QBWA hosts special Suhoor, in collaboration with Canadian & Australian embassies in celebration of International Women’s Day

The Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) recently hosted a special Suhoor, in conjunction with the embassies of Canada and Australia, in celebration of International Women’s Day 2025.

This year’s UN theme, ‘For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment’, emphasises the need for swift, decisive steps to achieve gender equality, addressing systemic barriers and biases that women face globally, both personally and professionally.

In her opening remarks, Aisha Hussein Alfardan, vice chairwoman of QBWA, underscored the power of collaboration. She said, “At QBWA, we believe in the power of collaboration to uplift and empower women.

“This International Women’s Day, our partnership with the Canadian and Australian embassies reflects our shared commitment to building meaningful connections, celebrating achievements, and creating opportunities for women to thrive. Together, we continue to build a future where women’s contributions are recognised, valued, and supported across all sectors.”

Canadian ambassador Isabelle Martin highlighted the connection between International Women’s Day and Ramadan. She said, “It is a pleasant coincidence that this year’s International Women’s Day falls during the Holy Month of Ramadan, allowing us to bring together incredible women from the local Canadian, Qatari, and Australian communities around a traditional Suhoor dinner.”

“The Government of Canada’s theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is ‘Strength in Every Story,’ which emphasises creating opportunities for women and girls to unlock their potential and drive innovation,” said Martin, noting Qatar’s remarkable story of rapid modernisation, with many distinguished women playing a central role in the country’s success.

Australian ambassador Shane Flanagan spoke about the significant contributions of women in Qatar. He said, “Women in Qatar are making an impact in all fields – from business and digital innovation to education, science, government, and sports.”

“Your contributions have not only helped Qatar to prosper but have also transformed this country into a modern and desirable place to live,” noted Flanagan, who also acknowledged Qatar’s humanitarian efforts, particularly in conflict zones where women and girls are disproportionately affected.

The event was also highlighted by a panel discussion featuring Dr Leonie Lethbridge, COO and executive general manager of Commercial Bank and recently named one of the 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen of 2025 by Forbes; Dr Sohaira Siddiqui, executive director of Al-Mujadilah and professor at Georgetown University; and Mashael al-Sulaiti, chairperson of MAS Law Firm and QBWA member.

They shared insights on this year’s International Women’s Day theme, highlighting the importance of systemic change and sharing their personal experiences of overcoming barriers.

The Suhoor was a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility to accelerate progress toward gender equality. The evening focused on building connections, celebrating women’s achievements, and fostering conversations about the ongoing need for transformative change. The event showcased the importance of partnerships between women from diverse sectors and countries in driving global progress toward a more equal future, QBWA stated.

‘For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment’ emphasised that while progress has been made, much work remains to ensure systemic barriers are dismantled. The discussions held during the event will continue to contribute to the momentum needed for achieving lasting change for women worldwide.