Offshore Outsourcing - Does it Empower Women? An industry forum to discuss the social and economic impacts of ICT offshore outsourcing for women and girls of Asia Pacific. Melbourne, Thursday 3rd December 2009, 1pm No Cost to Attend

You are invited to join us for a timely, critical forum to explore the role of "Offshore Outsourcing - Does it Empower Women?". In developing countries of Asia Pacific, offshore outsourcing employs more than 3 million people, 65% of whom are women. In a first for the region, callcentres.net, together with Asia Pacific Breakthrough and Business for Millennium Development, will convene a discussion to explore the social and economic impacts of ICT offshore outsourcing for women and girls, with a particular focus on women of India, the Philippines and Malaysia. This discussion will take place as part of the global Summit, Asia Pacific Breakthrough: The Women, Faith and Development Summit to End Global Poverty, which will be held in Melbourne on 2nd and 3rd December 2009. Asia Pacific Breakthrough brings together women’s organisations, faith communities, the international development community, business and philanthropic groups to tackle the issue of women in poverty and to increase collective willingness to take action on Millennium Development Goals 3 & 5, gender equality and maternal health. Women and girls represent 70% of the poorest people in Asia Pacific. Millennium Development Goal 3 embodies the right to equality and equal access to resources and influence. Women’s empowerment in is crucial to achieving gender equality and economic empowerment is a critical factor. Offshore outsourcing may have the potential to be amongst the largest industry sectors contributing to Millennium Development Goal 3 in developing countries of Asia Pacific - yet, what are the social and economic considerations? Given the social impacts, what is the role for the offshore outsourcing industry and Australian businesses? Business leaders, contact centre managers and operational teams, IT directors, HR teams and representatives of the BPO, outsourcing and teleservices industry bodies are invited to participate in this critical industry forum. Overview of Agenda & Speakers:   Overview of Outsourcing and Offshoring in APAC Dr Catriona Wallace, Director, callcentres.net Research on Impact of Offshoring Dr Robert Russell, Griffith University Indian Contact Centre Research Dr Mohan Thite, Griffith University The Filipino experience Ms Jamea Garcia, Business Processing Association/Philippines The Malaysian & Indian Experience The Indian Experience - Saswati Mittra, Head - Quality, Sparsh BPO Services Ltd Experience from the outsourcing industry Ms Denice Pitt, CEO, Aegis Mr Geoffrey Dutt, Executive General Manager – Sales and Customer Solutions, Excelior Mr Peter Anson, Chief Operating Officer, Salmat Mr John Hollingsworth, CEO, Stellar Reaching MDG3 - economic participation for women and girls Kristi Mansfield, Director, Asia Pacific Breakthrough and Mark Ingram, CEO, Business for Millennium Development Event Details: When: Thursday 3rd December 2009 | 1pm for 1.30 pm - 5.30pm Where: La Trobe Room, Sofitel Melbourne, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne Cost: There is no charge to attend this event, but spaces are limited so early registration is essential. RSVP: Register by 30th November 2009 at www.callcentres.net/AsiaPacificBreakthrough This forum has been made possible by the generous support and sponsorship of Aegis, Excelior, Salmat and Stellar. callcentres.net is proud to partner with Asia Pacific Breakthrough and Business for Millennium Development on this important initiative. For more information, please visit: www.breakthrough2009.com.au or www.b4md.com.au.