Celebrating the contribution of women with a champagne
breakfast
Celebrating the contribution of women with a champagne
breakfast
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated around the world. The
occasion is marked annually in the City of London where we use the
opportunity to acknowledge women's success and contribution to the
workplace and society.
International Women's Day 2012
Following the overwhelming success of previous International
Women's day events the 2012 breakfast event was probably the best
yet and sold out quickly in traditional style. It was held on the
morning of Friday 09 March at the Guildhall, London. The event
raised over £30,000 for national domestic violence charity Refuge,
who help over 1600 women and children escape domestic violence
every day.
The event began with a champagne breakfast and a chance to view
a variety of informative stalls as well as network with men and
women from organisations around the City. To encourage guests to
talk to people they hadn't met before, each was provided with a
networking card, challenging them to find an individual to fit each
of a range of categories. Once completed, the card became a raffle
ticket, with a chance to make the event even more special by
winning one of several amazing prizes.
The event this year was chaired by actor and Refuge patron David
Morrissey.
A variety of guest speakers spoke upliftingly about the success
they have enjoyed in their careers and their individual journeys to
the positions they hold today. The speeches were followed by giving
out the raffle prizes generously donated by a variety of companies
before a final toast to International Women's Day ending the event
on a high.
This year saw around 400 delegates attending the event; making
is as big as the previous year.
If you would like to receive early information about next year's
event please contact
safercity@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
This year's speakers
Sue Mappin – International tennis player and Chairperson of the
British Women’s Tennis Association
Helena Morrissey CBE - Chief Executive Officer of Newton Investment
Management Ltd.
Lieutenant Colonel Sue Pillar – Commanding Officer, Armed
Forces
The Charity - Refuge
Sponsorship funds raised go directly to Refuge - the national
domestic violence charity. Every day Refuge supports over 1,600
women and children through emergency accommodation, practical and
emotional support and community based outreach services. The funds
raised by The City of London's International Women's Day event help
them to carry out their vital work. See
www.refuge.org.uk for more
information or to make a donation.
The
Committee
Organisations including the City of London Police and City of
London Corporation came together to form a committee dedicated to
celebrating the achievements of women in the City of London with an
annual event for the United Nations International Women's Day
(IWD). The committee set out to deliver a unique celebration of IWD
in the City in the grand surroundings of the Guildhall.
The committee who organise the event annually in addition to their
daily work commitments consist of the following members:
Lorraine
Cussen
Superintendent, City of London Police
Sue Alexander
Global Co-ordinator, HSBC Climate Partnership, Group Corporate
Sustainability
Samantha De Silva
Community Safety Officer, Safer City Partnership
Andrea Berkoff
Committee member
Joanna David
Director of JDHR Solutions Ltd
Alison Gowman
Partner, DLA PIPER UK LLP
Belinda Harding (MBE)
Safer City Wards, Snow Hill Police Station
Juliet Brown
Police Constable, City of London Police
Liz Weston
First Aid Nursery Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps)