The Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network has celebrated women in business across its 53 member countries at a ceremony on the margins of the Commonwealth Summit. The Network’s third award ceremony had a powerful message: women’s economic empowerment has to be prioritised, pushed and praised.
Award-winners were honoured across an expanded range of ten categories:
- Commonwealth Cultural Enterprise Award for Women in the Arts (focus on music) in collaboration with Commonwealth Resounds: Chi-Chi Nwanoku (Nigeria)
- Commonwealth Media of the Year: Financial Times and Madison Marriage (UK)
- Commonwealth Accredited Organisations Award in collaboration with the Informal Forum of Commonwealth Organisations: Commonwealth Local Government Forum
- Salima Ahmed Award for the Most Inspiring Role Model for women in business: Jillian Kowalchuk (Canada)
- Lifetime Achievement: Baria Alamuddin (UK)
- Commonwealth Company of the Year Award: Engro Foods (Pakistan)
- Commonwealth Government Award for Women’s Economic Empowerment in collaboration with Global Citizen: Pakistan
- Commonwealth Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year: Nancy Amunga (Kenya)
- Commonwealth Woman Entrepreneur of the Year: Dato’ Hazimah Zainuddin (Malaysia)
- Commonwealth Male Champion of Change: Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta
The renowned planner Sarah Young put together a spectacular showcase for the ceremony at the Mayfair Hotel in honour of Malta as outgoing Commonwealth Chair-in-Office.
Freda Miriklis, the Chair of the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network, said: ‘There are three key messages from these awards – first recognising individuals, whether older and young, governments, media, men and accredited organisations, points to the wider collaboration essential to accelerate and not just advance women’s economic empowerment in the Commonwealth; second innovation can happen anywhere – it is not just well-known individuals or the usual countries that deserve or receive recognition; and thirdly the talent we saw in putting these Awards together from a Maltese team and event with a strong Maltese flavour, highlights the great promise and potential of Malta, the outgoing Chair of the Commonwealth, in one of the Commonwealth’s most dynamic and attractive places to do and succeed in business.’
The selection for the awards was made by open nomination and advisory panels including the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network’s Regional Partners across five continents. For award citations and further detail see https://cbwawards.org/
The Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network (CBW) encourages, enables and embeds economic empowerment through outcomes across the ‘3 Ts’ of trade, talent and training that are measurable, impactful and scalable. CBW is the lead strategic partner for the Women in Business Programme of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) and the apex organisation representing private sector businesses within the Commonwealth.
CBW also works closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the inter-governmental body ofthe Commonwealth. It sits on the Leadership Group for the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and works with regional partners across all 5 continents of the Commonwealth in the Asia, the Pacific, Africa the Caribbean and Europe.
