Microsoft VP Linda Zecher keynote speaker for Commonwealth conference

Linda Zecher, corporate vice-president of Microsoft's Worldwide Public Sector organisation, will be a key speaker to address the forthcoming Commonwealth Local Government Conference 2009.

Ms Zecher leads a team of more than 1,900 sales and marketing professionals serving government, education and non-privatised health care customers in more than 100 countries. In this role, she oversees Microsoft's work in providing innovative technology solutions and forward-thinking programmes to help public sector organisations provide efficient and effective public services to their citizens and build the capacity of their populations.

“The Commonwealth Local Government Conference is the big international event in the local government calendar for senior decision-makers and practitioners to meet and learn about new ideas, approaches, and products that can support their councils to deliver better services,” said Basil Morrison, chairperson of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF).

“The conference will attract some 600 high-level politicians, policy-makers and practitioners from national and local governments from around the world. We are very pleased to welcome Microsoft on board as a key partner in the conference and in particular welcome Ms Zecher as a keynote speaker. We are always looking for innovative new ideas to help local government to meet its responsibilities and deliver services, including greater use of IT.

The 2009 Commonwealth Local Government Conference is being hosted by the Government of The Bahamas, through the Department of Lands and Local Government, and will be held at Our Lucaya Conference Centre, Freeport, Grand Bahama, from 10 to 14 May. The conference is held every two years, but this is the first time it is being held in the Caribbean, with a significant number of people from The Bahamas, the wider Caribbean and further afield – Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific.

Other keynote speakers will include several heads of government from the region, including Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, and Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica; key speakers will also include representatives of international organisations, ministers of local government, chief councillors and city leaders.

Related Websites:

• Commonwealth Local Government Conference 2009