EDI & Sustainability
Achieving Equal Chances for Patients and Health care providers
Equality - Diversity - Inclusion - Sustainability
The Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Sustainability (EDI & Sustainability) Committee at ESGO is dedicated to advancing fairness, representation, and environmental responsibility in gynecologic oncology. Our mission is to identify and address inequalities across gender, geography, career access, and education, while promoting sustainable practices within clinical care, research, and professional development.
We believe that excellence in gynecologic oncology can only be achieved through equal opportunity, inclusive leadership, and sustainable action
How It Started
This committee was formally established following the success of the ENYGO-ESGO Task Force on Gender Equality, launched in 2022. The task force addressed gender disparities in leadership, mentorship, and training access, and led to several impactful initiatives such as the ENYGO-ESGO Mentorship Programme and the Equal Chances Webinar Series. Recognizing the need for a broader and more structured approach, ESGO expanded its scope to include wider equity topics and environmental responsibility—thus forming the current EDI & Sustainability Committee.
Our Goals
- Promote gender equity in leadership, research, surgery, education, and professional development
- Ensure geographic inclusiveness, with equitable access to training and participation across all regions
- Support work-life balance, parental inclusion, and fair career progression for all healthcare professionals
- Embed EDI principles across ESGO’s activities, from congresses and fellowships to publications and webinars
- Foster environmentally sustainable practices in gynecologic oncology, education, and ESGO events
How We Work
The Committee is structured around four Working Groups, each focused on a strategic area:
- Gender Equality – Addressing barriers and advancing equal representation and opportunity
- Geographical Inequalities – Promoting access to training, congress participation, and visibility across all region
- Sustainability & Environmental Impact – Supporting green practices and reducing the carbon footprint of our activities
- Implementation of EDI Principles – Ensuring EDI is embedded in ESGO's operations, strategy, and governance
Our Initiatives
- The ENYGO-ESGO Mentorship Programme
- The EDI Webinars series
- The ESGO Team Bridge Project
Ongoing research projects on gender, diversity, and environmental responsibility - ESGO’s commitment to childcare at congresses and support for young parents
Together, we strive to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for our global gynecologic oncology community.
Testimonials
“As a woman, it took me several years and sacrifices before I could really say: yes, this is what I wanted to do, but now it is great! I hope that this important ESGO initiative will lead to an easier career path for the future generations of physicians, regardless of their gender. Through this project we aim to have an impactful role for an inclusive society where all of us have the same opportunities.”
Prof Anna Fagotti
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS
Italy
“The ESGO-ENYGO Mentorship program is one important puzzle piece among many project in the overall ESGO initiative „Embrace Gender Equality in Gynecological Oncology". This ESGO approach aims to enable equal opportunities for female and male surgeons, physicians, and scientists, to support women and men in reaching family and career goals, and to facilitate women and men to reach leadership positions.“
Prof Nicole Concin
Innsbruck Medical University
Austria
“It has been a priority always for us to give more and more chances and support for females in surgical specialties in our region where many myths, misconceptions and false fixed believes have settled in the mindsets for decades about males privilege, we are all equal , and in a speciality like gynecological oncology our women has the right to have more and more talented doctors from both gendres EQUALLY”
Prof Basel Refky
Mansoura University Hospital
Egypt
“When I finished my medical studies and wished to follow the pathway of general surgery; I was told thats not a path for a woman. When I wished, years later, to continue my academic career back in my home country I was told I was only a young woman so its not my turn yet.. We are now building within ESGO a strong initiative and network to aspire and inspire future generations to progress, thrive and receive support regardless of their gender. Women and men will fight as mentors and mentees hand by hand against inequalities that had been enrooted since centuries, to shape a better gynae oncology community with equal opportunities.“
Prof Christina Fotopoulou
Imperial College London
UK
"There is only one gynaecological oncologist and that is a gynaecological oncologist who is 100% committed to the patient and her disease. The gender of this gynaecological oncologist is simply irrelevant."
Prof Toon Van Gorp
University Hospital Leuven
Belgium