SEVENTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON SEPTEMBER 21 TO DRAW 1,000 DELEGATES

“Business UNusual, Women Changing the Paradigm”

WHAT:        Top women leaders from seven nations will gather in Waikīkī to share their personal and professional stories at the 7th annual International Women’s Leadership Conference (IWLC).  These remarkable women will each share their own incredible story of success in the hopes of inspiring audience members to move forward with their own hopes and dreams, while contributing to the community.

Hosted by Governor Linda Lingle, the one-day conference will build on the success and growth of the past six years to inspire Hawai‘i’s women and create global networks which will last a lifetime.

WHEN:        Tuesday, September 21, 2010

8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

WHERE:        Sheraton Waikīkī Hotel and Resort

WHO:        Approximately 1,000 conference delegates will include:

• Hawai‘i’s women from the fields of business, marketing, media, health care, government, international relations, the military and community service.

• Students – young women and men – from across the state who will be sponsored by various businesses to support the expansion of knowledge, ideas and leadership in our community and invest in our future leaders.

• Individuals from the Women’s Community Correctional Center and T.J. Mahoney & Associates, a community-based reintegration program for women offenders, who are working to rehabilitate their lives and preparing to re-enter the community. 

• Men who understand, respect and support the value of women’s leadership.

Speakers for the one-day conference include:

• Madame Li Xiaolin, vice-chair, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (China).

• MacDella Cooper, former refugee of the Liberian Civil War and now a humanitarian raising awareness of the plight of Liberian children (Liberia).

• Jin Kyu Robertson, former Korean factory worker who immigrated to the U.S. as a housemaid and worked to become a U.S. Army Major and earned a PhD from Harvard University (Korea and USA).

• Lindsay Phillips, founded SwitchFlops and applied for her first patent while still in high school (USA).

• Pacita Juan, creator of ECHOstore (Environment & Community Hope Organization), which promotes sustainable lifestyles (Philippines).

• Sister Rosemary, Operator of St. Monica’s Tailoring School, which serves refugees including former child soldiers, orphans, AIDS victims and young mothers, many of whom are former sex slaves to the “Lord’s Resistance Army” (Uganda).

• Her Excellency Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs and former Secretary of State of Women’s and Veterans’ Affairs (Cambodia).

• Rhonda Begos, entertainer and advocate for children’s and women’s rights and self-healing as it relates to violations of the mind, body and spirit (USA).

• Dr. Connie Mariano, first Filipino-American to become Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy, first female director of the White House Medical Unit and first military woman to be appointed as the White House Physician (USA).

• Cathrine Ann, a former victim of abuse, who now runs a multi-million dollar Canadian business venture (Canada).  Ann also spoke at last year’s IWLC.

DETAILS:        This year’s conference will encourage attendees to “think globally, act locally” and to remember their role in the global community while enacting practices that will help enhance the quality of life at the local level.  The menu selections will be from Kai Market and will feature Hawai‘i-grown/raised products.

Online conference registration is available through Friday, Sept. 17 at www.hawaiiwomensconference.com.

Registration rates for conference delegates: $175 for government and/or military delegates and $195 for general delegates.  The 2010 costs for students is $115.

The conference is funded by private sponsors and registration fees, and does not use any state funds.

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