Following the Cayman Islands Government’s December 2013 request for the United Kingdom to extend the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to the Cayman Islands, the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs will host the first National Conference on Women on Saturday, 29th March 2014 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort.

With the theme “Inspiring Change”, the Conference will bring together women and men of differing ages and cultural backgrounds to address the social, cultural, economic and political challenges that girls and women experience in the Cayman Islands and to encourage positive changes in individuals and our society as a whole.

Through an interactive agenda, the morning session will provide an opportunity for attendees to discuss the key areas relating to CEDAW in focus groups and for the Ministry to collect qualitative data regarding priority issues and any potential areas of concern.

During the afternoon session, Dr. Glenda P. Simms, a renowned CEDAW expert from Jamaica who served on the United Nations CEDAW Committee for four years, will deliver a motivational keynote address focusing on how we can all become ‘Architects of Change’ in our personal lives and in our society. Lady Rabia, a well-known local performer and advocate for gender equality, will also deliver a spoken word performance, and the Hon. Tara Rivers, JP, Minister for Education, Employment and Gender Affairs, will address attendees on Government’s commitments to empowering women and promoting gender equality.

Inviting men and women from all walks of life to attend, Minister Rivers stated: “We welcome and value the contributions of all attendees and will use these diverse perspectives to help inform the implementation plan for CEDAW and Government’s work to promote gender equality in the Cayman Islands.  I am also excited and honoured to welcome Dr. Simms to our shores, and I am pleased that Lady Rabia has also agreed to share gender equality messages through the creative medium of spoken word. I look forward to an inspiring and productive Conference.”

The Ministry’s Gender Affairs Unit has planned the Conference as part of Honouring Women Month – which is observed in March each year – and participants may attend the full day or only the morning or afternoon session. There is no registration fee and complimentary continental breakfast and lunch are included, but spaces are limited and pre-registration is essential. Registration forms are available online or from the Government Administration Building.

For more information, please visit www.genderequality.gv.ky or contact the Gender Affairs Unit at [email protected] or on 244-3226.

See attached flyer for more details

PROFILE OF DR. GLENDA P. SIMMS

Glenda Simms was born at Stanmore in the parish of St. Elizabeth.  After graduating from Bethlehem Teacher’s College, she taught at Vauxhall Senior School, Vere Technical High and Cornwall College.

In 1966, she migrated to Canada, and there distinguished herself in the fields of Education and the Public Service.  She received a Doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta, and a Certificate in the Program for Leaders in Development from Harvard University, U.S.A.

During her time in Canada, Dr. Simms received numerous accolades including:

•          Four honorary doctorates from the University of Alberta, Queens University, the University of Manitoba and The University of Western Ontario.

•          The Black Achievement Award for contributions in Public policy

•          The Inter Amicus Human Rights Award from McGill University

•          A Citation for Citizenship from the Canadian Government.

In 1990, she was appointed president of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of women, and six years later joined the Jamaican government services as Executive Director of the Bureau of Women’s Affairs until August 2005.

Dr. Simms is a staunch advocate for the elimination of discriminatory practices in society, and lectures extensively – locally and internationally – on a variety of feminist, educational, social and political issues.

As an author of numerous publications, an advisor to governments, a gender specialist, researcher and projects leader, Glenda Simms has contributed immensely to the implementation of important social and political initiatives in Canada, the Philippines, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Jamaica. She has been an inspiration and a positive example for women, men and minorities by the standards of her excellence, leadership and achievements.

 

Currently she is working as a private consultant and gender specialist and has worked in the position of Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Jamaica on Gender Issues and Women’s Affairs. She also was an expert on the Committee for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women at the United Nations for four years.

 

GLENDA P. SIMMS, Ph.D., LL.D. (HONS.)

 

22 Elm Close, Pines of Karachi

Kingston 6.

Jamaica, W.I.

(Home) 876-977-1848 (Cell) 876-546-7647

Email: [email protected]

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

 

CURRENTLY—FOUNDER AND  FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE NGO—ST ELIZABETH WOMEN(SEW) LTD.

 

Senior Advisor on Gender and Development to the Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica (October 2006-August 2007)

 

CEO, Simms Consulting (August 2005- Present)

 

Member of the Board of Directors of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (2006-2008)

 

Member of the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against

Women (CEDAW), January 2005 – December 2008.

 

Jamaica’s Principal Delegate to the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), 1996 – 2005.

 

Executive Director of the Jamaican Bureau of Women’s Affairs from June 1996 to August 2005.

 

President and CEO of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women (1990-1996).

 

Founding Member and Past President of the Congress of Black Women of Canada.

 

Founding Member of the National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of Canada.

 

Former member of the Board of Directors of INSTRAW.

 

Member of the Executive of the Inter-American Commission on the Status of Women (CIM).

 

EDUCATION

 

Certificate – Executive Program for Leaders in Development, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 1999

 

Advanced Management Program Certificate, Canadian Centre for Management Development,

Ottawa, Ontario, 1994

 

Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Psychology), University of Alberta, Edmonton, 1985

 

Masters of Education (Educational Psychology), University of Alberta, Edmonton, 1976

 

Bachelor of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, 1974

 

Permanent Professional Teacher’s Certificate, Alberta and Saskatchewan

 

Teacher’s Diploma, Jamaica

 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

 

1996-2005                 Executive Director of The Bureau of Women’s Affairs (Jamaica)

 

1990-1995               President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Advisory Council on the

Status of Women (CACSW)

 

1987-1990               Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Nipissing University College,

North Bay, Ontario

Faculty Advisor for the Native Classroom Assistant Program and Principal

for the Native Teacher Certification Program.

 

1985-1987    Supervisor, Inter-cultural Education, Race and Ethnic Relations, Regina Public School Board, Regina Saskatchewan

 

1980-1985    Associate Professor / Department Head / Native Education Coordinator of Student Services, Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan

 

1981   Summer School Lecturer, University of Calgary, Alberta

 

1977-1980    Assistant Professor, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta

 

1966-1972    Teacher with the Northland School Division, Alberta

 

PUBLIC SPEAKING, PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH

 

Lecturer who is appreciated for the courage in dealing with contentious and sometimes controversial issues.  Some of these topics are:

           Sharing Strengths and Strategies, University of Victoria, British Columbia

           Date Rape, Student Peer Helpers, Philemon Wright Regional High School, Hull,

Quebec.

           Feminism is Global: Or is it?, Trinity College, Burlington, Vermont

 

Guest speaker/lecturer on numerous occasions in a number of countries since 1981:

•          the 2006 Guest Lecturer at the Africentric Leadership and Management Summer Institute in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

•          the 2001 Norman Washington Manley Lecturer at the University of the West Indies and

•          the1997 Henrietta Harvey Distinguished Lecturer at Memorial University (Newfoundland);

•          the 1990 Florence Bird Lecturer at Carlton University in Ottawa, Canada;

A newspaper columnist in Jamaica and a published writer.

One publication is entitled “Diasporic Experiences of Blacks in Canada: A Discourse”.  Dalhousie Review, Dalhousie University (Fall 1993).

Author of numerous publications, researcher and project leader, producer of video productions, and public education material on the systemic barrier that continues to impede women’s equality in many countries of the world.

 

AWARDS

Outstanding contribution to the Canadian society was recognized by many awards.  These include:

 

2008    Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Western Ontario, Canada.

1995   Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Alberta, Canada.

1995   Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Queen’s University, Canada.

1995   Recipient, Canadian Black Achievement Award (Public Service).

1994   Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Manitoba, Canada.

1994   President’s Award from the International Association of Business Communicators, “Capitale” Chapter, for excellence in communication leadership.

1993   Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Alberta.

1993   Honorary Membership from the Federation of Medical Women of Canada.

1993   Fellow of Ryerson Polytechnic University. (Canada)

1992   Inter-Amicus Human Rights Award from McGill University. (Canada)

1991   Member of the North Bay Human Rights Hall of Fame. (Canada)

1990   National Award from the Canadian Council of Multi-cultural and Inter-cultural Education.

1988   Citizenship Citation, awarded by the Canadian Government for outstanding contribution to Canadian Society.

 

CLIENTS OF SIMMS’ CONSULTING

 

UNAIDS-Jamaica Office

 

UNFPA- Jamaica Office

 

UNIFEM-Barbados Office

ECLAC-Trinidad Office

 

Ministry of Health, Jamaica-HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme

The Bureau of Gender Affairs-Turks and Caicos Islands

 

The Belize Women’s Commission

 

USAID- the REACT Programme

 

Guardsman Group Ltd- Training of Senior Management in the prevention of

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

 

The Jamaica Fire Brigade- Training of all female Firefighters in the prevention of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

 

The Sandals Group of Companies- Training of Senior Management and Contractors in the prevention of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

 

The Commonwealth Foundation-Documentation of Best Practice in Partnership        between Government and Civil Society