Empowering women in business, understanding who they are, what they want to be and how they will achieve it — despite the challenges they face — will be the focus for a three-day summit held at the Fairmont Southampton hotel in September.

The second annual Women's Bermuda Athena International Leadership Awards & Business Summit, which is entitled 'Navigating Success: Keep Rising' will take place between September 4 and 6 and will celebrate 400 years of Bermuda's women, their journey, achievement and contribution to the Island's global and local advancement.

Among the presenters at the event will be Dr. Cindy Trimm, motivational speaker and expert life coach, Dr. Patricia Russell-McCloud, one of the US' top 10 motivational speakers, and Neletha Butterfield, Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation, and director and founder of the Care Learning Centre.

Others include Marie-Claire Angwa, who works for the United Nations Development Programme Bureau for Development Policy, the Environment and Energy Group and the Global Environment Facility; Pamela Ferreira, barrister and attorney, alderman of the Corporation of Hamilton, and CEO and owner of the MarketPlace Group of Companies; Diane Gordon, executive vice-president of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce; Michelle Khaldun, general manager of the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation; Dr. Janet Kempe, director of The Reading Clinic; Rochelle Simons, director and licensed facilitator of Connecting You to Success; and Gita Blakeney-Saltus, regional vice-president of Caron Bermuda.

The public will also have the chance to nominate their choice for the 2009 Bermuda International Athena Women's Leadership Awards which recognises exceptional individuals who have achieved excellence in their businesses or professions, served the community in a meaningful way and assisted women in their attained professional goals and leadership skills — to be chosen by an independent selection committee.

Event organiser Keetha Lowe, of Integrated Global Management, said that this year's summit will look at empowerment, leadership and development, while giving insights into business experiences, tapping into a person's potential and helping them to reach their goals, all against the backdrop of the Island's 400th anniversary year.

"This year's summit is geared towards encompassing and including women of all walks of life, with an emphasis on leadership," she said.

"The reason why is because we have been fortunate to be included as one of the key events inside of the 400th celebrations.

"We wanted to celebrate Bermuda's women from various with respect to their achievements over the past 400 years.

"If ever there was a time to celebrate and honour the progress that we have made over the years and indeed centuries, the 400th year in the country's history is the most appropriate time to do that."

Ms Lowe, who is expecting numbers to be up this year with a turnout of about 250, with a significant contingent from overseas, said the main objective of the summit was to discuss the latest and most relevant issues facing women in business and the workplace, while empowering and encouraging others to lead and develop on an individual basis, in the community and throughout the country.

"I think what is going to make it most special is that in the past we have looked at empowering leadership and development as it relates to the individual," she said.

"But now, we have taken many of our current issues within the country and the public process and even within the corporate sector, and there are things that we have recognised in the past two years, that we need to be addressing from the inside out rather than the outside in.

"We are really focusing on the person, the community and our country, and we must address some of the things that we are challenged with personally and go beyond the boardroom, looking at where the issue starts, how it impacts us and what part we can play in assisting to resolve it.

"We need to be preparing ourselves, not just to take on the world, but also to set an agenda we want the world to follow."

Ms Lowe said that some of the most important women figures in the history of Bermuda, including Sally Bassett and Dame Lois Browne-Evans, as well as the contributions of men in supporting women, would be recognised at the event.

The summit kicks off with a women's leadership gala reception on the Friday (September 4) followed by 'Keep Rising' performance play by Dr. Russell-McCloud, while the Saturday will comprise three main sessions, including navigating success — empowerment, leadership and development. The topics up for debate during those seminars range from cultivating Bermuda, the next generation, Bermuda Inc., women at the helm of commerce and public agenda and the Chamber's young professionals 'leaders of tomorrow' to shaping your own success, what's on the hearts of our women and mentoring our men.

The event concludes on the Sunday with the 'Keep Rising' empowerment breakfast and spa featuring Dr. Trimm.

In addition, there will be a health and wellness in the workplace session for delegates, preceded by a free health screening, both of which will be put on by the Bermuda Heart Foundation, the Bermuda Diabetes Association and Caron Bermuda.

The event is sponsored by Government, the Corporation of Hamilton, Coca-Cola USA, the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, Aardvark Communications, Brown & Co., the Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers, Appleby, Deloitte, KeyTech Ltd., Butterfield & Vallis, Flagstone Re, Freisenbruch-Meyer Group, Digicel, Logic, Orbis, BGA, Revlon, American Airlines, Pitt & Co, Logic Communications and Fairmont Resort & Spa.

To nominate your choice for the Bermuda Athena International Women's Leadership Awards 2009 pick up a form from Brown & Co. or C-Travel or visit the website at www.navigatingsuccess.com

For more information or to register for the summit contact 292-2663 or email info@navigatingsuccess.bm or for sponsorship email sponsorship@navigatingsuccess.bm