Karen Horting
Executive Director & CEO Society of Women Engineers
Karen Horting, MBA, CAE, is the executive director and CEO for the Society of Women Engineers, a position she has held since Dec. 31, 2013.
SWE is a 50,000-member global professional organization for women and allies in engineering. Horting has more than 25 years of experience in association management. In her various roles, she has been responsible for development activities, including corporate partnerships and more traditional philanthropy such as foundation and government grants, individual gifts, and bequests. She has also driven a variety of programs and services, including professional development, pre-university outreach, the annual conference, and SWE’s global expansion.
2026 Event Agenda Sessions
Panel: Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers to Close the Skills Gap
- The engineering skills shortage is a challenge that goes beyond gender — from highly specialised engineers to technicians, the sector faces critical gaps as digitalisation, AI, and automation transform what skills are needed.
- What does the future engineering workforce actually look like, and where are the biggest shortfalls?
- Rethinking pathways into engineering: apprenticeships, vocational routes, and industry-academia partnerships all have a role, and these routes need to attract and inspire a broader, more diverse talent pool
Thursday 21 May 11:35 - 12:10 Electric Motor Forum Stage
Diversity & Inclusion - Bridging the Talent Gap
- The engineering skills shortage is a challenge that goes beyond gender — from highly specialised engineers to technicians, the sector faces critical gaps as digitalisation, AI, and automation transform what skills are needed.
- What does the future engineering workforce actually look like, and where are the biggest shortfalls?
- Rethinking pathways into engineering: apprenticeships, vocational routes, and industry-academia partnerships all have a role, and these routes need to attract and inspire a broader, more diverse talent pool
