Chamber of Commerce joins global celebration

The Island's Chamber of Commerce has marked International Women's Day for the first time - with lunch and a line-up of guest speakers.

The traditional business organisation invited representatives of local firms and thrid sector groups to the The Claremont hotel in Douglas, in support of this year's theme 'Pledge for Parity'.

The audience heard clarion calls for gender parity, offering women in all types of roles, greater opportunity and recognition.

Local speakers outlined the challenges they'd faced climbing the career ladder, while female business leaders in Russia and South Africa - speaking via video clips - described their journeys to the boardroom.  

Senior female figures in Manx public life attending included the President of Tynwald Clare Christian, Treasury's Chief Financial Officer Sheila Lowe and financial services' regulator Karen Badgerow.

The Chamber's first female president Micky Swindale urged women to take firm steps in their own workplace, to ensure their voices are heard and bias confronted.

She suggested every working woman should have 'challenging conversations' with colleagues and bosses: