Following a year in which “people power” was the rallying cry from the Arab Spring to Occupy Wall Street, the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2012 in Davos, which ended last Sunday, might seem like an elitist anachronism, but it is worth noting how the WEF over the past few years has tried in earnest to include voices from civil society as well as younger generations – from new, very active communities within the WEF such as the Young Global Leaders and the Global Shapers to – this year – even Occupy Davos.

The result: As a “platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue between business, society, and politics” (in the words of WEF founder and executive chairman Professor Klaus Schwab), the WEF is more relevant than ever (full disclosure: I am a member of the WEF Global Agenda Council on Values in Decision-Making).

That said, the Annual Meeting in the luxurious Swiss ski resort remains the “the world’s most exclusive gathering,” and it is hard not to be star-struck by a cast that this year included the likes of Bill Gates, Timothy Geithner, Christine Lagarde, David Cameron, Angela Merkel, the CEOs of most Fortune 500 companies, our very own Doreen Lorenzo, the president of frog, and – yes – Mick Jagger.

The UK’s largest independent membership network for women in business, everywoman, is inviting entries for the 2012 Specsavers everywoman in Retail Awards. 

Now in their fifth year, these awards recognise the achievements of women in the retail sector, with categories including "Entrepreneur of the Year" and "Woman of the Year". Keep reading for details of last year's winners in these categories.

By highlighting inspirational female role models who are excelling, the awards aim to demonstrate to other talented individuals the exceptional opportunities offered by a career in retail.

The UK’s largest female business community, everywoman, has announced the 2012 finalists in the everywoman in Technology Awards, once again uncovering the UK’s most successful and talented women working within the technology sector. And our own founder Simone Brummelhuis of The NextWomen is again part of the jury.

These awards, now in their second year, highlight the achievements of women excelling in this industry, in order to encourage more to see it as a rewarding career choice.

Despite increases in the number of women entering the workforce over the past few decades, recent figures show that the number employed within the IT and telecoms sector has decreased. Although 47% of the UK workforce is female, only 18% of IT & Telecoms professionals are female, down from 22% in 2001*.

Arianna Huffington received the Aenne Burda Award, which recognizes visionary female entrepreneurs, at the international digital conference DLD in Munich last week.

Huffington, the founder and editor-in-chief of the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, tweeted her excitement at receiving the award . It was presented by Dr. Maria Furtwängler-Burda, who praised Huffington as an example of female empowerment. She said,

"Arianna Huffington experienced backstrokes and was never deterred by them –- her fearlessness is a stimulus for women, to get active themselves."