B.C. Economic Forum: Women as a catalyst for growth
Alex Johnston, Executive Director, Catalyst Canada
Hon. Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Toursim and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, Province of British Columbia
Hon. Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business, Province of British Columbia
Join the leaders - men and women in your community - in a powerful and engaging working forum.
B.C.'s economy needs more women leaders — in business, on boards and in growing industries.
This uniquely formatted event will have all participants actively contributing throughout the day via small facilitated group discussions. Be prepared to share your ideas and to have your voice heard. Alex Johnston, Executive Director of Catalyst Canada, will share research highlighting the business case for supporting women leaders followed by brief remarks from Minister Bond and Minister Yamamoto.
This economic forum will highlight opportunities here in B.C. to support women in business, in order to advance the conversation into action strategies for economic growth. Most importantly, feedback from the forum will help create practical recommendations for government, business and individuals — to shape policy and ultimately create change. Change for all stakeholders.
The forum will focus on generating an Action Plan with clear steps for:
- Growing the number of women in senior leadership positions.
- Growing the number of women entrepreneurs.
- Growing the number of women in non-traditional jobs and emerging sectors.
New strategies for economic growth are needed. Attend this forum and contribute to the solution!
The World Economic Forum has identified women as the fastest-growing economic force in the world today. In B.C., the time to affect change and increase economic growth through women is now. Participants will be contributing to the economic future of B.C.
The forum will feature three working tracks:
Track 1: Growing Women in Senior Leadership
According to a DELL study, companies with more women board directors outperform those with the fewest by 66 percent ROI capital, 53 percent return on equity and 42 percent return on sales. However, while Canadian women represent 47 percent of the workforce, only 5.3 percent are CEOs and 15.9 per cent are board directors. Join a dynamic group of business leaders to develop concrete recommendations on how we can dramatically increase those numbers and produce better results for women, business and the economy.
Session A: Women Executives
Session B: Women on Boards
Session C: Recommendations for Change
Track 2: Growing Women Entrepreneurs
Women's access to venture capital lags sorely behind their male business counterparts and is often the major constraint limiting the growth, expansion and wealth creation of small firms. Women need capital, resources and access to markets to grow. Join successful entrepreneurs and financiers to identify ways that women can grow their expanding small and medium size enterprises to achieve greater economic success.
Session A: Inspiring Vision
Session B: Pathways for Growth
Session C: Recommendations for Change
Track 3: Growing Women in Non-Traditional Jobs and Emerging Sectors
According to Status of Women Canada, in 2012, women represented only four percent of those in construction trades and 20 percent of those in occupations unique to primary industry, such as forestry, mining, oil and gas. These figures have varied little since 2008. To grow our economy, especially in the emerging sectors, we need to develop new business policies and practices that encourage and support women in these sectors. Join leaders from emerging sectors and women in non-traditional jobs to build a plan to grow the impact of women in these areas.
Session A: Trades and Non-Traditional Jobs
Session B: Emerging Sectors
Session C: Recommendations for Change
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