Finance Minister and Deputy Premier Paula Cox has given a guarded hint that she may one day be the leader of the country if all the right circumstances come together.

And she also admitted that as the credit crisis deepens, some Government projects would have to be deferred.

She was put on the spot as she spoke at a women's business conference held in Hamilton on Saturday when an audience member asked why she wasn't Premier already.

It was a question that was waiting to be asked as Ms Cox completed her opening address to the delegates at the event promoting the empowerment of women in society.

In reply she said she would only act in an ethical way with regards to ever seeking the leadership of the governing Progressive Labour Party and the country.

She went on: "I know what I have to do and when I have to do it."

Earlier, during her speech, she mentioned being asked on the street if she thought people wanted her to be Premier because they think she can be easily manipulated. "I enjoyed answering that one," said Ms Cox.

The Finance Minister was the first speaker at the 2008 Navigating Business Success – The Complete Journey Women's Conference.

During a question and answer session she was also asked about the current credit crunch crisis and how it would affect Bermuda's large financial, insurance and banking interests.

Ms Cox said near daily "caucus" meetings are being held on the Island between the various players including businesses, the Bermuda Monetary Authority and Government to assess events, likening it to ensuring Bermuda's "shock absorbers" are aligned.

"It is going to make us more conservative and watchful of how we cut our cloth. Some Government projects will have to be deferred."

But she warned it was also important not to go to the extreme of stopping all Government projects as there is still a need for economic stimulus. Ms Cox feels that there will be scope for some international businesses in Bermuda to seize opportunities and perhaps make aquisitions during the turmoil.

She also expects that companies that may have been planning to take out leases for enlarged premises on the Island will now sit tight, and there will likely be streamlining with smaller delegations attending overseas industry functions.

And Ms Cox recognised the tourism dollar would contract if Americans tighten their belts and spend less on vacations and travel.

At the conference, Ms Cox gave a wide-ranging address, entitled 'Furthering the Agenda', urging women to listen to their inner voice, which can heal them. She debunked the myth of the 'superwoman' but said: "It's okay to get sassy, it's okay to get saucy, and it's okay to set people straight.

"We need to stand up for ourselves. Sometimes this can go against the grain (of who you are). We should be smart about what we say and how we say it. Our voices need to be heard."

Ms Cox mentioned the promotion of Bermudian Pamela Burrows to Assistant Financial Secretary in her Ministry, calling her a "standard bearer" for other women and praising Finance Secretary Donald Scott as a strong man undaunted or intimidated by working alongside women.

The Deputy Premier urged women not to take the easy option and praised those who, when dealt a lemon made lemonade and stayed the course and made more of themselves.

"Imagine a world without sexism, imagine a world without racism and imagine a world where women are regarded as the equal of men," she challenged the audience.

Before ending with the recital of Christopher Logue's inspirational poem 'Come to the Edge', Ms Cox urged women to help one another through networking and mentoring.

The Athena Award was presented to Bermudian Rev. Emilygail Dill, who works for the Bermuda Tourism Department in North America (see separate story).

Other conference speakers included former ZBM newscaster Sangita Iyer, who talked on balancing life and work commitments.

She spoke of her daily routine of a half-hour each of exercise, meditation and prayer each morning giving her the balance to start her day, and she urged delegates to learn the power of deep breathing, healthy eating, balancing emotions and keeping a journal of thoughts.

Keynote speaker of the conference, organised by Intergrated Global Management with Women's Leadership Exchange Bermuda and Athena International, was US professional entrepreneur and professional speaker Patricia Russell-McCloud whose address was entitled "Leadership: The Real Thing."