The SIGBI 2016 Conference took place over the course of three days – 10-12 November 2016, and what a Conference it was. Here Pat Black reports for us from Malta, a place of sunshine, Soroptimist friendship and inspired key note speakers.

“Always an amazing, stimulating, challenging and informative experience; add a little sea and sunshine to the Conference mix and inevitably every Soroptimist attending was in high spirits. From the emotional and lifting Opening Ceremony; the change of Insignia as President Margaret Emsley welcomed incoming President Ann Hodgson, through to the inspired speakers and ‘Pink by the Pool’, where hundreds of Soroptimists joined together raising money for SI Malta charities; I felt the overall impression as we left the SIGBI Conference was that this was the ‘best ever’ and a real accolade to Past President Margaret Emsley, Committee Chair Ann Dawson and the whole team who put this Conference together.

The usual frisson of anticipation was felt in the hall as the nominations for the Programme Action Best Practice Awards were announced; and there was no disappointment when the winners received their certificates. Every single Soroptimist club within the Federation has worked so hard to make a difference in communities around the world, so it is always a difficult choice to single out one or two. Congratulations to all the nominees and every Soroptimist working so diligently to make a difference to women and girls.

This year the theme ‘Engineering the future’ gave us speakers who inspired us to think about our world differently. Sara Ezabe Malliue, human rights activist and founder of a social media anti-discrimination campaign talked of social inclusion, challenging us to be sure of our own identities, to have confidence in this and to recognise the identities of others. Other speakers had clearly sought out and found their identities, sometimes battling against all odds: first British female Astronaut Helen Sharman; Dame Professor Sue Ion – eminent engineer who talked of the achievements of women engineers throughout history, and encouraging young women into exciting careers in engineering; journalist and activist Bandana Rana fighting for women in Nepal who shared the message “walk together for women’s causes – change is possible”. Encouraging others to beat the odds, President Margaret Emsley shared her story of being told she should not contemplate a career in engineering.

SIGBI had a team of bloggers doing wonderful work with blogs for each session of the Conference. You might also like to read a blog written by one of the recipients of the Memorial Fund 2016 and first-time attendee at a SIGBI Conference. Her experience should inspire you to want to attend future Conference. Read the SIGBI blogs here http://sigbi.org/malta2016/

You can view pictures from the event on the SIGBI Flickr page https://www.flickr.com/photos/sigbi/albums – which are sure to give a flavour of the event. Until the next time!”

SIGBI President Margaret Emsley and Incoming SIGBI President Ann Hodgson