Panellist, delegate and concierge — those will be just some of the roles Sylvia Jones will be fulfilling when she takes part in the Women's Bermuda Athena International Leadership Awards & Business Summit entitled 'Navigating Success: Keep Rising' held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess next month.

Ms Jones, who attended the inaugural conference in 2008, will be returning as an attendee this year, as well as sitting on a panel as a representative for BEPRO (Bermuda Emerging Professionals) along with Diane Gordon, executive vice-president of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, to discuss leadership and women in business, and providing support services to speakers and delegates through her company Corporate Concierge.

Above all, she wants to get the name of BEPRO out there, via an exhibition stall and promoting meeting between members, speakers and other delegates, in a bid to network, learn more and get more out of the event.

Ms Jones first came on board with the 2009 summit when approached by event organiser Keetha Lowe, who had heard about her company's impressive track record of facilitating conferences and servicing clients and enlisted her services for a number of VIPs and speakers flying to Bermuda for the event.

When they met one month ago, Ms Jones mentioned the work she did for BEPRO and what the organisation had achieved and does today, and they decided to incorporate as an important part of the conference.

"On a professional level, I think BEPRO gains both in the presence of being there and the work it does within the community," she said.

"It also provides us as a group with exposure for what we are doing and what we are trying to do.

"On a personal level, the content of this year's conference is meatier than last year's event, looking at issues such as how to make a better Bermuda and what we can do, and I think that taps directly into what BEPRO can achieve.

"We want to come up with solutions where, as delegates, we can take away with ourselves ideas on how to make our experiences in Bermuda more positive and beneficial to us as both individuals and the community as a whole.

"From a company aspect, I have been assisting conference organisers for the past year-and-a-half and I think this is another one that can be a big success."

Ms Jones, who hails from County Tipperary in Ireland, is most looking forward to reaching out to fellow delegates, make connections and share experiences with them.

At last year's event, she sat in on a round-table discussion about marketing and claimed to learn so much just from listening to other people's points of view, and hopes for a similar outcome this time round.

Working in the top end of the concierge industry, Ms Jones has met numerous high-flyers, and will be interested to find out more about the international attendees and their needs in terms of support.

She is also looking forward to hearing from a high calibre of motivational speaker and debating about topics ranging from women's empowerment to how to get the most out of your business and social life, developing on all fronts as a person, a business and an organisation.

BEPRO, which is a division of the Chamber, officially launched with a party at Newstead Hotel in Paget in April with a mission statement to connect a diverse and progressive network of emerging professionals looking to develop professionally, socially and civically.

Ms Jones, who made her New Year's resolution to get involved in something new, was told about BEPRO, contacted the Chamber to find out more and decided to sign up.

Before she knew it, she had been appointed co-chair and alongside her eight new co-board members set about building an organisation which would help back young professionals in the first 15 years of their career.

BEPRO has already proved to be a big hit among its 100 plus members, who range from professionals in the insurance, financial services, hotel, legal, marketing and small business sectors, with three monthly 'Thirsty Thursday' social networking functions staged at Latin and Ten and a cocktail cruise planned for August 28.

Similarly, the organisation has held three 'Lunch N Learn' events, including panel discussions hosted by industry leaders such as Cindy Campbell, chief operating officer of AFL Investments, Gil Tucker, country managing partner at Ernst & Young, and Matthew Ringer, sales agent at Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty.

It has also been proactive in supporting charity, participating in the AIDS walk in June to raise funds for STAR (Supportive Therapy for Aids Persons and their Relatives) and hosting two speakers from Raleigh International as just two examples of giving something back to the community.

Having attained a degree in English Literature and History at the University of Dublin and History and Politics at university in London, Ms Jones went on to work for a fine art dealer in London, before taking the opportunity to move to Bermuda four-and-a-half years ago with an event management and marketing company and then setting up Corporate Concierge in 2008.

Her company focuses on conference and support services, personal concierge to business people and relocation services, which has seen a recent upturn in business following a number of companies downsizing and people leaving the Island at the beginning of the year, a trend noted by Ms Jones.

During the conference it will be involved in meeting and greeting each VIP and speaker personally at the airport and co-ordinating airport transfers to the hotel, in addition to being on standby throughout the summit to respond to any questions or requests they may have, such as access to conference material, handling copy, binding, organising group dinners, setting up social networking events and arranging meetings.

BEPRO members can take advantage of a discounted rate of $175 for the conference on Saturday September 5. To sign up for the reduced deal, to join BEPRO or for more information contact 295-8932, email info@bepro.bm or visit the website at www.bepro.bm