Women In Management (WIM) will be celebrating its launch of Professional and Career Women Awards 2017 in Canada on October 28, 2017 in Toronto. This Award program will recognize and reward the outstanding women of Sri Lankan origin who have excelled in their business or professions in Canada. This initiative will be powered by the first International property development company – Coral Property Developers Ltd the top property company that has developed 8 projects and 300 satisfied customers in Sri Lanka.
The objective of the awards, as described by WIM, is to provide the space for women to celebrate their achievements, experiences and creativity in leading institutions, businesses and professions. Since its launch in 2011, In the last 6 years this awards program has grown from strength to strength. WIM is now launch the successful and credible edition overseas. The first move will be in Canada.
WIM completed its 7th Professional and Career Women Awards concluded in Colombo on 14th July,2017 with strong impact that was featured across all media. This Awards program and the event has become a key platform in Sri Lanka that places women in the spotlight. This time 50 women who can narrate personal journeys of courage and endurance in a modern trajectory of the corporate professional – the power woman as in corporate parlance –juggling the demands of family and career were bestowed with honors.
Coral Chairman Presenting Career Role Model of the Year Award: Premila Perera, Company Director (John Keells Holdings PLC, Ceylon Tobacco co PLC, Holcim Lanka).
Their stories are manifold in experience; but they all have one thing in common – the mental and physical tenacity to brave the odds and emerge victorious.
For Ramya Weerakoon, Vice President, Business Development at Infotechs, the award has boosted her self-esteem and enhanced awareness of her capabilities among peers, colleagues, principals and other companies. Being recognized for her work was a realization of the role that she has to play in promoting other women in the workplace to succeed, said Nadija Tambiah, Executive Vice President, Head of Legal, Secretarial and CSR, John Keells. For Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny, Managing Director, Hellman Worldwide Logistics, the award meant giving confidence, encouragement and strength to young women. The stories of the honorees are many. It has been a humbling experience for all of them to have been selected from among a multitude of talented and capable women and it has certainly opened new opportunities in their careers and workplaces.
The criteria for applying for an award – in the career, business and professional categories – are many. The criterion is such, that the candidate is not just an achiever in the workplace; she must be a leader with interpersonal skills; and an innovator with creative skills. She must articulate her future goals and plans. As a force to reckon with, the woman who thinks she deserves to win must demonstrate her contribution to society, community and family.
WIM has a robust module in the judging process. Designing the entry form to the judging process and the awards ceremony are carefully planned, implemented and monitored by WIM to maintain the highest standards and quality. The judging panel consists of reputed academics and professionals from public and private sector and from varied fields.
Inspirational Woman of the Year – Gold (International): Tamara Kunanayakam, UN Tamara is an alumni of the internationally renowned Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies. She has thirty-five years of professional experience at the international level as an International Civil Servant, Independent United Nations Expert, Diplomat, Researcher and Academic. She is a development specialist with strong focus on a multidimensional, integrated and systemic approach to development with the human person as central subject. Tamara is currently an Independent Consultant to international organisations on development issues.
There have been many women who have received visibility in the market post winning their Awards at the previous editions.
Up Coming Entrepreneur – M A Azlima – Kalmunai
Azlima is the breadwinner of her family. She wanted to build her own brand, and so started designing Abayas using colours and designs. Today she runs her own small business as a Designer
There have been many organizations and corporates that have supported WIM in its quest to provide women the recognition they deserve. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has partnered with WIM for three consecutive years to support the Professional and Career Women Awards. Other corporate sponsors for 2017 included Coral Properties, SINGER, Lanka IOC, Sino Asia Holidays, Coca Cola 5by20, McLarens Group and Takima Tech, Taj Samudra Colombo Nestle, Piramal Glass, Sri Lanka Tea Board, Ceylon Biscuits, Sun Matches and Abans. Past honorees have indeed been strengths as WIM expanded the awards to give more women the recognition they deserve. Many have come on board as judges in addition to supporting and participating in many of WIM’s programs. Moreover, the awards concept is the beginning of relationships and building of networks among women who could engage with their peers, share ideas, support one another and build business links.
Banking & Finance Gold: Shashi Kandambi, Snr Deputy GM – Corporate Banking, Sampath Bank Plc:
Shashi has over 28 years of varied and extensive work experience in the banking sector – 18 of which have been in Corporate Banking, International Trade & Treasury.
At the heart of its ethos is the celebration of women’s achievements and as WIM looks to promote its signature logo and beliefs to allow more women to win the appreciation they deserve, it is with a great sense of joy that it announces the launch of the Professional and Career Women Awards in Canada in August 2017.
“The objective of conducting WIM Awards in Canada is twofold; first, recognized Sri Lankan women who have excelled in their careers, professions and businesses in Canada; and second, thereby pave the way to further promoting their businesses and practices amongst all Canadian Sri Lankans and other communities. It is like carving out a niche in business, where we want women of Sri Lankan origin domiciled in Canada to stand out in the world of business,” said Dr Sulochana Segera, Chairperson, WIM, who said that this initiative will help build a reputation among women of Sri Lankan origin who are successful in Canada by giving them greater visibility in the market place through the WIM awards.
“As we have seen in Sri Lanka, this awards program in Canada will assist women of Sri Lankan origin to further enhance their visibility in the market place. Thus we will extend our fullest support to make this a successful in Canada” said Dr. Piraba Subramaniam the Chairman of Coral Property Development Ltd whilst the President/ Group CEO stated ‘ we will feature our latest portfolio of apartments that we have launched in Sri Lanka on the 28th of October 2017 he said.
Mr. Rienzie Martinesz, The Official Representative in Canada of WIM for Professional and Career Women Awards Canada 2017 said he would like to invite all women of Sri Lankan origin who have excelled in their businesses and careers to take part in this Awards program by completing and submitting the online application. It can be found by searching viahttp://www.womeninmanagementawards.org/nominate/application-form
For any enquiries, please contact Rienzie Martinesz at 416-270-7199 or via rienzie@canits.com
For more information. Go to http://www.womeninmanagementawards.org/award-highlights/2017
