These events are fun to attend because you get to meet new people as well as catch-up with old friends. It was a wonderful surprise to spend some time with Ingrid Antonijevic, former Minister of the Economy in Chile and Laura Albornoz Pollmann, Minister of the Women’s National Service of Chile who participated in our 2006 TIAW International Conference in Santiago, Chile.
Diane Morris, 1st President of TIAW and President Elect, myself and many TIAW members from member associations attended this year. Also in attendance was Lisa Hickey (NAWBO) – USA, Virginia Bradley (GlobalEXECWomen) –USA, and Susanne Alfs – Germany, Kristen Engvig (WIN)- Switzerland.
The topics and roster of speakers - which included Diane Morris (CWN, United Kingdom), Myrna Yao (FilChi, Philippines) Christine Lawrence (WIBF, United Kingdom) Mary Schnack (NAWBO, USA) Tina Reisenbichler (EWMD, Austria) Marsha Firestone (WPO, USA) Mirella Visser (EPWN, Netherlands) and Bola Olabisi (GWIIN, United Kingdom) from the TIAW fold - were impressive. Other high caliber speakers included the German Minister for Family Affairs, Women and Youth, Ursula von der Leyen who conveyed all the vitality and sophistication of her country.
I returned feeling that I learned a lot from not only the speakers, but also from the many women who I interacted with from different countries and cultures.
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