The event kicked off with a spirited preconference session led by fitness guru, Natasha Brown. The official opening ceremony featured Lady Marguerite Pindling (widow of former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling), who gave the keynote address.
The conference guest speaker, Ms. Lisa Nicole Bell, Life Strategist and Entrepreneur delivered a general session presentation on “Connecting the Dots to your Success!”
New this year was the attendance of sixth grade female student leaders from various public and private primary schools, young women from the Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls (through a partnership with the US Embassy) and the introduction of an adult track of workshop sessions tailored for Guidance Counsellors.
Break-out session presenters included: Dr. Desdemona Curtis-Downes, Psychiatrist; Erin Ferguson, Social Scientist; Mazorian Powell, Educator; Lionel Elliott (former Executive Director- Junior Achievement Bahamas); Rhonda Wright, Seedlings Place; Spence Finlayson, Master Motivator, Alanna Rodgers, Hands for Hunger; Amanda Lewis, Bahamas Red Cross Society; Caneica Nelson, Bahamas National Youth Council; WPC Makelle Pinder, Royal Bahamas Police Force; Nurse Morley, Aids Secretariat; Norma Turnquest, College of the Bahamas; Sharell Ferguson, Sage Eden and Cherrylee Pinder, CP Consultants.
The highlight of the day was the much anticipated POWER LUNCH which was attended again by US Ambassador Her Excellency Nicole Avant, Hon. Loretta Butler-Turner,MP, Minister of State for Labour and Social Development and Hon. Charles Maynard, MP, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture who gave remarks. The Luncheon Keynote Address was delivered by Ms. Deborah Bartlett, CEO GEMS Communications (and the first speaker at the first annual girls leadership conference) The more than 400 female participants were excited to have the opportunity to interact and secure coveted photographs with every invited guest.
Other special guests include Mr. Neville Wisdom (former Minister of Youth) Miss Gospel Bahamas 2010 (Sylvian Rahming), Miss Bahamas Professional 2010(Tiffany Johnson); Miss Teen Plus Bahamas 2010 (Jacklyn Frazer); Miss Teen Bahamas Galaxy (Angelina Tinker) and Theodore Elyett’s Miss Teen Bahamas World (Ashlee Bain); Conference participants represented public and private junior and senior high schools and our special schools throughout New Providence and the Family Islands (including Central Eleuthera, North and Central Andros and Eight Mile Rock). The participants this year were entertained by Minister Nadene Moss, Miss Lenelle Michelle (The New Face of Mime), Chris the Bahamagician and the Music Media Panel Show Teaser – Bodine, Manifest and Sammi Starr.
The purpose of the conference is to bring together primary, junior and senior high school and first year college female students and motivate them to achieve academic excellence and personal responsibility. Each young woman was encouraged to network, learn new skills, interact with adult experts and of course have fun!
Special thanks is extended to: The Bahamas Weekly.com, Eddie Russell, Commonwealth Bank, Davis Bus Service, Sky Bahamas, Tile King, Colina General Insurance, Bahamas Vision Centre, S.G. Hambros, Scotiabank, BTC, Cable Community Channel, Furniture Plus, Galleria Cinemas, The Punch Publications, Lickety Split, The d’Albenas Agency, John Chea & Sons, Sidda Communications, Cakes by Adam, RBC, Wendy’s Restaurants, Maecal Electronics, The United States Embassy, Bahamas at Sunrise, Radio Stations – Love97FM, Spirit Gospel, Star 106.5FM, Island 102.9FM, GEMS 105.9FM and ZNS-1540AM/104.5FM, and 107.9FM. Appreciation is also extended to all participating primary, junior and senior high schools throughout New Providence and the Family Islands.
