SAWCC BREAKFAST BUSINESS SEMINAR HELD ON March 25^th from 8h30 to 11h30am

The South African Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong successfully hosted a breakfast seminar on 25 March at the Foreign Correspondence Club in Hong Kong. Speakers were Mr Andric Yew, the Head of Principal Investments- China Samsung Securities Asia Ltd, who spoke on the topic of “Perspectives from potential Asian Investors about Investing in Mining Projects in Africa”. Mr Yew covered risks and advice to owners and investors on African mining assets.

Mr Paul Chikawa – the Honourable Consul General of Zimbabwe spoke about “Mining Investment Opportunities” in Zimbabwe and covered the abundance of viable investment opportunities in Mining in Zimbabwe.  The Honourable South African Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau – Ms Namotemba Tambo spoke about the ‘ Importance of South Africa joining BRIC’ and Raising Africa’s Alignment in Trade and Investment through BRIC.

The seminar had an excellent turnout of 34 interested individuals and the breakfast session had excellent feedback.

The SAWCC will be hosting more business seminars going forward.

From Left to Right: Mr Andric Yew, Honourable Paul Chikawa, Honourable Namotemba Tambo, and some of the guests at the seminar.

A note from the President to wish all members of the SAWCC of Hong Kong as well as all women in Hong Kong a wonderful International Women’s Day!

The South African Women’s Chamber of Commerce have been invited to join in with 2 different organizations to celebrate International Women’s Day:

a. Makumba – Amina Lamarre

The Famous African Bar in Peel Street just below Soho in Hong Kong is celebrating Women’s Day on March 8 (Tuesday).

Tuesday March 8 is the 100!! anniversary of International Women’s Day. Women ‘hold up half the sky’ and over the last 100 years we have seen great changes for women. We at Makumba honor the women who have fought for us and on Tuesday we will celebrate the great music of Miriam Makeba, Nina Simone and other great female artists. The 60′s and 70′s was also the time of the bra burning movement where women symbolically burned their bras to emancipate themselves from poor working and home conditions. Come and emancipate yourself from the long working hours in Hong Kong, the bosses and men who enslave us and join us in a symbolic taking off and waving your bra ceremony at Makumba. Don’t forget drinks are half price for women!! Please see events

b. The Australian Chamber has invited the South African Women’s Chamber to join them at member’s rate – in celebrating the Women’s Day Celebrations on Friday 11 March.

Austcham and Women media Works are pleased to present  Setting the table or having a seat at it? … a light-hearted look at a serious topic …

Mandating Gender Diversity in the Boardroom – A Luncheon in Celebration of International Women’s Day 100th Anniversary Friday | 11 March 2011 Supported by Paspaley Recently, Deutsche Bank AG Chief Executive Josef Ackermann came under criticism for joking that the inclusion of women on the bank’s all-male executive board would make it “more colorful and prettier, too.” (The Wall Street Journal) This comment is at the core of our panel discussion for International Women’s Day … embracing the inclusion of women on boards.In Australia, the percentage of female company directors of the largest ASX 200 listed companies is nowmore than 10%, with the appointment of a number of new female faces to boards in 2010. (The Australian). This process has been assisted by some gentle nudging from the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations on Diversity, released at the end of June 2010. It suggests that all companies must legally operate under an “if not, why not” mandate, reporting the achievement against board-established gender objectives; the number of female employees in the entire organisation, in senior management, and on the board; and to regularly review gender diversity policies. Is legislation the answer? Is positive discrimination merely window dressing? Does it matter how women get through the boardroom door?

Introducing the  Speakers…

Angelina Kwan, Managing Director, Stratford upon Avon Finance Limited Angelina Kwan is currently a Consultant advising on corporate governance, compliance and regulatory matters for companies in the financial services sector. She was most recently the Chief Operating Officer for Cantor Fitzgerald in Asia and was responsible for all operating aspects of the companies’ existing business and future ventures. She was also with the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong where she held the positions of Director of the Supervision of Markets Division as well as Director of the Enforcement Division. Ms. Kwan has over 24 years of experience in Management, Regulation, Compliance, Audit and Internal Audit across a wide range of business in both Asia and the US and serves on a number of Boards and Committees.

Hayden Majajas, Executive Director Head of Diversity Asia Pacific, UBS As the Head of Diversity for the Asia Pacific region at UBS, Hayden partners with the firm’s senior management, employees, business heads, clients and external vendors in creating inclusive business and working environments – positioning UBS as the employer, advisor and investment of choice for all, regardless ofbackground. After graduating law school in Japan and spending 3 years at top tier US law firms in Tokyo, Hayden’s banking career began at Lehman Brothers in 2004 where he supported the regional Fixed Income business as a member of the legal team, going on to become Business Strategist and eventually moving into a formal diversity role. Following the acquisition of Lehman’s Asia-Pacific franchise Hayden took on the role of Head of Diversity and Inclusion for the Asia-Pacific region for Nomura.

Fiona Nott, Director, Aesop Hong Kong Limited Fiona has been a director of Aesop Hong Kong Limited since 2010 and is a consultant to listed and non listed companies in Asia on corporate governance, compliance and CSR. She is a former Company Secretary and  Senior Legal Counsel at PCCW Limited in Hong Kong. Fiona has been in Asia for twelve years and started her legal career in Australia as an Associate to Justice Michael Kirby and then as a lawyer at Gilbert + Tobin in Sydney. She has been actively involved in educational non profit, Room to Read, in both Hong Kong and India and is a previous Committee Member of the New South Wales Government’s Women’s Consultative Committee. Please see events

The Event is supported by Paspaley