A police chief in the nation's capitol, a Beefeater at the Tower of London, a Sudanese refugee, an ambassador to the Philippines, an Australian business executive, and other top women leaders in their fields will gather in Honolulu on Sept. 24 to share their personal and professional stories of success at the fifth annual International Women's Leadership Conference.

The conference will feature celebrated women leaders from eight different nations who are unparalleled in their achievements, according to a news release from Gov. Linda Lingle's office. Lingle is hosting the event. The nations that will be represented include: Australia, China, Japan, Philippines, Sudan, Uganda, United Kingdom and United States. More than 1,200 women and men are expected to register to attend the one-day conference to hear speakers' inspirational stories of success and gain insight as promising new leaders. "As Hawai'i continues to increase its leadership in the global community, we have an obligation to learn from other female leaders who have different perspectives and backgrounds and who can help mentor Hawai'i's future leaders," Lingle said in the news release. "As our lives become more interconnected, it is important that we exchange knowledge and ideas with our global partners. When we work to understand each other and reach out to each other, we make our common vision for a better future in our world a reality," the statement said. The conference will also feature a panel discussion with international higher education leaders, including university presidents and chancellors from Australia, China, Japan, Uganda, and the United States. The panel will be held in a Q & A format, at first being moderated, and then opened to the attendees for questions. In addition to the keynote speakers and video messages, the conference will include time set aside specifically for networking opportunities for attendees. The conference, titled Perspectives, Reflections and Visions for a Global Community, will be held at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and Resort. The event is open to the public. Online registration for conference attendees and sponsors is available through the conference website, http://www.hawaii.gov/gov/iwlc/2008 .