Emirates Woman of the Year Awards 2009 in association with Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
Maria Conceicao Crowned Emirates Woman of the Year 2009
November 2009 – Winners of the Emirates Woman of the Year Awards 2009 in association with Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank were crowned at a glittering red carpet event held at the Park Hyatt, Dubai. The winners, selected by Emirates Woman readers through a new online voting system, represent the UAE’s most inspirational female talents from artists to visionaries, achievers to humanitarians. The evening culminated with the naming of the prestigious Emirates Woman of the Year. This was presented to the ‘Humanitarian’ category winner, Maria Conceicao, in recognition of her work with slum dwellers in Dhaka through the self-run ‘Dhaka Project’.
Conceived by Emirates Woman, the GCC’s leading style title, the fourth Emirates Woman of the Year Awards 2009 was the biggest and best yet, attended by some 400 VIP guests. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, demonstrating their support of ‘Ambition’ across the Emirate, partnered the event. The importance of this relationship in taking the awards to a new level, including the addition of the new ADCB ‘Ambition’ Award was recognised in the welcome speech of Faye James, Senior Editor:
‘The Emirates Woman of the Year Awards recognize empowered women in a number of roles, not just as business achievers, but also as artists, visionaries and humanitarians. The event grew as an expression of the Emirates Woman Magazine, but we’re delighted to have the support of Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, whose vision so closely aligns with ours.’
The evening was attended by some of the UAE’s most photographed faces, including Mariya Kassam, Founder, Soiree, Sarah Belhasa, Founder, Studio 8, Dalia Dogmoch, Kitsch Cupcakes and Sahar Mekkauui, Founder, Ginger & Lace.
The winners of the Emirates Woman of the Year Awards 2009 are:
Emirates Woman of the Year 2009 and Humanitarian category winner (sponsored by House of Portier)
Maria Conceicao – Founder of ‘The Dhaka Project’, a voluntary organization helping slum dwellers in Dhaka, Bangladesh
The Achievers – Business Category (Sponsored by Philips Consumer Lifestyle)
Farah Foustok - The First Lady of Finance, Farah is CEO of ING Investment Management
Artists – Art and Culture (Sponsored by The London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery)
Sarah Belhasa – Founder of boutique Studio 8 and advisory member on the Board of Dubai Fashion Week
Visionaries – Lifestyle (Sponsored by bareface)
Padma Coram – MD of The Talent Borkers, a event organization charity that donates 10% of its income to charitable causes
ADCB ‘Ambition Award’ ($10,000 donated by ADCB)
Emma Cresswell – Emma’s description of her ‘Ambition’ won her the coveted cheque
Headline Sponsor: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
ADCB is proud to celebrate the incredible ambition and drive evident in the Emirates woman today. Through the sponsorship of the Emirates Woman of the Year Awards 2009, ADCB honours the energy and significant contribution these motivated women make to enhance the progress of the UAE as a whole.
www.adcb.com
Maria Conceicao - Biography
Following a 24-hour layover in Dhaka in 2005, Portuguese flight attendant Maria Conceicao made it her mission to offer the Dhaka slum dwellers a better future with her self-funded charity, The Dhaka Project. With her dedicated team of volunteers and 90 Bangladeshi staff, Maria’s vision won her a European Union Woman’s Inventors and Innovators Network award. She is currently expanding her aid to Burmese refugee children in Thailand and orphans in Brazil.
Category Sponsor: Viel Clinic, Artist Category
www.lcas.com
Category Sponsor: Philips, Achievers Category
www.philips.com
Category Sponsor: Bareface, Visionaries Category
www.bareface.com
Category Sponsor: House of Portier, Humanitarians Category
www.houseofportier.com
Emirates Woman is also delighted to partner with a selection of leading brands; the Park Hyatt Dubai as Venue Sponsor, Russian Standard as Beverage Partner and Darrin James Photography as official video and photography partner, Bliss as flower partner, Al Aan TV as media partner and Gargash Enterprises Mercedes Benz as official car sponsor and Elan Productions as event design partner
Press Contact:
Sophie Toh
Toh Public Relations
T: 050 3739502
E: sophie@tohpr.com
www.tohpr.com
For further information on the Awards log onto www.emirateswoman.ae/awards
