Women leaders
to speak in Waikiki

Top female leaders from around the world will gather in Honolulu next week for the second annual International Women's Leadership Conference, hosted by Gov. Linda Lingle.

The two-day conference, which begins Wednesday at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, will include women leaders from China, Japan, Iraq, Israel, the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. They will speak and lead discussions on topics such as business, education, government, health and wellness, travel, media and communications.

"I am excited about this unique conference that will bring together women leaders from around the world to network, motivate each other, provide insight into their fields of expertise and share their inspirational stories of success," Lingle said.

Among the featured speakers at the conference is Lynn Scarlett, the assistant secretary of policy, management and budget for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Representing the entrepreneurial spirit of women worldwide will be Georgette Mosbacher, the founder and chief executive of Mosbacher Enterprises Inc., a leading cosmetic, fragrance and skin-care company. Mosbacher also founded the Children's Advocacy Center of Manhattan.

Dr. Ekhlass Jarjees of the University of Hawaii, who is originally from Iraq, will speak on the country's efforts to rebuild and strengthen universities and agriculture. Jarjees is working with a UH team to help two Iraqi colleges form a Center of Excellence serving northern Iraq through teaching, research and extension services.

The first Korean woman to obtain a doctorate in economics, Ae Sil Kim, will speak on efforts to enhance the status of women through gender equality and economic parity. She is a member of the Korean National Assembly, where she serves as the chairwoman of the Women's Affairs Committee.

East and West will meet when Amy Katoh, the author of "Japan: The Art of Living" and "Otafuku: Joy of Japan," will discuss the "new Japan style" of interior design, which blends both traditional and modern East and West in textile and ceramics.

The conference is open to the public. Registration fees are $295 per person, $195 for government/military employees and $150 for students. The fee includes breakfast and lunch on both days. For more information or to register, visit www.iwlchi.org.