The International
Women's Forum

Why we'll remember the Hong Kong conference

Those of us who traveled to Hong Kong for last month's mind-stretching Cornerstone Conference, World without Borders, are still abuzz with excitement at the company, the program and the go-for-broke energy of Asia's world city (which makes New York seem a tad on the sleepy side).

We'll remember the dynamic speakers like the three inspiring young women who spoke to us on social entrepreneurship. the podium presence of our own Ann Medina and Francoise Lyon, ace moderators, and Liz Dowdeswell, who did us proud as a panelist. The eye-opening private tours to a Chinese medicine clinic and Hong Kong's most important classical garden, among other attractions. The Chinese feast at which we made new friends and deepened connections with old ones while overlooking yachts in the Aberdeen Marina.

But what made this conference particularly special from the start was the traditional reception for Canadian delegates, hosted by our Consul General and sister IWFer, the ebullient Doreen Steidle, at her expansive and welcoming hilltop residence. (She's the blonde in the turquoise outfit.) The first woman to hold this post, the Consul General brought the bond between Canada and Hong Kong to life with some surprising facts and figures. Consider:

* Hong Kong is home to an estimated 220,000 Canadians; over 170,000 Canadians visit the city every year.

* More than half a million Canadians can trace their family origins to Hong Kong.

* The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is the largest outside Canada, with nearly 1000 members. Hong Kong is Asia's number one destination for Canadian investment (almost 40 billion HKD last year), and the numbers continue to rise.

* Canadian engineers designed and implemented roughly 90 percent of traffic control and surveillance systems for major Hong Kong roads. Those of us who took the superbly comfortable airport express (it gets downtown in about 25 minutes) were riding on Bombardier trains. (Just wondering: how long must we wait for airport trains here in Canada?)

* As for that fabulous Hong Kong food, a healthy portion of it comes from Canada. Hong Kong is now the number four market for Canadian beef, and Canadian seafood is widely served in restaurants.

We're grateful to Doreen for an unforgettable reception, and to our Hong Kong friends for planning an outstanding conference. Our only regret is that more of you could not join us for three days of camaraderie, learning and gourmandizing. So don't miss your next chance to tap the power, potential and sheer good fun of an international conference. Mark your calendars now for the World Leadership Conference, October 7-9 in Miami.

Click here to see photos from the Hong Kong conference, plus the tour some members took to the mainland.