Val Salama with President Cameron and her colleague Michelle

Ms Val Salama of AON Insurance joined RCSE for lunch on Monday, but not to discuss insurance policies. Ms Salama is a long-standing member and passionate supporter of BPW International or the International Federation of Business and Professional Women, with whom she was very active during her 16 years living and working in Port Moresby.

The International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW International), founded by Dr Lena Madesin Phillips in 1930, is a network of business and professional women with affiliates in eighty countries in five continents. BPW has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and participatory status with the Council of Europe. Its members include influential women leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, professionals and young career women.

BPW affiliates contribute to society by enabling women to sustain themselves economically. In addition, BPW offers personal development programs for members such as mentoring, leadership training and e-Business training. Since 1996, BPW affiliates worldwide have helped over 45,000 women to become economically empowered.

BPW projects assist women to:
– Enter and re-enter the workforce;
– Start up and advance their business or profession;
– Protect their rights;
– Overcome their limitations; and
– Create a nurturing environment in work, education, health for women development.

In addition to introducing RCSE to BPW, Ms Salama described her current efforts to help a group of professional women establish a Suva chapter of the organization. Val welcomes looks forward to future partnerships and collaborations with Rotarians.

If you’re interested in knowing more about BPW, contact RCSE Fundraising and Events chair Michelle Chand.