BPW International

BPW-Estonia was established on November 11, 1992. Since our first birthday we have been nominating the Woman of the Year. The title is awarded to a successful and enterprising woman who has influenced our lives and the whole society. BPW Estonia was proud to name the Woman of the Year 2010 Kristina Šmigun-Vähi, who is a worldwide known cross-country skier and two times gold medalist of the Olympic Games.

Today, we can look back with a good feeling on these 18 years of our organization and on our activities, contributions and sense our role and importance in the Estonian society.
BPW-Estonia has been known in our country by nominating the Women of the Year.
But during the last year our organization has gone through a big change to reach a higher level of quality and become more visible.
For our members the regenerated BPW-Estonia can offer the exchange of information on a new level, a renewed webpage, communication on an international level and making women visible in the society. Our Equal Pay Day campaign in April this year received a lot of attention in the media and made many Estonians think about how it is possible that in Estonia women get 30,3 % less pay for the same work than men.
Our birthday and ceremony of the Woman of the Year 2010 was honored and attended by the First Lady of Estonia Ms Evelin Ilves, the minister of Culture, Ms Laine Janes, The Mayor of Tallinn, Mr Edgar Savisaar and many others. All TV channels, newspapers, e-news reported about the event.

The Business and Professional Women of Estonia have been active not only on the local and national level, but have shared their experiences with other women on an international scale. Since 1993 we have been members of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women – BPW International.
The BPW Europe Congress in 2000 took place in Tallinn and has so far been the biggest women’s conference by the number of participants in Estonia. Through years there have been many international conferences and trainings together with women from Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, other European countries and the USA.
During the last 12 months our organization has made a significant step ahead with regard to international communication and cooperation. This year the Coordinator of BPW Europe Mrs. Amelie Leclercq and the President of BPW International Mrs. Elisabeth Benham visited Estonia. Our young member Anu Ruut had an opportunity as the winner of the contest for BPW young members to do a 1 month internship in Brussels. Our member Ellen Keerd took partin the conference of BPW Asia in Singapur. Our member Riina Kütt is the representative of Estonia in European Women’s Lobby.

In June 2011 the BPW Europe Conference is going to take place in Helsinki and that will bring thousands of business and professional women to our doorsteps. We are taking the big challenge and inviting everyone to visit Tallinn - the Culture Capital of 2011 and our beautiful country.
Welcome to Estonia!

Pille Ruul, BPW Estonia President,www.bpw-estonia.ee, info@bpw-estonia.ee