In reply to Miroslav Glavic.

Playing devil’s advocate, do you want speakers chosen based on gender, or based on the knowledge they can tech/know?

I don’t think these two are mutually exclusive so there is no need to choose between them

I remember one of those events, 300 applications from people who identify as men. 15 applications from people who identify as women and 8 who I didn’t know. There was 100 speaking spots.

These things happen, however if diversity really matter, as an organizer I would put it on the agenda as part of the planning structure (and answer questions like where to target, which networks, channels etc).

Don’t forget that things haven’t been easy in the past (and still are) so an explicit effort needs to be made in order to change things. And if an organization does not care about diversity, do not pretend to be, because that won’t ever work.