Ecommerce: Economic Growth and Empowerment of Women and Girls - RSA

Ecommerce: Economic Growth and Empowerment of Women and Girls

Fellowship events

 -  | GMT Standard Time

Online

  • Creative economy
  • Enterprise

Join us for an insightful discussion about ecommerce and the economic empowerment of women and girls.

This event is open to everyone, and will be centred around the recent report ‘Ecommerce: Economic Growth and Empowerment of Women and Girls’, which you can read more about here.

The report calls for ecommerce to be a sector in its own right, with accredited courses and funding, while also exploring issues relating to the economic empowerment of women and girls.

The challenges of overall economic growth, issues around retail generally and high streets and e-commerce in particular, often legitimately dominate broadsheet headlines, as indeed do those of general and opportunities for women. RSA Fellow Ann-Maree Morrison will give a presentation on the report, which will be followed by observations from Ann-Maree’s fellow panellists. There will then be a Q&A, facilitated by event chairman Ann Packard, RSA Fellowship Council Member.

Speakers

Ann-Maree Morrison MBE FRSA, WES Ambassador, E-commerce Club, and Co-chair WT20 UK delegation

Jane Morrison-Ross, Chief Executive, South of Scotland Enterprise and Chairman, Arts & Business Scotland

Dr Pete Mowforth, Chief Executive, INDEZ Ltd

Professor Leigh Sparks, Professor of Retail Studies and Deputy Principal, University of Stirling

Ann-Maree Morrison MBE FRSA founded the multi award winning ecommerce business, Labels4Kids, providing name labels online and ran this for 19 years. She is also the founder of The Ecommerce Club in Scotland, which has operated for 11 years and is the only club supporting the ecommerce business community in Scotland. Ann-Maree contributed to the Ecommerce for Europe Task Force with Lord Young of Graffham in 2013, the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, and the Women In Enterprise Action Group for the Scottish Government. She is Co-Chair of the W20 UK Delegation, a Women Enterprise Scotland Ambassador, Enterprise Nation Advisor, member and ex-Chair of the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs in Scotland, a fellow of the RSA, long term FSB member, and qualified Chartered Accountant. She now runs her own site Ann-Maree.biz for ecommerce consulting and mentoring. Ann-Maree was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List 2022 for services to both Women In Business and to The Economy.

Jane Morrison-Ross is the CEO of South of Scotland Enterprise, the newest enterprise agency in Scotland and the first of Scotland’s public agencies to promote a wider view on the economy, the wellbeing of communities, and the environment. Jane was formerly CEO of ScotlandIS, the industry body for the digital and technology industries. She worked on Connecting Scotland, and the Digital Nation Challenge. With a background and first degree in the arts, Jane is passionate about bringing creativity into the heart of both business and economic growth. Jane was previously CEO of Taigh Cearsabhagh the Arts & Heritage centre in North Uist, and Business Development Director with Capgemini Scotland. She is a Fellow of the RSA, Chair of a Scottish Charity in Dumfries, sits on the Civtech Strategic Advisory Board, the NSET Portfolio Board, the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, and Chairs the NSET Entrepreneurial Advisory Board.

Leigh Sparks is Professor of Retail Studies and Deputy Principal at the University of Stirling. He holds degrees from the Universities of Cambridge and Wales and is well known for his research into spatial-structural change and specifically retailing and places. Leigh is Chair of Scotland’s Towns Partnership and was the chair and review author of “A New Future for Scotland’s Town Centres” for the Scottish Government in 2021. He was also a member of the Scottish Government’s Social Renewal Advisory Board (2020-21) and the Ministerial Retail Strategy Group (2021-22)

Pete Mowforth is Chief Executive of INDEZ Ltd Ecommerce solutions provider and Government adviser. Annually, INDEZ clients generate over £100m in Ecommerce sales and export to 148+ countries. Pete has a proven track record having helped clients grow Ecommerce revenue significantly. Pete has written over 50 publications and 3 books.

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