Global Connections
FCEM
Les Femmes Chefs D'Enterprises Mondiales FCEM was founded in France in 1945. The first Australian affiliate organisation WCEI began in Victoria in 1985.
Women Chiefs of Enterprises International (Australia) has its origins in France where ‘Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises’ (FCE) was founded in February 1945, by a French industrialist, Madame Yvonne Foinant. The Australian affiliate organisation (now WCEI) was formed in 1985 with a small group of founder members in Victoria. Now, 25 years later, WCEI Australia has branches in NSW, VIC, TAS and QLD.
Today, FCEM is non-profit, non-governmental, non-political and non-sectarian organisation whose activities at the national and international level, are aimed at promoting women’s entrepreneurial initiative and reinforcing national associations of women business owners.
- Creating awareness and reinforcing the visibility of women business owners.
- Lobbying and advocacy, before public and private institutions, policymakers and governments, on issues that impede women’s entrepreneurial potential.
- Promoting solidarity, friendship, cultural understanding and the exchange of
- experiences and ideas.
- Facilitating the development of business, partnership, and trade.
- Fostering professional growth and business skills perfection and encouraging women to create enterprise.
NAWBO
Founded in 1975, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is the unified voice of over 10 million women-owned businesses in the United States (representing the fastest growing segment of the US economy).
NAWBO propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide by:
- Strengthening the wealth creating capacity of their members and promoting economic development within the entrepreneurial community;
- Creating innovative and effective change in the business culture;
- Building strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and
- Transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers.
In 2018, WCEI and NAWBO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which provides the following direct benefits to WCEI Members:
- Considered International Member of NAWBO (unless you own a business in the USA);
- Member rates at all NAWBO national events;
- Complimentary registrations for partner president and up to one (1) additional designated representative for partner events;
- Access to online NAWBO resources (including webinars);
- Opportunity to submit articles, resources and opportunities to partner publications; and
- Collaboration opportunities in the development of educational, entrepreneurial, and economic development opportunities for women worldwide.
Both organisations are working on additional benefits to share with our respective members; contact a member of the WCEI International Committee for further information or assistance:
- Diane Tompson
- Janis McKenna
- Andrea Plawutsky
- Donna Meredith
TIAW
The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) is a global organization dedicated to the economic empowerment and advancement of women all over the globe. Their commitment is to the "she-conomy" - uniting, supporting and promoting women and their chosen networks across six continents, which in turn supports and strengthens the global economic fabric.
TIAW spans a multitude of countries on six continents. Member associations yield a combined reach of more than 35,000 women. Individual members are executives, business owners and professional women from both the developed and developing worlds. From supporting micro-credit in the developing world to advocating for more women in top global boardrooms, TIAW’s work is based on the knowledge that when women and girls are economically empowered, whole families, communities and societies benefit in equal measure.
TIAW work with women entrepreneurs, professionals, educators and public servants from the leading women’s organisations worldwide and leverage their reach and resources to create a global community of economically empowered women. Their Global Programs are the primary means by which they ‘connect to make all the difference in the world’.
