International Conference Focuses On Women's Economic Empowerment

WASHINGTON - Dec. 19, 2019 - PRLog -- Women's Economic Empowerment: Opportunities and Challenges for Equity, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainability were discussed during the first international women's economic empowerment conference held in November in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Hosted at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Gogarburn Business School, it was presented by Women's Economic Imperative (WEI), (https://www.weiforward.org/conference/) the global collaborative initiative, in partnership with Women's Enterprise Scotland (WES), (https://www.wescotland.co.uk/) the community interest company focused on the contribution women's enterprise makes to the Scottish economy.

The conference gathered international speakers, thought-leaders and change makers representing civil society, academia, private and public sectors. It engaged participants in active dialog, catalyzing concrete actions to help advance women's economic empowerment. Driving the agenda were the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the work of the UNSG's High-Level Panel on Women's Economic Empowerment, and outcomes of the T-20 Task Force on Gender Economic Equity.

Participants heard from women who have broken barriers to progress careers in sectors such as technology, medicine, aviation, and finance. Speakers included technology evangelist Professor Sue Black; Kenyan Airways Captain and first female African Dreamliner pilot, Captain Irene Koki Mutungi, and the Hon. Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera, Former President of Costa Rica and Co-Chair of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Women's Economic Empowerment, prominent Scottish and global industry leaders such as Malcolm Buchanan, RBS Chair of Scotland Board; Keith Skeoch, CEO Standard Life Aberdeen, the Rt Hon. Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale and Ann Cairns, Executive Vice Chairman, Mastercard among others.

Dr. Margo Thomas, Founder and President, WEI commented, "We all know the key issues and drivers of women's economic empowerment. We must focus now on actions. As a global organization, WEI is leveraging its global networks, affiliations and partnerships to share knowledge, craft solutions, and catalyze concrete actions to help advance women's economic empowerment and the SDGs for the benefit of all."

During the opening reception at City Chambers, the Rt Hon. Lord Provost of Edinburgh noted that Scotland is making strides in creating an environment where more women and girls can start business and thrive.

Carolyn Currie, Chief Executive, WES explained that "As a catalyst for economic growth and inclusion, WES works to create this environment where women can start business and thrive. The simple fact is that more women-owned businesses in Scotland means more money for the economy. Research shows that women-owned businesses already contribute GBP 8.8BN into the economy annually and have created over 230,000 jobs in local communities across Scotland."

Conference platinum sponsors were The Royal Bank of Scotland, Standard Life Aberdeen and Mastercard. Other sponsors included AllAfrica, the University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School, Newcastle University Business School, Durham University Business School, Portsmouth University and Business Gateway Edinburgh.