Coordinator
Ms. Mariko Bando President, Showa Women's University Executive Director, UNIFEM
Japan Domestic Committee

Lecturer brief history

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After graduating from Tokyo University, Mariko Bando joined the Prime Minister's office in 1969, beginning what was to be a distinguished career as a civil servant. April 1995, became Vice Governor of Saitama Prefecture. In June 1998, was appointed Consul General in Brisbane, Australia, Japan's first and only female Consul General. January 2001, Director-General, Gender Equality Bureau. October 2003, Trustee, Showa Women's University. April 2004, professor and director for the Institute Women's Culture , Showa Women's University. April 2005, Vice President, Showa Women's University. April 2007, President, Showa Women's University. Author of over 20 books.

Panelist
Ms. Almas Jiwani
CEO / President FRONTIER CANADA INC President, UNIFEM Canada

Lecturer brief history

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A highly accomplished, dynamic and self-made business woman, who is not only a successful entrepreneur but also a passionate and gifted humanitarian

Currently, Almas Jiwani is the President and CEO of Frontier Canada Inc., a corporate communications and International Procurement company. She is also the President of the United Nations Development Fund For Women (UNIFEM) Part of UN Women Canada. She has also served several distinguished boards and portfolios of His Highness The Prince Aga Khan Council for Canada and The Aga Khan University.

With a mission of empowering and strengthening global women's economic capacity as entrepreneurs and producers, Ms. Jiwani has been committed to achieving this goal through consistent serving several executive boards and portfolios and also through her many speaking engagements, which serve to enrich lives and uplift the status of women at all levels of development globally. As a result, Ms. Jiwani has become a highly sought-after speaker at international conferences on women's economic empowerment including gender equality and women's human rights. She has also become a voice for many underprivileged women and girls who cannot speak, and continues to play a key role in building networks among charitable institutions and socially responsible businesses to encourage an enabling environment.

Under her presidency and innovative leadership, she has heightened UNIFEM Canada's profile with a number of history-making events held in Ottawa, in June 2010: Ms. Jiwani bestowed Her Excellency, The Governor General of Canada, Michae"lle Jean, with the 2009 UNIFEM Canada Award, she also steered the "Say-NO to Violence Against Women" event at the Federal Parliament Hill, which was widely attended by Canadian dignitaries including Senators, Mayors, Women's Equality leaders, academics, scholars and experts in women's rights issues.

Almas Jiwani's life commitment and active engagement in women's and girls' development projects in the areas of gender equality and women empowerment have been internationally recognized at all levels: the Governor General of Canada awarded her the "Governor General's Canadian Caring Award"; UNIFEM Canada presented her with the prestigious "Honorary Life-Time Member Award" in recognition of her exceptional leadership, her skills and passionate spirit for human rights advocacy and the advancement of gender equality.

Most recently, the Greek Postal Authorities and the Government of Greece released a commemorative Hellas stamp and bestowed her with the Goddess Artemis Award 2010 and inducted her into Women's Hall of Fame in Athens, for her extensive efforts in bridging nations, cultures and elevating the status of women in the developing world; Ms. Jiwani is the first United Nations member and the second Canadian to be honoured with these prestigious recognitions. In addition, she has been recognized with several prestigious awards and certificates.

Canadian dignitaries and Federal Government have all recognized Ms. Jiwani's unparallel commitment to her mission in life and her success in realizing her goals. The media has widely recognized her International achievements over the last few years. Most recently, she was featured "Woman of the Week" in Women's Post Magazine; Rogers TV, First Local also recognized her achievements in a recent News segment. Ms. Jiwani's impact and influence have created a lasting legacy for various Canadian communities and in other parts of the world. Stories about her leadership and achievements have earned her enormous respect among from peers, making her first among equals.

Panelist
Ms.Wang, Ju-Hsuan
Minister, Council of Labor Affairs, Chinese Taipei

Lecturer brief history

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Education

Bachelor of Laws, Department of Law of National Taiwan University

Master of Laws, Graduate School of Law, Fu Jen University

Experience

1994

Chairperson of National Organization for Women

1996-1998

Advisor to Mayor of Taipei City Government

1996-2000

Member, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the Taipei County Government

1998-2008

Member, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the Taipei City Government

1998-2003

Member, Commission on Women's Rights Promotion, Executive Yuan

1998-1999

Director of Modern Women's Foundation

1999-2002

Member, Board of Standing Directors, Taipei Bar Association

1999-2008

Advisor to the Taipei City Government

2001-2004

Member, Board of Supervisors, Public Television Service Foundation

2002-2008

Advisor to the Gender/Sexuality Rights Association Taiwan

2004-2005

Member of Commission on Human Rights, Office of the President

2007-2008

Member, Labor Pension Fund Supervisory Committee, Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan

Panelist
Ms. Patricia Foley Hinnen
Founding CEO of Capital Sisters International, Co-founder and Chair of the Microenterprise Deve lopment Program for the International Alliance for Women

Lecturer brief history

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Patricia Foley Hinnen has worked in economic development and international affairs for 25 years with the U.S. Congress, the U.S. State Department, and the microfinance industry. She is the founding CEO of Capital Sisters International, a non-profit organization that invests in microfinance institutions in developing countries. Patricia has served for more than a decade on the board of the International Alliance for Women, an organization with 50,000 professional, executive and entrepreneurial members in 20 countries, and she is the Co-founder and Managing Director of their Microenterprise Program. She is a Microfinance Advisor to the U.S. State Department for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, an organization of 21 countries, and has led the US delegation to the annual meeting of the APEC Women Leaders Network since 2002. Patricia lived in Europe for many years, managing evaluations of international programs for the U.S. Congress - including the East European and Soviet portfolio after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Within the U.S., Patricia is the Co-founder of Colorado Microcredit, the Micro Business Development Center, and the Friends of Microcredit and is an Advisor to the Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute. She also serves on the boards of the Women's Forum, the International Fund of the Colorado Women's Foundation -- "Beyond Our Borders", and the Colorado Alliance of Professional Women. Patricia received her undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Colorado and a Masters degree in Evaluation from Denver University - where she is a guest lecturer for the Graduate School of International Studies. She developed her passion for international affairs and poverty alleviation during two tours in the U.S. Peace Corps, where she served in West and Southern Africa. Living overseas for a decade and traveling to more than 60 countries during her career has provided her with rich and amazing experiences -- including 5 revolutions. She and her husband were "high school sweethearts" and they live in the mountains outside Golden Colorado where they raised their two sons.

Panelist
Ms. Noriko Nakamura
Chief Executive Officer, Poppins Corporation

Lecturer brief history

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2009

Vice-Chairperson "Committee for Measures against Declining Birth Rate".

2008

Vice-Chairperson "Medical Reform Committee".

2007

Member of "Services Process Committee", Japan Productivity Center for Socio-economic Development.

2006

Vice-Chairperson, "New Business Creation and Promotion Forum", Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives).
Member of "Independent Administrative Institution Evaluation Committee", Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

2005

Member of "Central Environmental Council", Ministry of Environment.
Advisory Board Member of Sony Marketing (Japan), Inc.
Temporary Member of "Central Environmental Council", Ministry of Environment.

2004

Member of "Conference of Shinagawa-Ward Promotion of Supporting Measures for Raising Next Generation"
Nominated to Chairperson of "Sohatsu-no-kai"(Conference for Emergence), Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) (～ June, 2006)

2003

Appointed to Specialist Member of "Structural Reform Special District Promotion Headquarters Assessment Committee", Cabinet Secretariat.

2002

Elected to Deputy Chairperson, "Demand Creation Committee", Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)
Member of "Conference for Study of Gender Equality", Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.(～June, 2003)

2001

Member of "Conference for Promotion of Women's Activity", Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Member of "Round-Table Conference of Policy of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry", Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Vice Chairperson of "Sohatsu-no-kai"(Conference for Emergence), Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)
Elected to Temporary Member of "Vocational Ability Development Sub-Committee", Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

2000

Member of "Conference for Price Stabilization Policy", Economic Planning Agency.
Member of "Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Council for Study for Equal Participation by both Gender to Planning"
Elected to Director of "Social Welfare Corporation, Kinugasa Nursery School".
Secretary, Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)
Member of "Wisepersons' Meeting(Kenjin kaigi)", Economic Planning Agency.

1999

Member of "Extraordinary Committee for Education "of Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation).

1998

Director of the New Businesses Conference.

1996

Start of Poppins "VIP Care Service" by Silver-service Business Division.
Altered name of the company to Poppins Corporation.

1995

Member of "General Sub-committee, Industrial Structure Council", Ministry of International Trade and Industry

1994

Member of "Study Group of New Business in the Area of Family Support Service", Ministry of International Trade and Industry. (～1995)

1991

Member of "Research and Study Committee concerning Commissioned-to-Business-Enterprise Type Nursery Service Business", Ministry of Welfare. (～1992)

1989

Elected to Vice-Chairperson of "All Japan Babysitter Association" (～March, 1993)

1987

Founded JAFE Service Co., Ltd. (former name), becoming its Representative Director.

1985

Founded JAFE(Japan Association of Female Executives), becoming its Representati

1976

Resigned from TV Asahi and became a freelance reporter.

1973

Joined TV Asahi Corporation as a newscaster for Asahi TV Productions.