Women's Forum for the Economy and Society

The Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society has been created in 2005 by Aude Zieseniss de Thuin. It aims at promoting women’s vision on the key social and economic issues of our times. Geared towards leading women and men, the Forum is a place for debate, exchange, reflection and action and gives women a voice on all major issues facing our societies today and tomorrow.

The Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society has been ranked among the top five influential Forums worldwide by the Financial Times on 24 January 2007.

History

The Women’s Forum has been created in 2005 by Aude Zieseniss de Thuin. The 1^st Women’s Forum event took place in Deauville (France) on 13-15 October 2005. The 1^st Women’s Forum Asia was held in Shanghai (China) on 15-17 May 2008.

Events

The Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society is setting various events throughout the world and throughout the year.

The Women’s Forum Global Meeting is held in Deauville (France) each year in October. It welcomes around 1200 participants to discuss various themes on gender diversity.

The 1^st edition was held on 13-15 October 2005. The theme of the first year was “The new dimensions of power and influence”. Great speakers attended this 1^st edition: Sheikha Lubna al Qasimi,Cherie Booth-Blair, Barbara Hendricks, Hung Huang, Anne-Marie Idrac, Taslima Nasreen, Simone Veil, Muhammad Yunus, Zhang Xin, among others.

The 2^nd edition was held on 5-6 October 2006. The theme was “Women’s new responsibility for improving our societies”. H.M. Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, Maasouma Al Moubarak, Michèle Alliot-Marie, Antoinette Batumbwira, Peter Brabeck-Lethmathe, Carlos Ghosn, Diane Kurys, Christine Lagarde, Nicole Notat, Patricia Russo, among others, were speakers during this edition.

The 3^rd edition was held on 11-13 October 2007 under the theme “Building trust in our societies”. Main speakers of this edition: Dora Akunyili, May Chidiac, H.E. Phumzile-Gloria Mlambo-Ngcuka, Ayo Obé, Ana Palacio, Rama Yade, among others.

The 1^st edition of the Women’s Forum Asia was held 15-17 May 2008 in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. It welcomed more than 700 participants to discuss the theme “Growth and Sustainability: How women are making a difference”. Next edition will be held in Beijing in 2009.

The 1^st Talents Day by the Women’s Forum will be held in Paris, at the Musée du Quai Branly, on 8 July 2008. This event is meant to gather the feminine talents of tomorrow and allow them to network, debate with diversity managers from big companies and meet exceptional leading figures debating on gender diversity.

Projects

The Women’s Forum has also initiated concrete projects to support women all over the world, and in various spheres.

The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards is an annual international recognition for innovative female entrepreneurs. There are 5 laureates by continent. The first laureates received their prize in October 2007 in Deauville.

The Rising Talents programme identifies and networks outstanding young women from the five continents. The first 20 selected women were presented in Deauville in 2007. There was also a Chinese class of 8 women at the Women’s Forum Asia.

Sci Tech Girls is a project which encourages young girls and women to embrace scientific and technical careers. A Sci Tech Girls Day took place last October, in parallel of the Women’s Forum Global Meeting, gathering 120 young girls to discuss scientific and technologic careers.

Women for Education is a bid for projects from NGOs dealing with women’s education around the world. Afghanistan Libre was the 2007 laureate.

They Work With The Women's Forum

The following people are working with the Women's Forum.

* PARTICIA BARBIZET, CEO, Artemis
* MERCEDES ERRA, Co–Chairman, BETC Euro RSCG
* IRNÈNE FRAIN, Journalist and Author
* DOMINIQUE HÉRIARD DUBREUIL, Chairman of the Board, Rémy Cointreau
* CHRISTINE KERDELLANT, Chief Editor, L’Express
* ANNE LAUVERGEON, Chairman of the Executive Board, Areva
* CHRISTINE OCKRENT, Journalist, France Monde
* LAURENCE PARISOT, CEO, IFOP
* PIERRE COHADE, President Asia Pacific Region, Goodyear
* ANNICK DE KERMADEC, General Manager, BNP Paribas Shanghai
* YAN LAN, Vice Chairman, Women’s Forum Asia Partner, Gide Loyrette Nouel
* NORA SUN, Nora Sun Associates
* KATHERINE TSANG, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank (China) Ltd.
* REBECCA WEI, CEO, Principal, McKinsey & Inc. China
* ZHANG XIN, CEO, SOHO China
* ANNIE YOUNG-SCRIVNER, Chairman, PEPSICO-Food China

External links

* [http://www.womens-forum.com Women's Forum website]
* [http://www.ft.com/indepth/women Videos of the Women's Forum Deauville 2007 Edition]
* [http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20080409/927843.html Article "Building India's future with women's vision"]
* [http://finance.sina.com.cn/forum/womens_forum08a/index.html Website of the first Women's Forum Asia]
* [http://alaingavand.typepad.com/nouvelle_donne/2008/01/womens-forum-av.html Blog article about the first Women's Forum Asia]
* [http://www.gide.com/front/FR/actualites/communique_details_PEK_WomenForum_05_08.htm Press release about the first Women's Forum Asia]
* [http://feminin.monster.fr/7928_fr_p1.asp Presentation of the Women's Forum]
* [http://www.lesechos.fr/management/carre-vip/300267176.htm Article about the Women's Forum Asia]
* [http://www.dessinelespoir.org/projects/womensforum/index.html Art exhibition of the Women's Forum 2006 Edition]