4 Chamber members to receive IWEC awards for building socially responsible multi-million rand businesses

Four members of the Cape Chamber will be flying to New Delhi in November this year to receive awards from the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) for building socially responsible multi-million rand businesses. The award winners are Donna Duggan of Maasai Wanderings & Nasikia Camps, and Audrey McMillan of SAPRO. Zakira Palekar of Doggobone and Mandy Tinkler of Habits have been chosen for the Dreams Beyond Borders programme to develop their business skills to take them to the next level and win awards in the future. Leading the delegation will be the international board member of IWEC and past president of the Chamber, Ms Janine Myburgh who will be a speaker at the conference. The award ceremony and conference gives women who own and run businesses an introduction to an international gathering of entrepreneurs and opportunities to network and develop global connections for their companies. "IWEC’s global business network has left an indelible legacy on world trade,” Ms Myburgh said. “Women provide a previously neglected source of talent, skills, knowledge and insight and we can make a huge contribution to the world economy. This makes IWEC and its work very important.” We are particularly impressed by this year’s awardees. Donna Duggan runs an outstanding photographic safari business which concentrates on the preservation of culture and wild life, while Audrey McMillan exports favourite South African products, from chutney to wine, to the expatriate communities in 16 countries. New Delhi in India is going to be an exciting venue as India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and there should be many opportunities for expanding trade. IWEC was established in Barcelona in 2007 and have annual award ceremonies all over the world. Previous venues have been in China, Belgium, Sweden, Turkey, Peru, Cape Town, Seattle and Barcelona.