This article has been published in partnership with CII
Women of today are driving social, political and economic narrative of the country in all fields be it media, education, innovation, invention, technology or environment. They are not only entering male bastions and shattering stereotypes but also ensuring collective growth and development for all.
To celebrate the awe-inspiring work of such trailblazing women, the Confederation of Indian Industry-Indian Women Network (CII-IWN) is organising a leadership conclave in Kochi this year.
The two-day conclave (Jan 27-28) themed ‘Say Yes-Getting Women Ready for India@75’ will see a multitude of eminent speakers from the world of business, politics, media, and entertainment, among others.
Here is a list of some of the many distinguished speakers that will grace the event:
1) Sunita Dhairyam: Wildlife Conservationist
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Once she returned to India in 1998 from the US, Sunita Dhairyam committed herself to the wildlife and local communities of Mangala village in Karnataka’s Bandipur area.
Sunita’s love for wildlife springs from her childhood spent in Zambia and other African countries. Her earliest stint in wildlife conservation was as a Manager in the Kabini River Lodge in 1984.
In Bandipur, she even worked as a wildlife artist to paint wildlife murals for the Karnataka Forest Department. Here, she lived in a mud house near the Bandipur National Park, with no electricity or water with the nearest phone being 25 kilometres away.
Thanks to her efforts, 15 villages in the area get free clinic service from Dr A R Pai, who she helped set up practice in 2000.
Through her organisation, Mariamma Charitable Trust, Sunita tackles deep-rooted issues like poverty, employment and education of children.
Using her artistic skills, Sunita crafts and sells wildlife-themed products like t-shirts, caps and jackets to tourists and the proceeds go to her trust.
A recipient of Nari Shakti Puraskar, Lieutenant Commander (LT Cdr) Shougrakpam Vijaya, NM made history in 2015 as North-East’s first woman sailor to circumnavigate the globe.
She was a part of a six-member all-women crew that sailed across the world on INSV Tarini, a first by Indian sailors.
The team braved high tides, a 15-hour storm, torturous waves and freezing temperatures.
The LT Cdr has received a VCN Commendation (Vice Chief of Naval Staff) and is a gold-medalist in the Indian Navy Sailing Championship (INSC) for the year 2015 and 2016 in women laser radial category.
Born and raised in the hills of Manipur, she grew up in a family of five. Her father served in the Manipur Rifles and mother was a school teacher. Being the only daughter, her parents had reservations about sending her outside Manipur for studies.
