In our role as an organization that connects individual women and women organizations, there is no more important event each year than our annual conference. This year, we are doing it a little differently. After last year’s extremely successful TIAW World of Difference Awards Gala in Toronto, we are returning to that great city to again acknowledge the women from around the world who have contributed significantly to the economic empowerment of women. This time it will be a celebration over lunch in one of Toronto’s finest hotels. At the same time, we will come together to discuss two of TIAW’s programs – entrepreneurship and women on boards.
As I am in London, I try to get to see the Presidents of our networks here as often as I can, and as I am writing this the TIAW European team are in the midst of our preparations for our event at the Chicago Business School, an impressive campus in the heart of the City – our financial district. But without a doubt each year, I look forward to my trip across the Atlantic to meet my fellow TIAW members. And this year, I have a double treat as I will head south from Toronto to Washington DC where we will be holding a TIAW Global Cities event.
During the year, we meet by teleconference thanks to the generous sponsorship of Readytalk, and as the Chair of the Presidents’ Forum, I am privileged to facilitate the discussion between the Presidents of our member associations. This year we have focussed on the TIAW signature programmes of microenterprise and entrepreneurship. The topic for our next Forum on October 27th however is that suggested by one of the Presidents - ‘how do we retain our members’. I am looking forward to hearing their ideas and discussing with them how we can grow together in our commitment to the female economy.
TIAW has expanded dramatically from its origins in the USA to all continents, and with the increase in our international reach comes the need to facilitate the involvement of our members. This year we will be breaking with tradition by having our Annual Meeting by teleconference rather than in person. This will take place on November 10th and is the time when our member associations elect the TIAW Board. It will also be a time when their voices can be heard on the issues we all care passionately about.
