Media Alert - What do mines, micro-entrepreneurs, NGO/government/corporate partnerships and the UN International Year of Cooperatives have in common? - Find out @ 2012 Toronto Microfinance Symposium (Oct 16)

TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Toronto International Microfinance Summit, Canada's Premier Microfinance Event, announced today that its 2012 Toronto Microfinance Symposium in collaboration with Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, invites the media, business, NGO and government leaders, entrepreneurs, social finance innovators, students, academics and anyone with an interest in "hand up" solutions and new business models that achieve economic and social impact to join frontline experts for an important conversation.

SPEAKERS

• Dr. Stephen Brown, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Ottawa
  
  
• Susan Crocker, Advisory Board Chair, COADY International Institute
  
  
• Narinder Dhami, Executive Director, Rise Asset Development - a Rotman/CAMH financial initiative (Symposium Co-Chair)
  
  
• Jo-Anne Ferguson, Senior Director, International Development, Canadian Co-operative Association
  
  
• Anne Gaboury, President & CEO, Développement international Desjardins
  
  
• Dr. Carol Golench, President, Toronto International Microfinance Summit (Symposium Co-Chair)
  
  
• Soledad Gompf, Vice President, New Business Development, FINCA International
  
  
• Dr. Thomas Haubenreisser, Managing Director, Community Power Capital
  
  
• Susan Henry, Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Alterna Savings
  
  
• Anuj Jain, Senior COADY Fellow, Microfinance and Development, COADY International Institute
  
  
• John Lahey, President & CEO, Alterna Savings Credit Union and Alterna Bank
  
  
• Dustin O. Ling, Director, Strategy, Planning & Community Development, Citi Canada
  
  
• Ann Lockhart, Program Manager, ACCESS Community Capital Fund
  
  
• Jim Louttit, President, JVL Global Corp
  
  
• Tobias (Tobi) Nussbaum, Director General of Strategic Policy, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
  
  
• Ed Opitz, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Kinross Gold Corporation
  
  
• David E. Phillips, President & CEO, Credit Union Central of Canada
  
  
• Andrés Recalde, Director, Community Relations and Government, Torex Gold Resources
  
  
• Javed Sakhawat, Vice-Chair, 2012 Toronto Microfinance Symposium

SPONSORS

• Citi Foundation, our lead sponsor makes it possible to provide the one-time, incredible ticket price for the Symposium.
  
  
• Alterna Savings makes it possible for the first 200 registrants to receive a free book entitled Freedom from Want: The Remarkable Success Story of BRAC, the Global Grassroots Organization That's Winning the Fight Against Poverty
  
  

PARTNERS

• In partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, we are providing students free admittance with mandatory advance online registration including a valid student identification number.
  
  
• CNW Group, our media partner, enables us to spread the news with press releases.
  
  
• Vengeo provides us with emarketing tools including website creation and eblasting.

For tickets, program, bios and more information, visit www.microfinanceconference.ca

Toronto International Microfinance Summit is Canada's premier event focusing on domestic and international microfinance. Founded in 2009 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2011, the organization was inspired by the Rotarian Action Group for Microcredit (RAGM) and Rotary District 7070 Microfinance Committee. The Summit's signature Conference and Gala are run entirely by volunteers of diverse backgrounds and ages. Our vision is a world without poverty through microfinance. Our mission is: to educate our community on microfinance, a formidable poverty reduction tool; to create a forum for dialogue and action; and to raise profile and/or funds for organizations that make an impact through microfinance. In October 2012, we are collaborating with Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, to present the 2012 Toronto Microfinance Symposium. www.microfinanceconference.ca

Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, has set out to redesign business education for the 21st century and become one of the world's top-tier business schools. Located in the heart of Toronto--North America's third-largest financial centre and one of the world's most culturally-diverse cities--the School is developing an innovative curriculum built around Integrative ThinkingTM and Business DesignTM.  Rotman, in partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), has established a domestic microfund that operates across Ontario,Canada-Rise Asset Development. Rise, with the support of the Rotman School of Management and CAMH, provides microfinancing and mentorship to men and women living with mental illness and addictions who are interested in pursuing self-employment. www.rotman.utoronto.ca/

Citi Foundation supports the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of low- to moderate-income people in communities where Citi operates. We work collaboratively with a range of partners to design and test financial inclusion innovations with potential to achieve scale and support leadership and knowledge building activities. Through a "More than Philanthropy" approach, we put the strength of Citi's business resources and people to work to enhance our philanthropic investments and help improve communities. www.citifoundation.com

The MasterCard Foundation advances microfinance and youth learning to promote financial inclusion and prosperity. Through collaboration with committed partners in 49 countries, The MasterCard Foundation is helping people living in poverty to access opportunities to learn and prosper.

An independent, private foundation based in Toronto, Canada, The MasterCard Foundation was established through the generosity of MasterCard Worldwide at the time of the company's initial public offering in 2006. For more information, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org .

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SOURCE: Toronto International Microfinance Summit

Wendy Bodnoff
Co-Chair, Marketing, Media & PR
Toronto International Microfinance Summit
905 334 3660 [email protected]