Annual International Business Conference at the Sonesta Beach Hotel November 7-10, the newly formed Bermuda chapter (WIT-BD) has lined up a number of successful and influential speakers.

The conference this year focuses on the confluence of professional development, trade, technology and business culture in the global economy.

Speakers include TV producer and correspondent at Bloomberg Financial Services, Jane Applegate; the best selling author of the book, The female Advantage: Women's Ways of Leadership, Sally Helgesen; the deputy executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, Kerstin Trone; senior vice president of Bank of America, former California treasurer and former gubernatorial candidate for California, Kathleen Brown; and director of Samsung Corporation, Hea-Kung Joo.

Sponsored by a number of local and international companies, the meetings will allow participants to interact with others from a diversity of business backgrounds who face parallel challenges.

Held in Miami last year, and slated for Boston next year, the conference has attracted 110 people this year.

Conference manager, Starla Williams of Select Sites Group, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for local business people to network and meet other business professionals.

"Of course, the conference, and indeed the membership, is not just open to women, but also to men who are involved in global trade, technology, marketing and management.

"Those interested are already acquiring conference brochures from the Chamber of Commerce, the Bermuda Insurance Institute and the Bermuda International Business Association.'' OWIT's membership consists of entrepreneurs, professionals and business women who share similar objectives and purposes.