NOTES & NEWS
Supporting the Next Generation of Female Leaders
O
n October 14, 2016, CPABC attended the WE FOR SHE
Conference organized by the BC government, the Greater
Vancouver Board of Trade, and the WEB Alliance of Women’s
Business Networks. With a focus on advancing gender equality by
bolstering the impact of women on BC’s economy, the event provided
audience members with the opportunity to hear from business leaders,
advocates, and emerging talent.
WE FOR SHE also provided attendees with the chance to meet
accomplished role models from a variety of backgrounds. Present at the
event were former Olympic athlete Karina LeBlanc; Janet Kennedy,
president of Microsoft Canada; young entrepreneur and Swave cofounder Emily Naing; Ritchie Bros. CEO and board director Ravi
Saligram; and Sandra Stuart, president and CEO of HSBC Bank Canada.
The Conference opened with a session entitled “Championing the
Next Generation,” during which BC Premier Christy Clark addressed
the need to support students and young women by helping them understand their career potential and employment options.
The event also featured business-focused educational sessions, which
offered research updates on how women are influencing today’s economy,
and examined initiatives used by prominent companies to advance female employees. The Conference also offered interactive workshops
and presentations hosted by employers from different fields, including
finance, engineering, and technology.
CPABC was proud to be the presenting sponsor of this year’s event.
To learn more about the WE FOR SHE initiative, visit weforshebc.ca.
Top and left: High school students from across BC attended the WE FOR SHE Conference, where they had the
opportunity to hear female business leaders from various sectors share their stories. Above: CPABC president & CEO
Richard Rees, FCPA, FCA, introduces BC Premier Christy Clark. Photos by Sara Borck Photography.
12 CPABC in Focus • Nov/Dec 2016