Panellist Therese Turner-Jones (second right), country representative for the Inter-American Development Bank, with team members (from left) operations consultant Sudaney Blair, consultant in fiscal and municipal management Jodi Ho Lung, and energy senior specialist at the Women's Leadership Initiative Malaika Masson.

Lifestyle, Local Lifestyle, News, Style, Style Observer, Tuesday Style

March 9, 2016

It’s A Woman’s World!

The Montego Suite at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston was host to scores of the nation’s leading ladies — and a handful of men — as the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) hosted its first full conference on Monday.

Themed ‘Pledge for Parity: Speak it into being’ to reflect that of International Women’s Day, the gathering — sponsored by Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) — featured empowering presentations by president and CEO of ASE Consulting, and Women of Distinction Awardee Kwayera Archer Cunningham; president and CEO of First Global Bank, founder of Teach Caribbean, and Rhodes Scholar Mariame McIntosh Robinson, as well as outgoing professor of computational linguistics at the University of Sussex Donia Scott.

Archer Cunningham was first to take to the podium, delivering a stimulating presentation examining the topic of balancing career and family. McIntosh Robinson followed with a rousing take on how to remain authentic. Professor Donia Scott then delved into the idea of establishing a work environment devoid of gender issues.

Inspired panel discussions, featuring representatives from corporate Jamaica and the University of the West Indies Institute for Gender and Development Studies, further facilitated the trading of insights and key concepts. Wednesday Social levels the playing field with highlights!

In her presentation, outgoing professor of Computational Linguistics at the University of Sussex Donia Scott tackled the subject of what it takes to establish a work environment where gender is a non-issue.

Suzanne Charles-Watson, research fellow at the Institute for Gender and Development Studies, University of the West Indies, was among the panellists following Professor Donia Scott’s riveting presentation.

Panellist Lola Fung, director, Talent Management at CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, kept her audience captivated.

Professor Donia Scott (left) with her mother Sonia Marchand-Scott (centre), and twin sister Sharon Lake, immediate past chair of the WLI, and current chair of the WLI’s Education Committee.

Corporate events and sponsorship manager at Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) Felecia Williams (right) presented guest speaker Kwayera Archer Cunningham with a token of appreciation.

CEO of the Joan Duncan Foundation Kim Mair (right) presented guest speaker Mariame McIntosh Robinson with a gift after her presentation.

In her presentation, outgoing professor of computational linguistics at the University of Sussex Donia Scott tackled the subject of what it takes to establish a work environment where gender is a non-issue.

Representing the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) were (from left) deputy chair of the Advocacy Committee Herma McRae, secretariat administrator Tracia Miller, event conceptualiser and PR and fund-raising chair Marcia Erskine, WLI Chair Eva Lewis, deputy chair – PR and fund-raising Renee Menzies McCallum, and immediate past chair of the WLI and current chair of the Education Committee Sharon Lake.

President and CEO of ASE Consulting Kwayera Archer Cunningham delivered a thought-provoking presentation, which examined the challenging task of balancing career and family.

Listening keenly to Archer Cunningham’s presentation were (from left) management consultant and treasurer for the WLI Megan Deane, chief supply chain officer for GraceKennedy Foods Dianne Robinson, group chief risk officer for GraceKennedy Limited Cathrine Kennedy, general manager of World Brands Services Tamara Thompson, general manager of Hi-Lo Food Stores Renee Nathan, and senior HR business partner at GraceKennedy Foods Naomi Holness.

Panellists Dennis Jones, retired economist, and Michelle Sinclair-Doyley (centre), client financial education manager at Jamaica Money Market Brokers, joined guest speaker Kwayera Archer Cunningham for a post-presentation photo.

Mariame McIntosh Robinson, president and CEO of First Global Bank, engaged her audience in a stimulating discussion about maintaining one’s authenticity whilst traversing the road to success.

Paying keen attention were (from left) administration manager at AIM Educational Services Gabby Foster, CEO of AIM Educational Services Nicole Campbell, Group VP – HR and Administration at KS Chemical Distributors Juliet Hall, internal audit manager at Kingston Wharves Limited Jodenia Fergueson, civil servant Nadine Stewart, sales associate at Fujitsu Caribbean Anna-Kay Mundell, and project coordinator at the Sandals Foundation Karen Zacca.

Sharing lens time was the team from United Way of Jamaica (from left) Vice-President, Africa Region and the Caribbean International Janet Butler; Campaign and Communications Manager Althea Bennett; CEO Winsome Wilkins, and Director – Network Capacity for Africa and the Caribbean Wamite Muthara.

Enjoying the presentations were (from left) directors at Musson Jamaica Limited Sue Scott and Dianne Hanson, CEO at Seprod Limited Angela Cooper, corporate secretary at Seprod Limited Marilyn Anderson, vice-chairman of the Musson Group and chair of the Musson and Seprod Foundation Melanie Subratie, managing director at General Accident Insurance Sharon Donaldson, portfolio manager at Eppley Limited Nadia Jervis, and general manager at Facey Commodity Company Limited Chana Hay.

It’s A Woman’s World!

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