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UK Women Network (<strong>UKWNET</strong>)<br />

celebrates<br />

International Women’s Day - <strong>2017</strong><br />

Promoting Entrepreneurship<br />

Committee Room 14, House of Commons, British Parliament<br />

March 9, <strong>2017</strong>, 1.30PM – 5.30PM


CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE<br />

Mr.Jacob Ravibalan<br />

Founder, World Tamil Organisation (UK), Chariman,<br />

Federation of Tamil Associations in the UK (FeTAUK),<br />

Chairman, UK Women Network (<strong>UKWNET</strong>)<br />

“மங்கையராய் பிறப்பதற்கை நல்ல மாதவம் செய்திடல் கவண்டுமம்மா” என்ற<br />

ைவிமணியின் வரிைளுக்கு இணங்ை, இப்பூவுலகின் பல்லுயிர் பரிணாமத்தில்<br />

தனித்துவமாய் ஒளிரும் சபண்கமக்கு என் பணிவான வணக்ைங்ைள். சுமார்<br />

பதிமூன்று வருடங்ைகைத் சதாடும் உலைத் தமிழ் ெங்ைம் (UK) -இன்<br />

வைர்ச்சிப்பணிைளில் முன்னின்று இயங்கி, ைகல, பண்பாடு, ஒருங்கிகணப்பு என<br />

அகனத்துத் துகறைளிலும் முழுமனகதாடு இயங்கிய சபண்ைகை சைௌரவிக்ைகவ,<br />

மார்ச் 8, 2014 அன்று உலைப் சபண்ைள் தினத்கத நாம் இகணந்துக்<br />

சைாண்டாடிகனாம். பின்னர் இது ஒரு அகமப்பாை உருவாகி, சிறுை சிறுை வைர்ந்து,<br />

இன்று பிரித்தானிய பாராளுமன்றத்தில் உலைப் சபண்ைள் தினத்கதக் சைாண்டாடும்<br />

அைவிற்கு வைர்ந்துள்ைது என்பகத நிகனக்கையில் மனம் மகிழ்ச்சியகடகிறது.<br />

இந்த வைர்ச்சிகய அகடய ஒருமனகதாடு உகைத்த அத்தகன சபண்மணிைளுக்கும்<br />

எனது வாழ்த்துைளும், பாராட்டுைளும். இக்குழு சமன்கமலும் வைர்ந்து, ஒரு<br />

முன்மாதிரி அணியாை உலை அரங்கில் திைை என் மனமார்ந்த வாழ்த்துைள். வாழ்ை<br />

தமிழ் , வைர்ை தமிழ் , ஓங்குை தமிைர் ஒற்றுகம.<br />

“One has to be blessed to be born as a woman” says the great Tamil<br />

poet Kavimani, and with his words in mind, I pay my humble respect<br />

to those beautiful creatures of the evolution “Womanhood”. We<br />

celebrated International Women Day on March 8 th , 2014 in order to<br />

honour each and every woman who had selflessly worked and<br />

contributed to WTOUK’s success. This particular gathering has<br />

seeded to build a community specially for the women<br />

entrepreneurship. I am glad that we have made this historic journey<br />

to celebrate the International Women Day, on 9 th March <strong>2017</strong> in the<br />

British Parliament. I kindly honour each and every woman in making<br />

this historic celebration most memorable and successful. I wish you<br />

all a great success. Vaalga Tamil, Valarga Tamil, Onguga Tamilar<br />

Otrumai.<br />

Page 2 of 22


ADVISORY<br />

Mrs. Kamala Chandra Sekar<br />

Vice-Chairwoman, UK Women Network (<strong>UKWNET</strong>),<br />

Founder, Trade and Infrastructure Consultancy UK Ltd.<br />

Born in Chennai and settled in UK. From my very first job in the UK,<br />

working with the private sector, public sector, overseas<br />

governments, multilaterals, trade association etc., I have built more<br />

than 25 years of experience in the promotion international trade.<br />

Have facilitated the availability of export finance for several<br />

projects, both in civil and defence sectors to engine projects off the<br />

ground. Since 2014, I assist micro companies to grow, expand and<br />

internationalise their business as well as focus on promoting trade<br />

and participation in infrastructure projects between UK and her<br />

partners, in particular India. My profession has been offering<br />

opportunities to work with women from different walks of life.<br />

I love outdoor activities, scaling smaller mountains in Europe and<br />

foothills of Himalayas, raising funding for charities through<br />

challenging walks and assisting young students under 10 years who<br />

need extra attention in classrooms.<br />

Shailaja Jayamani<br />

President, UK Women Network (<strong>UKWNET</strong>),<br />

Founder, Slough Tamil Sangamam.<br />

A Techno craft and a Software Architect by profession, serving the IT<br />

industry. Has made it her mission to hold key roles in developing<br />

'cutting-edge' innovative products and leaving behind a trail of<br />

success stories. Extremely proud founder of Slough Tamil<br />

Sangamam, which is dedicated to helping Tamil speaking<br />

community in Berkshire. Believes that when women are linked<br />

together, they are sure to create a better, stronger, more supportive<br />

world. 'Coming together is a beginning, staying together is a<br />

progress and working together is success' Now the president of<br />

<strong>UKWNET</strong> to support young women entrepreneurs.<br />

Page 3 of 22


UK WOMEN NETWORK (<strong>UKWNET</strong>)<br />

UK Women Network (<strong>UKWNET</strong>) is a cross disciplinary network to promote professional<br />

and social interactions among women. Our goal is to:<br />

• Provide a strong network of business and<br />

personal contacts and to encourage<br />

trade and information sharing between<br />

Members.<br />

• Provide access to professional and<br />

personal development information in a<br />

unique and supportive business<br />

environment.<br />

• Inspire and encourage women to<br />

develop professional strategies and skills<br />

for success in business.<br />

• Provide a pooling facility for like-minded<br />

individuals to share information, ideas and<br />

knowledge and bring about positive<br />

change.<br />

• Provide a forum for the recognition of<br />

women's achievements and encourage<br />

others to emulate these role models.<br />

• Lift the level of awareness, acceptance<br />

and visibility of women and the talents and<br />

resources they have to offer the economy<br />

Our Mission<br />

Provide opportunities to improve the lives of women and girls through programs<br />

leading to Social, Community, entrepreneurship and Economic empowerment.<br />

Our Offerings<br />

Promote and strengthen women's leadership, both as a goal in itself and to ensure<br />

that women's concerns are prioritised in negotiations with stakeholders.<br />

Organise conferences, seminars, research and other educational activities on the<br />

subject of women’s work and associated activities through Educational programs,<br />

networking and mentoring experiences.<br />

Provide resources, professional and personal development opportunities to its<br />

members.<br />

http://ukwomensnetwork.wixsite.com<br />

Page 4 of 22


WELCOME ADDRESS<br />

Rt. Hon Virendra Sharma MP<br />

Ealing Southall (UK)<br />

In the tradition, if you look around and shut your eyes and think that<br />

your sister, your mother, your aunt could have done better if or<br />

somebody as in the family has given the chance and the<br />

opportunity. Just think. You don’t have to look around the society.<br />

Just look at your own mother, own sister and own cousin. What<br />

opportunity they had? If they had the opportunity, what could they<br />

have achieved, and that is what important. If you start looking at<br />

very big, I don’t think we will achieve much. If you look around<br />

yourself, around you in a smaller circle, I feel that you can achieve<br />

more.<br />

CHIEF GUEST<br />

Khamshajiny Gunaratnam<br />

Deputy Mayor of Oslo<br />

I believe that the women's day is about every person to be who we<br />

are. Women's day is necessary as long as a boy can think I can do<br />

that because I'm a boy or a girl can think I cannot because I'm a girl.<br />

So, to every father and mother in this room thinking or saying to the<br />

daughters to stay at home, I want to say don't ask your daughter to<br />

stay home, ask your son to act better.<br />

Khamshajiny Gunaratnam, a Tamil born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, also known by<br />

her nickname Kamzy, is the deputy mayor of Oslo and a Labour Party<br />

politician in Norway.<br />

Page 5 of 22


GUEST SPEAKERS<br />

Rt.Hon Nia Griffith MP<br />

Llanelli (UK)<br />

I think the way how she describes on how you have to overcome the<br />

predators, within your own family, within your own community. I<br />

believe very very firmly, we have a duty to take away barriers in the<br />

society that stops winning or achieving. Many, if you come from the<br />

society where is a huge enterprising sprit and we know Tamil<br />

communities out perform in terms of business setups, business<br />

opportunities in the UK and a huge range of talent in that community<br />

for beyond its numbers. It is encouraging to see even the arm force,<br />

now women are taking a much more prominent role and I think it’s<br />

all up to all of us try to push out and try to move in different areas of<br />

life.<br />

Dr. Geetha Venkat<br />

Owner and director of Harley Street Fertility Clinic<br />

In a small place called Eastbourne I started my carrier as a register<br />

in gynaecology. We worked 60 hours without any break and I had<br />

a little boy to take care, on top of it I have to study for the<br />

membership examination. If I sit and think of those days, I don’t<br />

know how I did it and I don’t think I can do it again. When everyone<br />

said if I work in the organisation, probably I have to retire in the same<br />

place. But I wanted to do more to make use of my abilities and<br />

prove to myself what I am capable of. So, then I started my own<br />

clinic with 3 staff in a basement which had 3 rooms. I came from an<br />

ordinary middle class family and I had this aspiration and I had fixed<br />

the stage. So, I can say that any women who’s from an ordinary<br />

family if she wants to do something, if she has the aspiration, she<br />

can defiantly do that.<br />

Page 6 of 22


Anu Hasan<br />

TV Anchor, Actress and Entrepreneur<br />

I do very very strongly believe that the women, we the imaging<br />

better half of the corporate and entrepreneurial world. Just think<br />

that all the strength that we bring, incredible ability to empathize,<br />

our ability to manage complex situation, our will and desire to<br />

succeed in whatever we choose to do while trying to maintain<br />

balance between our lives and the demands that each faces of<br />

life. We have an immense to change and this is because we have<br />

the ability to pick one emotion or feeling from a seeding caldarium<br />

and forces on it and let that dictate our response situation at hand<br />

we as women can do that. Do you call it as erotic behaviour<br />

perhaps but when it is a company of awareness, the behaviour is<br />

more deliberate and is less previse when you are aware, you can<br />

be anything you want.<br />

Rt.Hon Thangam Debbonaire MP<br />

Bristol West (UK)<br />

I am grateful to be in a room full of Tamil people in the house of<br />

common because this helps me to feel like I am healthy and closer<br />

seeing a parliament that is really applauding in the country. When I<br />

was 9, my grandmother encouraged me that nothing should hold<br />

me back except my own anxiety. I feel very proud that the India is<br />

leading the world and we as the Tamil people are part of that. We<br />

have shown extraordinary potential and how we contributed to the<br />

India’s growth but also the UK’s growth when we came here in a<br />

different route.<br />

Page 7 of 22


Rt.Hon Kate Green MP<br />

Stretford and Urmston (UK)<br />

We should be celebrating the achievements, the ambitions and the<br />

difference that the women make right around the world and every<br />

community, not just on international women's day but every single<br />

day of the year. 51% of the women are making difference every day,<br />

everywhere and this week it was so great to have so many of us in<br />

the Parliament to celebrate that. For me it is special to know that it is<br />

a part to worldwide at celebration. Women all around the world in<br />

every culture and every community are celebrating international<br />

women's day because I know that whatever different experience<br />

we have, whatever the different kind of Culture we live in, whatever<br />

the privilege and changes we had, women always speak the same<br />

language to one another. We know the same life experience, we all<br />

have the same sense that what it is to the woman in the world.<br />

Ms. Jayashree Antony<br />

Founder & Director, Master Brain Academy<br />

There are the key milestones that I wanted to share in life. Number<br />

one, never feel sorry for yourself because if I would have felt sorry<br />

for myself, I would have never been where I am today. Secondly,<br />

you have to go through pain, embrace pain, you cannot go over<br />

it, you cannot go under it, you have to go through it and you know<br />

what at the end of the other side was a better version of me waiting.<br />

Number three, never compare because comparison is the thief of<br />

all choice, comparison makes you jealous and unproductive. And<br />

fourth most important mantra is to be excited be excited not where<br />

you going to go tomorrow, be excited for today, be excited for the<br />

big battle that you are facing because God doesn't give big fight<br />

to a little soldier. Let's get excited for today because we are the<br />

creators of our destiny, an artist of your masterpiece and the author<br />

of your own book. Wasn’t eve, who taught Adam if not for Eve the<br />

universe would just have had two of them.<br />

Page 8 of 22


Rt.Hon Ruth Cadbury MP<br />

Brentford and Isleworth (UK)<br />

Women supporting women, we are about 99 labour women and we<br />

look at each other and support each other. We don't run each other<br />

down. We don't always agree with each other but whatever we do,<br />

we support each other. We are positive and as my mother taught us<br />

to say,” if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all” and<br />

I did say the same to my kids. If you think somebody is capable tell<br />

her and mentor her. Mentoring and mutual support are the two<br />

great things that are important. If we go and change the world for<br />

the better for women and for their families, than we need more<br />

women in parliament and we need more women in local authorities<br />

and assembly. So, that's why we want more women in politics to<br />

make life better for women.<br />

Ms. Ajungla Jamir<br />

First Secretary Co-ordinate,<br />

High Commission of India, London<br />

I have never come across international male day or men day.<br />

Celebrating international women’s day in such a large scale, we<br />

should be really proud of, that is what I personally feel. We say<br />

behind every man, there is a successful woman, on the other hand<br />

I always have to think that we as women, for all of us here we have<br />

a father behind who encourage us, who pushes us to where we are<br />

and where we have come today. Regarding entrepreneurship, I<br />

was told by Mr. Jacob Ravibalan and I was thinking about that,<br />

even realized, our mothers at home, even today to take care of the<br />

home, to take care of the husbands and to take care of the<br />

children everything that has to be managed at home that itself a<br />

very huge task.<br />

Page 9 of 22


Ms. Rehana Ameer<br />

Director, Prosap Technologies Ltd.<br />

I was always taught to be simple and the bold and those two-magic<br />

words have really help me and brought me to where I am today and<br />

I really feel like partially achieved and not fully achieved. This country<br />

is a land of opportunities and I came to this country with loads of<br />

aspiration. Education is something that I always relay on and I<br />

believe on and that gives me enough self-confidence to just keep<br />

moving forward. If you need something, never hesitate, you have to<br />

come out of your comfort zone and go ask for help and do research.<br />

Feedback really helps you to improve and that really drives you to<br />

change and accomplish to think wise. Do take risk, never be afraid<br />

to take risks and always keep dreaming and I am sure we can come<br />

quiet the world. Mentoring and guidance, you don't need to do<br />

something big, just reach out to your own family members, your own<br />

children and own sibling ask them what they need, mentor them,<br />

guide them. These little things will change the women are being<br />

looked at and I'm sure you will get the respect and dignity you are<br />

deserved.<br />

Ms. Sumangala Manghat<br />

Director, Coutts & Co, Private Bank and Wealth<br />

Management since 1692<br />

Progression is what worked for me, progression was not just about<br />

doing my job well, the philosophy is simple, you get paid, do your<br />

job but progression is all about how well you convince other that<br />

you are ready to do your next job just as well so far those who in the<br />

same industry probably will relate with what I say. You need to have<br />

your own brand, you need to build your own brand and I have<br />

continuously done that over the years at Coutts.<br />

Page 10 of 22


EVENT PICTURES<br />

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<strong>UKWNET</strong> SENIOR EXECUTIVES<br />

Divya Kasturi<br />

Vinya Peeris<br />

Revathi<br />

Rangaswamy<br />

Premini Francis<br />

Uma Devi<br />

Sathyarajan<br />

Kalaiarasi<br />

Sathappan<br />

Meenatchi Gopal Rehana Ameer Vidya Josephine Raj<br />

Lakshmi Vyas Geetha Ravikumar Lisha Uma Rajagopal Yaamini Alexraj<br />

Page 21 of 22


NOTE OF THANKS<br />

"We thank you all for your participation, active interaction and encouragement shown throughout<br />

the programme. You will be pleased to note that 160 new members joined our network on March<br />

9 th itself. This is very encouraging. Soon we will be choosing our Advisory Committee and decide<br />

on next steps. We will keep you advised. Keep in touch and we will be happy to hear from you”.<br />

<strong>UKWNET</strong> © <strong>2017</strong><br />

All Rights Reserved. Requires permission to reuse.<br />

For permissions, please write to contact@worldtamilorg.uk<br />

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