STIMULATING AND SUPPORTING NEW BUSINESS IN IRELAND

Midland Women in Business Conference and Network Event brings Businesswomen together

By James Donlon, February 9, 2006

As part of its ongoing support for new enterprise, the first ever Women in Business Conference and Networking Event for female business executives in the Midland region took place recently, organised by WESTBIC, in conjunction with Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon Enterprise Boards. This pilot initiative, funded as a sub-project of the ADEP Interreg 3C programme, saw the gathering of over 100 businesswomen at Glasson Golf and Country Club in Athlone to participate in the event, modelled on previous successful networking initiatives undertaken.

The event provided a unique opportunity for female entrepreneurs to meet, share their experiences and ideas, as well as to market themselves and their businesses. The event also comprised of a question and answers session where Along with the valuable networking aspects, a number of high profile speakers addressed the audience, presenting information in key topic areas, which also provided an opportunity for participants to address specific concerns about their businesses through these interactive sessions. The speakers included Terry Prone, from Carr Communications, Senator Mary O’Rourke and Senator Mary White who founded Lir Chocolates, a leading producer and exporter of quality hand-made chocolates. As a follow-up to this event, additional supports are available to women in business in each county through local ‘Women in Business’ networks and other initiatives.

The Midland Women in Business Conference was part-funded by the EU under the Interreg 3C ADEP programme in which WESTBIC is a sub-project partner.