Ambassador to keynote International Women’s Day celebration

Audrey Marks, ambassador of Jamaica to the United States, will be the keynote speaker for this year’s International Women’s Day celebration, scheduled for 3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 28, in the Popp Martin Student Union Multipurpose Room.

The Office of International Programs, in partnership with the Office of Identity, Equity and Engagement and the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, is sponsoring the University’s 14th annual International Women’s Day celebration, which recognizes the contributions and achievements of women in the campus community who have worked to advance global awareness, learning and engagement.

Marks, an entrepreneur by profession, started and operated six businesses, including a 100-acre banana exporting farm, a transportation company as well as a real estate sales and development company. She also operated a venture capital company with diverse investments, including manufacturing, travel and entertainment. She is perhaps best known as the founder of Paymaster (Jamaica) Limited, an online bill payment system that she conceptualized and started in 1997.

She was the first Jamaican female ambassador to the United States and the first to be assigned to the post twice, serving from 2010 to 2012 and reappointed in September 2016.

As part of the March 28 celebration, the UNC Charlotte Women’s Glee will perform. RSVPs are requested for this free event.