Sara Elago launches 15th Northern Businesswomen Conference
Celebrating the 15th year of the Northern Businesswomen Conference that will be held on 7 August 2014 in Ongwediva. From the left are Ashante Manetti, External Communications Practitioner at Telecom Namibia, Desere Lundon-Muller, Chairperson of the Economist Businesswoman Club, Surihe Gaomas-Guchu, PR & Communications Manager at Standard Bank Namibia, Ngamane Karuaihe-Upi, conference speaker, Madame Sara Elago, Patron and Namibian Businesswoman of the Year 1999 and Natasja Beyleveld, Young Businesswoman of the Year 2013 and also a conference speaker. (Photograph by Mandisa Rasmeni)Telecom and Standard Bank commit as main conference sponsors
The Patron of the Northern Businesswoman Conference, Madame Sara Elago, this week launched the 15th Northern Businesswomen Conference, slated for 07 August 2014 at Ongwediva in the Oshana Region. In 1999, Madame Elago was the first black Namibian Businesswoman of the Year, and has since been the Patron of the Northern Businesswoman Conference.
This year’s conference aims to move business opportunities onto the radar of professional women and businesswomen operating the northern regions.
The conference helps to create and to identify opportunities for women to share their expertise and skills, and also to make new contacts and to support one another.
Desere Lundon-Muller, Chairperson of the Economist Businessmen Club said the conference is tailored to all women who want to increase their professionalism, job satisfaction, or to add value to their organisations and to encourage entrepreneurs.
Lundon-Muller said that this year, companies will be invited again to showcase their products and services to the conference delegates. A range of speakers are lined up as specialists in various fields to present papers on business finance, legal matters, constitutional issues, partnerships, procurement, agencies and management issues.
Lundon-Muller also introduced two speakers that attended this week’s launch, Natasja Beyleveld, Young Businesswoman of the Year 2013 and Ngamane Karuaihe-Upi, a community activist and relationship adviser.
Standard Bank of Namibia sponsored N$55,000 for the conference activities.
N$50,000 will be used to facilitate the conference and the remaining N$5000 will be given as start-up capital for the winner in the Best SME competition run by the Economist Businesswomen Club. Surihe Gaomas-Guchu, PR and Corporate Communications Manager at Standard Bank said at the launch that they are glad to be associated with such a worthy cause that will lead to the enhancement of women in the country.
Ashante Manetti, External Communications Practitioner for Telecom Namibia handed over a N$45,000 cheque as the second main sponsor of the conference. Telecom has been sponsoring the conference for nine years. All funds generated by the Club go towards the Economist Businesswomen Bursary Fund, available to finance female students in business related fields.
