TOKYO: The CEO of Business Events Sydney (BESydney), Lyn Lewis-Smith, announced that Sydney will host the 2018 Global Summit of Women.
Speaking from the 2017 Summit in Tokyo, attended by Japan’s Prime Minister H.E. Shinzo Abe, Ms Lewis-Smith described the Summit as the ‘Davos for Women’, which showcases progressive government and private sector strategies that level the playing field for women, addressing bias.
“Hosting events like the Global Summit of Women will be a catalyst for greater economic empowerment of Australian women by shining a spotlight on underperforming areas, eliciting tangible commitments from our leaders to change the status quo. A recent EY report suggests that tapping into women’s global potential could be the equivalent of having another one billion people in the workforce, driving economic growth around the world,” said Ms Lewis-Smith.
More than 50 industry and government leaders supported Australia’s bid including Lucy Turnbull AO, David Thodey AO, Diane Smith-Gander, Lynette Mayne AM, Kerrie Mather, Elizabeth Broderick AO, Cassandra Kelly, The Hon. Keith Pitt, The Hon. Bill Shorten, The Hon. Tanya Plibersek, The Hon. Linda Burney and The Hon. Pru Goward.
The 2018 Summit is expected to attract more than 1,000 leaders across private and public sectors from 80 countries, and inject over $2 million into the New South Wales (NSW) economy.
Australia’s Ambassador to Japan, Richard Court AC, welcomed the 2018 announcement on behalf of the Federal Government during this year’s Tokyo Summit.
Executive Chairman of Carnival Australia and GlobeWomen International Planning Committee Member, Ann Sherry AO, advocated on behalf of Australia’s 2018 bid.
“Australia can showcase our world leading initiatives such as the Male Champions of Change program, the impact of advocacy organisations like Chief Executive Women, and our record supporting women in the Indo-Pacific to enter the global supply chain. World leaders can learn from Australia, and we, in turn, still have much to learn from the rest of the world,” said Ms Sherry.
The Sydney Global Summit of Women Steering Committee was also announced today and includes Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, David Thodey AO, Lynette Mayne AM, Cassandra Kelly, David Cooke, Narelle Hooper, Annika Freyer, Martin Parkinson AC PSM, and co-chairs Ann Sherry AO and Lyn Lewis-Smith.
NSW Minister for Women, Tanya Davies confirmed the NSW Government’s commitment to the Summit. “We look forward to hosting the 2018 Global Summit of Women in Sydney to profile the policies and practices which are improving economic outcomes for women,” said Ms Davies.
BESydney is tasked with securing global business events for NSW, and is supported by the NSW Government including Destination NSW, and private sector partners.
