The 1^st National Women’s Conference of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) was inaugurated by Chief Guest, SmtChandrima Bhattacharya, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Finance & Programme Monitoring and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Government of West Bengal, in Kolkata today.

The theme of the two-day (23-24 March 2023) National Women’s Conference, Empowered Women: Inspiring a Better Tomorrow, is in alignment with India’s G-20 Priority of Women-led development and will focus on the significant role played by women in driving the economic and social progress of a country.

“I am honoured to be here at the first National Women’s Conference by ICSI and express my gratitude to ICSI for choosing Kolkata to start this annual initiative. Women are already empowered and we have to celebrate this empowerment with the entire society,” said SmtChandrima Bhattacharya, who holds the additional ministerial portfolios of Land and Land Reforms & Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation, Minister of State for Planning and Statistics in the Government of West Bengal.

Humbled with the appreciation, CS Manish Gupta,President, the ICSI said, “Currently women account for nearly 50% of Company Secretaries (CS) in India and ICSI is working out a scheme to create more opportunities for them. The Institute has always been at the forefront when it comes to women’s empowerment. In fact, important departments at the ICSI are also led by Women”.

The discussions during the 2-day hybrid Conference would span across the following sub themes:

• Women in Leadership: Building Legacy in Boardrooms
• Women Entrepreneurs: Driving Change & Innovation
• Women Achievers: Role of Equity, Inclusion, and Encouragement
• The Art of Mindfulness: Maintaining Work-Life Balance

Distinguished guests and speakers from the Government, Regulators, Industry, Academia, and Profession will attend this 1^st of its kind event that will honour both Women and their social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.

and development of the profession of Company Secretaries in India. It functions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. The Institute, being a pro-active body, focuses on the best and top-quality education to students of the Company Secretaries Course and the best quality set standards for CS members. The Institute has over 70,000 members and around 2 lakh students on its roll.