”, in a landscape shaped by the cloud, artificial intelligence and hyperconnectivity.

Also from the industrial sector, Pino González-Junco, Cybersecurity Alliances Manager and Managing Director for the Charter of Trust at Siemens, emphasised that “security does not hinder innovation, but rather enables and accelerates it”, calling for a culture of protection integrated from the initial design stage of any technological project.

Pino González-Junco, Cybersecurity Alliances Manager and Managing Director for the Charter of Trust at Siemens, during his participation in the 9th edition of the 5G Forum.

Meanwhile, Cristina Peñas, Commercial Director at Axión, highlighted the strategic role of telecommunications infrastructure and argued for the need to move towards more efficient, sustainable and resilient networks. “Diversifying infrastructure gives us security and resilience in the face of unforeseen situations,” she said.

Connectivity as an essential infrastructure for economic development was also championed by Elisabet Cusí, CFO of Offshore Tech, who stated that “today, connectivity is as essential as roads or motorways”, particularly to ensure opportunities in rural areas and facilitate new working and business models.

Space, innovation and European leadership

Europe’s strategic role in the new global technological landscape was also a key theme during the event. Patricia Tejado, Director of Digital Public Services at GMV, analysed the convergence of space, telecommunications, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity as one of the major drivers of technological transformation. “Europe excels at research; the challenge now is to industrialise innovation and turn it into real technological leadership,” she stated.

Patricia Tejado, Director of Digital Public Services at GMV, during her participation in the 9th edition of the 5G Forum.

For her part, Pilar González, Head of the Institutional Promotion and Territorial Cooperation Department at CDTI Innovation, emphasised the importance of accelerating knowledge transfer and strengthening business innovation as the foundation for future competitiveness. “A company that stops innovating eventually disappears,” she warned, also calling for efforts to encourage women’s participation in STEM through education and cultural change.

The fourth day of the 5G Forum 2026 thus served to highlight not only the enormous potential of technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and the IoT, but also the fundamental role that women play in building the digital future. A closing session marked by leadership, inspiration and a shared conviction: technological transformation will only be truly complete if it incorporates diversity, talent and an inclusive vision.

All the conferences from the 5G Forum will be available to watch on demand via The Observatory, the digital platform of Medina Media Events, where each conference will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, free of charge.

The ninth edition of the 5G Forum is organised by Medina Media Events and is supported by Orange Empresas, Telefónica, Vodafone, DIGI, Huawei, Netmetrix, the Regional Government of Castile and León, Ayscom, Wavecontrol/Viavi Solutions, Minsait by Indra Group, Teltronic, Axión, Gradiant, Mavenir, HPE, Manage Engine, Asteo Red Neutra, the University of Málaga, Nokia, Andrew, Italtel, Gsertel, Neutroon, Templus, IplusF, Hispasat, Rohde & Schwarz, Circet, Sapec, Digital Innovation Hub Industry 4.0 / ITCL, Boldyn, Ethon Shield, Anritsu, Evolvers, Grupo Ximenez and Secmotic.