Nature VS Nurture at ProFusion 2021

I'm now "reviewing" the annual Vistek produced event for the third time, "inspired" and deeply depressed by the displays at the 2019 event, I followed the virtual programming in 2020, so here we are again...

The ProFusion website states:

From day one, the purpose of ProFusion has not only been to showcase the latest and greatest of everything in imaging, but also to nurture Canada's thriving imaging industry and salute its loyal members.

My question about this statement is about this "nurturing"... perhaps the organisers look to "nurture" industry members - but, is it the "nature" of the industry that holds the inequitable status quo... ?

Just to be clear, I have nothing to do with Vistek, or any of the manufacturers involved in their program. I'm really just a speculating bystander. I have no idea who picks the presenters, or what they get paid out of this event.

This year, the expert presenters list was actually kindof interesting. 18 male expert presenters, + 10 women (5 Canadian + 5 international), not a lot of cultural diversity, but it's the first time in 3 years, we've come this close to showing what Canadian women can do at a Canadian trade show, at 17.86%. 2019 had 11% female presenters, and in 2020 the virtual trade show featured 4.76% Canadian women as presenters.

First off, kudos to Nikon who has long supported the amazing work and voices of Michelle Valberg and Viktoria Haack. One really lovely surprise for me was seeing Kasha Sequoia Slavner listed as a presenter thanks to Panasonic - yay! Hope for the future! The two other Canadian women participating, Shereen Mroueh (Wacom) and Jacquie Matechuk (Canon) are, of course - also awesome.

So, the percent of Canadian female expert presenters has gone up this year - as the economy has gone down. The optimist in me hopes this is a sign of change and culture shifts in a white-male dominated business. But the pessimist in me questions, and dreads, the idea that the female presenters are being paid less.

There's just no way to know what the nature vs nurture, and equity vs economics balance might be behind the scenes at this annual event.