On 12 March US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro welcomed leading female “role models” at a reception to mark International Women’s Day.

Ambassador Bordonaro noted that everyone at the reception is a role model for the next generation of female leaders. Their work will create even more opportunities for women.

Attending the reception were female leaders in business, medicine, politics, the judiciary, academia, journalism, and civil society.

Ambassador Bordonaro spoke of the importance of creating and supporting an environment where women can follow their own goals and career aspirations. Ambassador Bordonaro noted that it is important that women can choose to be mothers, go to work, or to do both. Equally important is that society supports those decisions.

The guest of honour was Anita Perry, the First Lady of Texas (wife of Texas Governor Rick Perry). Mrs Perry is a leading advocate of health care issues in Texas and in the United States. She and her husband have created the Texas Conference for Women, one of the premiere network and educational events in the US for women. The US organisation, the March of Dimes, has named her its chair of national immunisation efforts. Mrs Perry is visiting Malta to explore areas of cooperation between Texas and Malta, particularly in the areas of education, tourism and commerce.

During the reception, Ambassador Bordonaro presented Renee Laiviera with an award from the US Department of State. Each year, the US Department of State recognises an outstanding woman in each country where the US has an embassy. According to Ambassador Bordonaro, “her leadership and commitment to the advancement of women have resulted in significant progress towards gender equality”.

Ambassador Bordonaro noted the contribution that women have played in fostering economic growth in the United States. From 1970 to 2006, the US gross domestic product grew from $1 trillion to $13 trillion dollars. During that same period, the number of women drastically increased.

Despite the gains in the US, there is still work to be done. Ambassador Bordonaro served on a US Congressional Commission that found that while women, minorities and people with disabilities account for two-thirds of the workforce, they are largely underrepresented in science, engineering and technology fields. The US is working to increase those numbers.