September 29 2004 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island The 2004 Women in Business Symposium "Where the Best Minds in Business Meet" will be held at the Delta Prince Edward Hotel on October 20 and 21, 2004. "The symposium has become the major yearly gathering for Island business women to meet, participate in workshops and network with other motivated women in the business world," said Charlene Williams, President of the PEI Business Women's Association (PEIBWA). The conference is hosted by the PEIBWA in conjunction with Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Prince Edward Island Business Development. Topics such as Effective Negotiation Strategies, Excellence in Customer Service, Perfecting Your Presentation Skills, and Getting Your Financial House in Order will be featured at the workshops. A panel of Island business women will also be sharing their success stories and what it took to make their success happen. Keynote speaker Dianne Buckner, host of CBC Television's Gemini award-winning weekly business and current affairs series Venture, will highlight opportunities for female entrepreneurs in our unpredictable economy. She has a reputation of being a high energy speaker and has years of insights to share. Even after more than a decade of reporting for Venture, and six years as host, Ms. Buckner continues to be excited by the drama and intrigue inside the stories of the business world. This past season on Venture, she distinguished herself in the field with her coverage of Iceland's plan to be the first nation to phase out fossil fuel, moving towards a 'hydrogen-powered economy'. After a four-hour stake-out, she also had a memorable encounter with Bernard Ebbers, the Canadian-born former CEO of scandal-plagued WorldCom. "ACOA recognizes the impact that women business owners have on the Atlantic Canadian economy and is committed to providing them with the tools and support they need to compete and succeed," said the Honourable Joe McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "Through the Women in Business Initiative, ACOA is pleased to partner with the PEIBWA to present this event and other services for women entrepreneurs." "The Province of Prince Edward Island is pleased to once again partner with the PEI Business Women's Association to offer this symposium," said Mike Currie, Minister of Development and Technology. "The event provides women entrepreneurs the opportunity to network and learn innovative ideas. Women in business in PEI make a significant impact on our local economy and it is important that we continue to see more and more women entrepreneurs across the province." Women from all segments of the Prince Edward Island business community are invited to participate. The conference begins on Wednesday, October 20th with a business reception and continues with a full day of workshops and key note presentation on Thursday, October 21st. The registration fee which includes lunch is $40. For further information on registration, please contact Berni Wood, Project Coordinator, at 902-892-0774, toll free 866-346-5474 or by email at bwood@reelmedia.ca and watch for updated information on the website at www.peibwa.org. Prince Edward Island Business Women's Association is a non-profit organization that represents business women Island-wide. Its mandate is to assist women in business to succeed by providing services and programs to meet their objectives. PEIBWA is a delivery partner for ACOA's Women in Business Initiative and provides access to information, training and counselling and offers individual attention to facilitate the journey through the steps of starting or growing your business. The PEIBWA office is co-located at the Canada Business Service Centre, 75 Fitzroy St., Charlottetown. - 30 - Ann Price, Executive Director Prince Edward Island Business Women's Association (902) 892-6040 aprice@peibwa.org Berni Wood, President Reel Media (902) 566-1767 bwood@reelmedia.ca Ron Crozier Office of the Minister of ACOA (902) 888-4150 Julie Whitlock PEI Business Development (902) 894-0367 Lynn MacDonald ACOA PEI and Tourism (902)368-7491
