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International Women’s Day 2023

IINE proudly honored the contributions of immigrant women

Honoree and Keynote Speaker

Dr. Sima Samar

Former Minister of Women’s Affairs for Afghanistan

Emcee

Amaka Ubaka

Emmy Award Winning Journalist and Anchor at 7NEWS

About The Event

On March 10, 2023, the International Institute of New England hosted an International Women’s Day Celebration to honor the achievements of immigrant women and daughters of immigrants who have made a profound difference in New England and the world.

The annual event highlights the impact refugee and immigrant women have on our economy and our communities and celebrates the achievements of women everywhere. Our speaking program featured a conversation with our honorees about their life experiences.

The International Institute of New England has been celebrating International Women’s Day since the early 2000s.

Meet Our 2023 Honoree

Dr. Sima Samar

In 2002, Dr. Sima Samar became the first Minister of Women’s Affairs for Afghanistan’s post-Taliban interim government. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Samar had dedicated her life to the preservation of basic rights for women and girls in Afghanistan. She fled her country in 1984 during the Soviet occupation and moved to the border town of Quetta, Pakistan, where she founded the Shuhada Organization to support the education and health needs of Afghan women and girls. Dr. Samar was appointed as a member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement in December 2019. In addition to her role as a Panel member, she is a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation. Previously, Dr. Samar held the positions of Special Envoy of the President of Afghanistan and State Minister for Human Rights and International Affairs. 

International Women’s Day Past Honorees

Dr. Aoife Brennan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Synlogic
Sandhya S. Douglas, Senior Managing Director, Partner, and Chief Operating Officer, Investments, Wellington Management
Julisa Salas, Chief of Staff, Toast
Roxann Cooke, Regional Director of Consumer Banking and Wealth Management, JP Morgan Chase
Kathrin Knauf, Vice President of Project Management, Moderna
Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer, Tripadvisor
Marina Hatsopoulos Bornhorst, Founding CEO, Z Corporation
Jackie Glenn, Founder and CEO, Glenn Diversity and HR Solutions
Dr. Nergis Mavalvala, Curtis and Kathleen Marble Professor of Astrophysics and the Associate Head of the Department of Physics, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Colette Phillips, Founder & CEO, Colette Phillips Communications
Razia Jan, Founder & President, Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation
Eveline Buchatskiy, Founder, One Way Venture
Dr. Nawal Nour, Founder, African Women’s Health Practice at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Founder & Chair, Women Waging Peace
Malalai “The bravest woman in Afghanistan” Joya, refugee, activist and politician
Marie St Fleur, Vice Chair, House Committee on Ways and Means
Victoria Reggie Kennedy, attorney, and advocate for issues affecting lives of women, children, and families
Jeanne Shaheen, Former NH Governor, and current US Senate Member
Rya Weickert Zobel, Federal Judge of the US District Court, District of MA
Dr. Charlotte Yeh, CMO, AARP
Geeta Ayer, President and Founder, Commonwealth Management Asset
Rupa Shenoy, Host and Reporter, NPR, and Founder, Otherhood Podcast