Bondage to banking, five dates for Hong Kong women’s calendars in September

From making women more financially savvy to supporting women entrepreneurs, these five events should be on Hong Kong women’s calendars this month.

1. Women’s Festival Hong Kong. September 1-9

This nine-day event boasts a varied programme, from partner yoga classes, guided bondage workshops to belly dancing lessons. It also features the city’s first Cantonese version of The Vagina Monologues, films by female directors (The Helper, Faces Places) and workshops covering topics like vegetarian cooking classes.

To top it off, the celebration of womanhood is taking place in the uber-cool Eaton Hong Kong, in Jordan. Ten per cent of proceeds from ticket sales goes to Rainlily, a support group for victims of sexual violence. For more details visit womensfestival.hk

2. Women In Impact – EMPOWER, INSPIRE, IMPACT. September 4

WeWork Wan Chai in Lockhart Road is the venue for this event that aims to connect women from different lifestyles.

Speakers include Angel Fan, a PhD student at the University of Bristol in the UK and part-time supervisor of the teaching practicum of the Faculty of Education of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and event MC Sonya Wong, a tech geek eager to inspire more women to pursue careers in technology. More details here: Women In Impact

3. The Future is Female Conference – The New Savvy. September 14

Billed as Asia’s largest women-only financial, investment and career conference, the event features panels and workshops and is ideal for those who are either struggling to manage their finances and those keen to take their financial position to the next level. It will be held at the Campfire Collaborative Spaces in Quarry Bay. More details here: The Future is Female Conference

4. Female Entrepreneurs Day. September 16

Hong Kong’s entrepreneurial scene has been fed by a surge in co-working spaces, incubators and innovation labs. Women making up 45 per cent of the city’s entrepreneurs, compared with a global average of 37 per cent, according to a 2015 “Global Entrepreneurialism Report” by BNP Paribas. One organisation lending a hand is Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide (FEW) and on September 16 it’s hosting an event at the Hilton in Shenzhen with a programme overflowing with speakers from all fields including philanthropist Alice Chiu, China’s top couturier Guo Pei, and Mongolian hip-hop artist Mrs M. More details here: Female Entrepreneurs Day

Women shouldn’t have to choose between careers and motherhood

5. Love Thy Nature Women’s Urban Retreat. September 22

For many women, juggling families, friends and work means there’s little time and energy to focus on themselves. That is where this urban retreat comes into play, focusing on reflection, renewal and regrouping. And helping guests achieve the “three Rs” is Hong Kong-based executive coach and mindfulness teacher, MaryAnn Voli. More details here: Love Thy Nature Women’s Urban retreat