Businesswomen’s forum to focus on change-makers, says Aisha

LANI ROSE R DIZON

DOHA THE fourth annual Qatar International Businesswomen Forum (QIBWF), which will open on November 11 at the St Regis Doha Hotel, will highlight the role of Arab businesswomen as harbingers of change in the society.

The two-day event which is to be organised by the Qatari Business Women Association (QBWA) in partnership with the Interactive Business Network (IBN), will gather experts and delegates from across the region and beyond to discuss the challenges that face businesswomen in the wake of the historic changes sweeping the Arab world at large.

Participants will discuss ways to harness leadership potential of businesswomen by removing barriers that prevent them from exercising leadership in business and social activities, and also supporting and funding women entrepreneurs as well as social activists.

For the first time, the forum will also feature the announcement of winners of Qatar Businesswomen Awards 2013. The awards ceremony will take place at a gala dinner on the first day of the forum.

Addressing the media on Sunday to announce the upcoming events, QBWA Vice-Chairwoman Aisha Alfardan said that applications for the Qatar Businesswomen Awards have already started coming and the workshops related to the awards are scheduled to begin in April.

Criteria for the Qatar Businesswomen Awards include leadership; future goals and financial performance; business, professional and career achievements; community contribution, and participation and innovation.

Alfardan remarked, “Since 2008, the annual Qatar Businesswomen Awards has been recognising and celebrating the contribution of business and professional women in Qatar while inspiring future generations of women to achieve their full potential and maximise their contribution to the Qatari economy.” She added, “This year’s forum, under the theme ‘Arab Businesswomen as Change- Makers’, will discuss relevant issues concerning professional women such as the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, team building and creating an environment of trust within companies, and how women need to create a balance between family requirements, social life and business responsibilities if they are to succeed as change-makers”.

According to Alfardan, there were currently over 1,000 registered women entrepreneurs in Qatar. The QBWA has around 60 members and expatriate women make up for onethird of the group.

Speaking about the forum and its growth through the years, IBN Chief Executive Officer Raed Chehaib said, “The third Forum held last year was attended by over 800 delegates and international speakers. It also attracted sponsorships from 24 leading companies, banks, cultural and social institutions, and media companies in Qatar and abroad. And we expect this year’s forum to be much bigger as it also coincides with Qatar Businesswomen Awards 2013.”