We are pleased to announce that Ruth Healey, SI Surrey Hills, was installed as the new President of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) on Saturday 4 November 2023 at our Conference in London.
The Change of Insignia ceremony was a glittering occasion, where all the incoming Region/National Association and Network Presidents were also installed, as well as the new SIGBI President Elect, Gillie O’Rourke. Immediate Past President Cathy Cottridge presented Ruth with the Chain of Office.
We were honoured to also incorporate the Change of Insignia for Soroptimist International into the ceremony, as this was not possible at the SI Convention in Dublin. Soroptimist International President Maureen passed the chain to President Elect Siew-Yong.
Ruth will be in office for the next two years and gave a speech in which she said she felt excited and daunted at this time, and she realised her imposter syndrome had kicked in. She gave a description of how lucky she is because she has choices she can make, Soroptimism is about the women and girls who don’t have choices. On our own we cannot change the world for women, but we need to be part of that change. There are 70,000 members around the world, that is a powerful position, and we need to partner with others who are striving for the same goal.
We do, however, have to adapt to meet the new conditions to survive and change to be relevant. There are, and will be, changes in the world of work and we need to ensure women are ready to take advantage of this. SIGBI is to engage with an external PR agency to tell the world who we are. We need to let new members have their say, we need to embrace new ideas and we must change.
The conference next year will be in Edinburgh at the Assembly rooms. It will take place from 1st to 3rd November 2024 and will be from Friday lunchtime to Sunday lunchtime. The AGM will be on the Sunday morning followed by a session to ask questions of the Board.
See pictures from the Change of Insignia below: