Women in Business International is a B2B programme with a difference.  Established as part of a UK Government Initiative to connect businesswomen and invited businessmen in the UK with influential businesswomen in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Iran, it is a non-for profit company run by volunteers to promote women’s economic empowerment. By exchanging and sharing knowledge and skills, WiB seek to provide premier business networking throughout the world for investment and trade opportunities whilst altering the views of women held by international leaders and decision makers.

Designed to appeal to both ends of the business spectrum, the initiative welcomes those at the very top of large scale global companies to lone founders of ethical commerce.  The site provides a platform for women to read about relevant news and events from across the world, whilst providing a one-stop shop for business resources including how to start a business, e-mentoring, workshops and scholarships.
It is interesting to note that five out of the six current members on the Management Board are women – Christine McCafferty, MP with an interest in women’s issues and equality; Tara Culhane, Director of Hilal International UK Ltd and Woodbarn Properties; Ann Thomson, Manager of Women in Business International; Lynne Franks author and entrepreneur and Sarah Al Ayed, co-founder of Saudi Creative Communications – along with one male board member, Ahmed Suleiman MBE, KFO.

As well as an impressive management the site has a long list of Partners including the Department of Trade and Industry, The Prince’s Trust and the Arab British Chamber of Commerce; as well as an equally high calibre of sponsors from the likes of UK Trade & Investment and Shell International.

Running for three days from 18th to 20th May 2009 and twelve years on from it’s inception in 1997, The Women in Business Network is running a London based forum covering: the developing role of women in the workplace 12 years on; public policy – the impact of women, and developing human potential – human resource training. With previous speakers including HM Queen Rania of Jordan and HRH The Duke of York the event promises to be an interesting one.