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GTR Webinar: Refocusing the gender lens for trade finance
(Incorporating GTR Women in Trade Finance)
Thursday, September 16, 2021
14.00-15.15 BST
As the global economy struggles to return to its pre-Covid levels, some of the cracks and fissures have become more apparent than ever, whilst others often go overlooked. Just as the issue of ESG and the need for incentivising through sustainability-linked finance has to many brought about significant change – albeit at a slower pace than might have been hoped – the huge gender inequality in global trade sees the concept of gender-linked finance being touted as a potential solution.
This special free-to-attend webinar – part of GTR‘s Women in Trade Finance initiative – will examine key themes around this topic, from deep-rooted structural gender inequalities to potential advantages when it comes to the sustainability of business models, the desire of banks to engage and concerns over merely paying lip service (‘gender washing’).
With the business case for improving women’s access to trade and trade finance never having never been clearer – one in three UK entrepreneurs being women-owned equates to a gender gap of more than one million businesses – this conversation will bring together business leaders to consider how changes have been implemented to enable organisations to thrive, whilst also considering the importance of gender equality at a trade policy level. Among the themes to be discussed:
- Are opportunities being seized or squandered when it comes to widening the pathways for talented women? Is enough being done to make the key segments that form part of the trade ecosystem sufficiently inclusive?
- Does there need to be better recognition of the financial benefits – ‘the bottom line’ – of organisations being more diverse at the top? How important is understanding of these metrics?
- What positive leadership principles have been adopted during the past 18 months and which practices have been shown not to work so well?
- How can trade policy support gender equality and economic empowerment? Are governments doing enough to strengthen women-owned businesses and increase their participation as exporters?
- In what ways have recent free trade agreements successfully incorporated gender-related factors – if at all?
- Does the growing trend around digital trade ultimately help or hinder gender equality?
Participants are actively encouraged to submit their questions for our closing Q&A, where we will look to summarise and address those issues most pressing to our audience of market practitioners.
Speakers include
Shannon Manders (Host)
Shannon is the Editorial Director of GTR, and a freelance financial journalist, editor and consultant with 12 years of experience reporting on and producing print and online publications for the global trade and trade finance sector. Shannon has extensive experience in moderating discussions, and has hosted numerous roundtables and webinars.
Editorial Director, Global Trade Review (GTR)
Noreen Cesareo
Noreen is an international marketing, communications and trade specialist with a private enterprise, corporate and entrepreneurial background. She is the principal consultant of Market Accents, a UK-based international advisory consultancy she set up in 2007.
President, The Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT) UK
MARIA LUISA BOYCE
Maria brings over 20 years of experience and leadership in international trade, customs issues and cross-border trade. In her current role, she advocates for UPS’s priorities on Capitol Hill, supports the company’s government affairs efforts in Latin America, is part of the UPS core team leading our UPS Women Exporter Program and serves as a liaison to National Hispanic Organisations.
Vice-President, Global Public Affairs, UPS
SIMONETTA ZARRILLI
An experienced trade analyst with a long and successful career, Simonetta was assigned to lead UNCTAD’s work on trade and gender in 2010. Under her guidance, the programme provides analytical and policy support to member countries on the gender implications of trade policy and trains academics, policy makers and civil society representatives on trade, gender and development issues.
Chief, Trade, Gender & Development Programme, United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD)
SUSAN BARTON
Susan works to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment through trade, leading a team delivering chapters on gender equality in UK bilateral trade agreements. Susan has worked on trade strategy and development including the Trade White Paper following the Brexit vote, WTO trade strategy, World Bank trade research programmes, trade programmes in Geneva and on Aid for Trade programmes in South Africa and Zambia.
Team Leader, Trade & Gender Equality, Trade Policy Department, UK Department for International Trade
Eleanor Wragg
Eleanor has been a financial journalist for over a decade, with work published in media outlets including The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Die Welt and the Economic Observer of China. She regularly produces analytical and research work for organisations including UNDP, UNWTO, the British Business Bank, the Mastercard Foundation for Inclusive Growth, and the Bill and Melinda Gates-backed initiative, Women and Girls Deeply.
Senior Reporter, Global Trade Review (GTR)
More details coming soon
Venue: 14.00-15.00 BST