PRESS RELEASE: Government, NGO, Corporate Leaders Headline Womenetics’ Global Women’s Initiative Conference in Atlanta

Wednesday, November 03 2010

Atlanta, GA, November 3, 2010 - Womenetics has announced the full roster of speakers for its November 11, 2010 conference, Global Women's Initiative: Creating the Ripple Effect. Following a luncheon keynote by Melanne Verveer, U.S. Ambassador-At-Large for Global Women's Issues, panels will address four key topics: economic empowerment; education and literacy; health and hunger; and human rights. The conference takes place at Loews Atlanta Hotel, from 10:30 am - 5:30 pm. Tickets are $125 onsite or at www.womenetics.com.

"It is a simple fact that no country can get ahead if half of its citizens are left behind," said Ambassador Verveer. "Studies have shown that women drive GDPs and that gender equality is smart economics. As Secretary Clinton has often stated, women and girls are one of the world's greatest untapped resources, and investing in them is one of the most powerful forces for international development. Promoting gender equality is not just the right thing to do - it's the smart thing to do." The keynote topic is "Women as Economic Drivers," and will be presented during the event luncheon.

Swan Paik, Portfolio Director for the Nike Foundation, will moderate the Economic Empowerment panel. Speakers include:
Shari Berenbach, Director, Microenterprise Development, US Agency for International Development
Janine Maxwell, Co-Founder, Heart for Africa
Marika McCauley Sine, International Public Affairs Director, The Coca-Cola Company
Jane Nelson, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Wenchi Yu, Policy Advisor, Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues, U.S. Department of State
The Education & Literacy panel will be moderated by Sally Lovejoy, Education Attache for UNESCO.
Panelists include:
Elizabeth Fordham, Education Advisor, UNESCO
Marion Bunch, Founder, Rotarians for Fighting AIDS
Wendi Huestis, East Coast Major Gifts Officer, Room to Read
Wendy Judy, Chief Development Officer, Earth University

Moderating the Health & Hunger panel is Sandra Thurman, Director of the Interfaith Health Program and the W. Blount Center for Health and Human Rights at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. The.panelists include:
Douglas Casson Coutts, Senior Advisor, United Nations World Food Programme, Visiting Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Auburn University
Jeff Fulgham, Chief Sustainability Officer and Eco-Imagination Director, GE Water
Nell Diallo, Vice President for Corporate and International Relations, MedShare
Dr. Jim Sherry, Professor of Global Health and International Affairs, The George Washington University
Jodee Winterhof, Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, CARE

Cindy Sawyer, Work Environment and Workplace Rights Director, at The Coca-Cola Company, will be moderating the Human Rights panel. The panel includes:
Loraine Chilvers, CEO, Delaney Consulting, LLC and ZONTA International
Dawn Conway, Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, LexisNexis
Pamela Livingston, Vice President of Corporate and Strategic Partnerships, International Justice Mission
Dr. Sita Ranchod-Nillson, Director, Institute for Developing Nations, Emory University

Comprehensive panelist bios are available online at www.Womenetics.com.

About Womenetics
Womenetics is a global business platform combining online content and events that connects and inspires women to achieve success in their professional and personal lives. Recognized by Forbes as one of the Top 100 Websites for Women, this multifaceted organization unites women in the workplace and beyond. Womenetics provides engaging content surrounding issues that impact, ideas that inspire, individuals that lead and institutions that matter. Visit www.Womenetics.com.

# # # Notes to Editors:
1. Press Conference with the Ambassador and select speakers will occur at 10:45am on 11/11 in the Ravinia Room at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown.
2. Speakers are available for interview ahead of the event..
3. Reporting facilities for media are available on-site.
4. To register for press pass, visit www.Womenetics.com