SAN JOSE, CALIF.-- March 05, 2021 -- Velodyne Lidar, Inc. (Nasdaq: VLDR, VLDRW) today announced the Disruptive Women Powering Our Autonomous Future Summit featuring prominent female executives and engineers discussing the future of AV technology and the critical role of women in making it all possible. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell from Michigan’s 12th District and Laura Major, Chief Technology Officer of Motional, are the featured keynote speakers. The summit will address the positive impact of elevating women into positions of power within the AV industry and the importance of supporting girls through Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) programs.

The summit takes place on March 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT. It is a free virtual event delivered through a state-of-the-art conference platform. For more information and to register, please go to: Disruptive Women Powering Our Autonomous Future.

The AV industry is set firmly on course to alter the fabric of global infrastructure and society. Yet, women are severely underrepresented in the automotive industry - particularly in executive and engineering roles. With women making up only 20 percent of all college engineering students, it is key to educate and inspire the current and next generations of women in these fields.

The event emcee is Selika Talbott, a Professorial Lecturer at American University who formerly worked as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of Transportation Administrator and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator.

The summit’s expert-led sessions are designed to educate, inspire and deliver actionable insight. In addition to the keynotes, the agenda includes a fireside chat and panels. The fireside chat features leading tech executive, Claire Delaunay, Vice President of Engineering at NVIDIA. The chat is moderated by Leslie J. Allen, News Editor at Automotive News, where she supervises the newspaper’s coverage of new mobility.

The panels include a diverse group of powerhouse women who will share their experiences and wisdom. Panelists are from Aptiv, Berkeley Haas Center for Equity, Gender & Leadership, Commission on the Future of Mobility, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, May Mobility, Nissan North America, NVIDIA, STEER, Toyota North America, Velodyne Lidar and Zoox.

The panel sessions are:

· Disruptive Women in the Driver’s Seat, sponsored by Partners for Automated Vehicle Education
· The Female Engineer’s Perspective on Navigating the Future of AV Tech, sponsored by SAE International
· STEM as The Critical Starting Point for Equal Representation in AV Tech, sponsored by Berkeley Lab
· Eliminating Hidden Bias in Autonomy and Beyond, sponsored by Women in Autonomy

“The autonomous vehicle industry is evolving rapidly and representation is critical. Fortunately, all of us can play a role in shaping what the AV world will look like so that it reflects and serves our society as a whole,” said Sally Frykman, Chief Marketing Officer, Velodyne Lidar. “The summit is a must-attend event for everyone, where we can all learn from female thought leaders in the automotive and technology industries.”