She Codes Too founder and director, Raghad Al-Abboodi, participated as a panellist at the Chatham House Iraq Initiative Conference, held on 1 October 2025, joining high-level discussions on education, skills gaps, and economic inclusion for young people in Iraq.

The Chatham House Iraq Initiative Conference is a leading policy and research event that brings together senior policymakers, researchers, economists, private sector leaders, and civil society actors to examine Iraq’s economic and social challenges. The conference featured prominent speakers and experts working on Iraq’s future development, making it a significant platform for shaping dialogue around reform, employment, and inclusion.

Raghad took part in a panel discussion focused on education and workforce readiness, where she highlighted the structural gap between university education and the skills demanded by the private sector, particularly in the technology field. She emphasised that while many young people graduate with strong academic foundations, they often lack access to practical, market-aligned skills and professional support.

During the discussion, Raghad focused specifically on the additional barriers women face when entering the workforce, especially in the private sector. These challenges include limited access to relevant training, fewer professional networks, and social and structural constraints that make early career progression more difficult.

She shared how She Codes Too is actively working to address these challenges by equipping women with in-demand technical skills, particularly in tech and digital fields, while also providing career guidance, mentorship, and structured support. Through industry-aligned programmes, She Codes Too aims to bridge the gap between education and employment and improve women’s access to private sector opportunities.

Reflecting on the event, Raghad described it as

a valuable opportunity to bring the experiences of women in tech and education-focused initiatives into a broader policy conversation, and to highlight the role that targeted skills programmes can play in strengthening Iraq’s economy and workforce.

She Codes Too is proud to see its work and mission represented at international platforms such as Chatham House, and to contribute to conversations shaping the future of education, employment, and economic inclusion in Iraq.