CPA Co-Sponsors US-UK Conference on Women and the New Economy

On November 10-12, 1999, CPA co-sponsored the Women in the New Economy Summit at 11 Downing Street with the UK Cabinet Office Women’s Unit, the Office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and The Smith Institute. Women and men including corporate and community leaders, academic experts and high-level government officials from both sides of the Atlantic met at 11 Downing Street, the center of governmental economic policy making in the United Kingdom.

Linda Tarr-Whelan, CPA President and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Commission on the Status of Women led the US delegation. The Rt. Honorable Baroness Margaret Jay of Paddington, Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women, led the UK delegation.

This is the first Trans-Atlantic dialogue on women’s role in driving today’s swiftly changing economy. The summit pressed for a women-led economic agenda that invests in the priorities and potential of women, families and communities on both sides of the Atlantic.

A successful White House and CPA co-sponsored Women’s Economic Summit in 1997 resulted in CPA being invited by top economic and women’s leaders in the United Kingdom to partner with them on this Trans-Atlantic dialogue on Women and the New Economy.

Ambassador Tarr-Whelan presented the keynote address noting, "the key to a vibrant economic future is women’s full participation. Nations and markets that see women and men as partners in growing the New Economy and caring for families will be rewarded with a vibrant economy(one that will thrive as it reduces the divide between rich and poor. That is the kind of future we all want." The Rt. Honorable Gordon Brown, MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer gave the closing plenary address.

The participants brought their diverse experience to bear achieving breakthroughs in thinking about the new enterprise economy. They determined to be a catalyst for a transformation in economic thinking at home and abroad. They supported the Trans-Atlantic Statement of Principles on Women and the Economy to be presented at the next G-8 meeting.

We thank IBM, Marriott International and Boots Pharmacy for their generous contribution that made this event possible.