Update from President - July 2025

Tena koutou katoa

The Asia Pacific Regional Meetings / Conference will be held in late August in Putrajaya Malaysia. I am thrilled that I will be leading a team of 9 Kiwis!

Past President (PP) Carolyn Savage will wear two hats – BPW International Executive Secretary and is one of our New Zealand contingent. IPP Christine Berridge also has two hats adding Asia Pacific Regional (APR) Constitution Advisor with BPW NZ Treasurer Siobhan Dilly being APR UN representative. PP Carolyn and I will both be speakers in the Regional Theme session: Democracy, Dialogue, Direction.

Natasja Paulson of BPW Gisborne has won first prize in Science and Technology – and amazing achievement and it means she also speaks in this session. So a dominance of Kiwi Women! Other BPW Gisborne members attending are Fiona Evans and Catherine Chrisp with Individual member and BPW NZ VP Issues Sherryll Markie-Brookes as well as PP Vicky Mee from BPW Franklin.

I will present our country report along with other county reports from Asia Pacific Presidents. This is always a very interesting session hearing about activities from other federations.

Our Kiwi contingent will join other countries one evening in our own cultural performance and networking with new and old friends brings enthusiasm, purpose, direction and laughter.

Award Result announcement for “BPW Asia Pacific Women in Science and Technology Award 2025”

🥇 1st Place – US $1,000 + Speaker Invitation at 2025 AP Regional Conference in Malaysia Natasja Paulson (BPW New Zealand)

🥈 2nd Place – US $700 + AP YouTube Online Interview Sweta Gupta (BPW Australia)

🥉 3rd Place – US $500 + AP YouTube Online Interview Miriam Cuellar (BPW Australia)

✈️ Travel Funds – US $400 each (2 awardees) Grace Davey (BPW Australia) Bhavani Singh (BPW Australia)

🎉Congratulations to all awardees! Award ceremony will be taken place on August 25, 2025, on Day Two of APRC in Malaysia. 

✏️Award Review Committee is organized with help of BPW Business, Trade and Technology Standing Committee, chaired by Selda Alemdar Dinçer (BPW Turkey)

https://www.bpw-international.org/standing-committees/business-trade-technology/

BPW International Taskforces are gearing up for this triennium. I have joined the taskforce run by Geraldine Crevit of BPW France. The INTERCONTINENTAL Mobility International Task Force is to focus on intercultural issues and serves as a bridge between members from around the world. 

The working group plays a key role in ensuring that BPW’s actions, communications, and strategies are culturally sensitive, inclusive, and effective across different contexts. By promoting cultural diversity within BPW, it provides a space for members to exchange, learn, and collaborate across borders.

The team of this Task Force will be composed of women from diverse backgrounds, enabling it to respond to local issues, facilitating intercultural exchange, highlighting local initiatives, and connecting relevant projects on an international scale, while taking into account cultural and geographical contexts.”

I would like to gather a group of BPW NZ members for a committee to help me feedback into the taskforce meetings. If you are interested in supporting me in this role, please contact me.

Stay warm and dry.

Ngā mihi nui

Janet