BPW Europe as one of five regions of BPW International

BPW represents one of five regions of BPW International, whereas the five regions include: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Caribbean. As per 2021, has 30 member countries in the Europe region: 14 Affiliate Federations and 16 Affiliate Clubs.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE INTERACTIVE WORLD MAP OF BPW INTERNATIONAL AND WHERE WE ARE PRESENT.

The constitution of BPW International defines the governing bodies as follows:

European Coordination Committee (ECC)

Each region is appointed with a Regional Coordinator of BPW International and an Executive Team which forms the European Coordination Committee for each triennium. The regional coordinators are elected during the General Assembly of BPW International and are in charge to coordinate all matters with the Affiliate Federations in their region.

Affiliate Federations

  • There can only be one Affiliate Federation in each country
  • Where a country has at least 3 Affiliate Clubs and at least 100 named members, the Affiliate Clubs may apply to
    become an Affiliate Federation
  • Where a country has 5 Affiliate Clubs and at least 100 named members, the Affiliate Clubs must work towards
    becoming an Affiliate Federation
  • If you are interested to create a new BPW Club in your area, get in contact with your country’s Affiliate Federation

How to become a member of BPW Europe or Individual Affiliate Member of BPW International

  • We recommend to first check if there is an existing BPW Club or Federation in your resident country (check on the world map). If you become a member of a BPW Club in Europe, you will automatically become a member of BPW Europe and BPW International.
  • Any business or professional woman who supports the aims of BPW and who lives in a country where
    there is no Affiliate Federation nor Affiliate Club is eligible for Individual Affiliate membership of BPW International.
Meet the European Coordination Committee

History of BPW Europe

In the course of the 1960s and 1970s, several relatively informal international meetings were held for German-speaking and some for francophone BPW. There seemed to be a general desire for contacts and cooperation across national borders.

In 1977, the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW) was accredited to the Council of Europe and received consultative status along with some 200 NGOs. Marcelle Devaud was nominated Permanent Representative and Michelle Laublé(both of France) her alternate.

Michelle Laubé, then President of the Strasbourg Club, invited all European BPW Presidents and interested members to the 1st European Conference which took place in September 1981.

In October 1985, the 17th International Congress of BPW International in Auckland, New Zealand, voted to set up five regions, headed by Regional Coordinators. Marian Waats was elected to this position for Europe.

In September 1990, through the hard work of women such as Marcelle Devaud and Emilienne Brunfaut, the European Women’s Lobby was founded in Brussels. BPW Europe is a member of the European Women’s Lobby and Renata Blodow was the first delegate of the European Federations of BPW International to the EWL.

The presidents of the European Federations of BPW International decided to created the European Coordinating Committee to support the work of the Regional Coordinator.

In January 2009, the presidents of the European Federations of BPW International created a legal structure to run common projects at European level : BPW European Coordination aisbl (association internationale sans but lucratif – international non profit organisation).

The Executive Board of BPW Europe is made of the European Regional Coordinator and members of the ECC.