Supporting women’s progression both in the Diplomatic Service and outside has long been a passion of mine. A flying visit to the UK last week with South African Ministers allowed me to do both – and with really satisfying results.
The project began with an invitation to select some young South African businesswomen for the Wilton Park Conference on 29-31 October on “three extraordinary Women-led businesses: building a strong and sustainable economy”. My team recommended three extraordinary young women with three remarkable life stories: combining passion, determination and success. Only one had been to Britain before: all were intrigued but unsure what they would find.
At the same time, three nominees were also invited to a day and a half conference for future women leaders in London on 28 -29 October organised by the remarkable Pinky Lilani and sponsored by the FT, KPMG and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Having already established the successful annual Asian Women’s Business Awards in the UK – Pinky’s aim is to create a Davos for women in London – attracting the brightest and most influential women from around the world to debate the economic issues of the day. This year is the first time overseas delegates have been invited and I am delighted that the FCO have been highly active in supporting Pinky’s vision, ensuring participation by representatives from 25 countries speaking at Pinky’s “Women of the Future Summit”. Home Secretary Teresa May, who spoke at the Summit, praised the FCO involvement.
Pinky’s “Women of the Future Summit” was preceded on Monday 27 October by a brilliant reception at the FCO hosted by Sir Julian King, Director-General for Economic Affairs for all the international delegates, including a number of Chevening scholars and a wide range of external contacts and FCO stakeholders. And from around the world, missions like mine supported young women business leaders of the future to attend.
My own starring moment – alongside Jules Chappell, our youngest ever female Ambassador and herself a women of the future alumni – was to attend the Awards Dinner following the Summit at the Hilton Park Hotel on Tuesday 28 October and have the honour to present an Award for the Mentor of the Year. In this case the prize went to Dr Vanessa Ogden, head teacher of the Mulberry School for Girls who has long campaigned for high quality education in inner city schools. Through our participation, Jules (who awarded the prize for best MBA) and I were able to demonstrate not only that the FCO supports upcoming women but that we sponsor women’s issues worldwide.
And my South African guests? Quite simply they were blown away by their discussions at this new Davos for Women and thrilled also to be in London, visiting Buckingham Palace and meeting so many inspiring women from all around the world. They are grateful to us for giving them as they put it: “the chance to see their lives in a new light and draw confidence to aim higher and further for themselves and South Africa.”
And now back in South Africa, and as part of our Regional Heads of Mission meeting this week in Pretoria – we held our first Women’s Leadership Set to build on what seem like very similar themes to those expounded in London a week ago. Still much to do to achieve a more diverse diplomatic service, but it is a changed landscape and an exciting one.