US and Kuwaiti women executives examine how to navigate current global financial crisis in Kuwait

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The event will focus on various issues relating to risk management including transparency, corporate governance, stakeholder engagement, and corporate social responsibility.

This is the latest in a series of new Corporate Ambassadors Program events taking place across the region this year that bring together leading businesswomen from the U.S. and the Middle East and North Africa for substantive discussion and educational exchange on key economic issues. With representation across the region, country 'hubs' of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Businesswomen's Network host each Corporate Ambassador event.

Supported by the U.S. Department of State's Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and Vital Voices Global Partnership, the November 19-20 event will be hosted by the Kuwait Economic Society.

Featured speakers include:

- Rochelle M. Costrell, Associate Director, Garrison Financial Institute, Walton College of Business - an expert in corporate trust administration in the area of structured financial products, Ms. Costrell previously served as Vice President at State Street Corporation, and as Manager with Deloitte & Touche's Investment Management Business Advisory Services Group.

- A. Christine Eppstein, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and stainability, McGuire Woods Consulting - on behalf of corporate clients, Ms. Eppstein integrates social and environmental stewardship initiatives to strengthen business development and enhance relationships with key audiences including government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Born in Romania, Ms. Eppstein was an assistant professor of environmental law in her native country and has worked extensively on international sustainability issues.

- Dr. Mohammad Al-Zuhair, Assistant Professor of Finance and International Business, Kuwait University - prior to joining the University of Kuwait earlier this year, Dr. Al-Zuhair was a professor of international finance at the George Washington University and has also worked with Washington Investment Partners, LLC, the World Bank, and Kuwait Petroleum International.

- Abdulla Nouri Al-Otheman, Mathematical Finance and Operations Research Consultant - specializing in term structure modeling, derivative pricing and securitization, previously Mr. Al-Otheman was a co-founder of Ivy Software and Internet Solutions, and worked with Merrill Lynch in Tokyo and New York.

'We are experiencing an unprecedented shift in global financial markets right now, and so our focus on helping women entrepreneurs and business community in Kuwait navigate these difficult waters is extremely timely,' comments Dr. Rola Dashti, Chairperson of the Kuwait Economic Society. Adds Mary MacPherson, Program Director with Vital Voices Global Partnership, 'Through this series of focused, high-level exchanges, our goal is to equip the women that participate with innovative new ideas, approaches, contacts and knowledge that they will use to strengthen their businesses, help provide for their families and create jobs in their communities - even during these particularly challenging times.'

Throughout 2008-2009, the Corporate Ambassadors Program will bring delegations of U.S. CEOs and senior executives to meet with businesswomen in the Middle East and North Africa to discuss critical business topics pertinent to the region. Similar events have taken place in Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and the Palestinian Territories featuring high-profile U.S. executives such as Beth Brooke, Global Vice Chair of Ernst & Young; Sandra Taylor, President of Sustainable Business Solutions LLC and former Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, Starbucks Coffee Company; and Deborah Parker, President/CEO, International Business Solutions and former Vice President, Global Quality, Ford Motor Company. The next event will take place in Egypt on November 22-23.