September 1, 2014

Local entrepreneur to speak at upcoming Networking After 5 event

Social entrepreneur and University of Wollongong (UOW) engineering alumnus Kimberley Abbott will share her inspirational story of launching a social business to help impoverished women in India earn a living at the next UOW Networking After 5 event on Wednesday 3 September.

Kimberley is the Founder and CEO of Roka jewellery, a social enterprise that aims to break the cycle of poverty in rural India through the economic empowerment of women. Simultaneously, Kimberly is an engineer at Thales, a multi-national company, where she contributes to engineering and contract projects in a dynamic and global environment.

Kimberley has been recognised with a number of awards and titles for her work. She was a finalist in the NSW Young Woman of the Year Awards in 2014 and recognised by the Australian Financial Review and Westpac as one of Australia’s top 100 Women of Influence in 2013.

More than 100 local business people and 200 career-minded students are expected to attend Networking After 5, which is organised with the support of the Illawarra Business Chamber for the benefit of local business representatives, non-for-profit organisations and students.

“Networking After 5 connects UOW students with local business representatives who are keen to help students with their networking skills and talk about their own experiences,” Careers Counsellor at UOW Careers Central, Miki Neale, said.

“Learning how to build professional relationships is vital to helping students start their careers,” she added.

Local businesses are encouraged to register for the evening and help build the confidence of these bright, young students.

Students who register for the event will be provided with personalised business cards to hand out to local business people who they make a connection with on the night.

When: Wednesday 3 September, from 5pm.
Where: UniCentre (Building 11, Level 1)