Twice a year, Opportunity hosts a big microfinance conference, bringing in experts in microfinance, poverty eradication and global development to share their knowledge and experience with Opportunity staff, supporters and people interested in learning more about microfinance. This fall, our conference in Washington, D.C. promises to be as inspiring and engaging as ever. 

Get to knowhttp://www.opportunity.org/opportunity-international-conference/speakers/three experts[/intlink] on global poverty,http://www.opportunity.org/what-is-microfinance/microfinance[/intlink] and politics at thehttp://www.opportunity.org/opportunity-international-conference/Fall Microfinance Conference[/intlink], October 8-9, that you should not miss: 

1. Sheryl WuDunn

The first Asian-American Pulitzer Prize winner, and a co-author of the New York Times best-selling book http://www.opportunity.org/blog/celebrate-international-women%e2%80%99s-day-with-%e2%80%9chalf-the-sky%e2%80%9d/Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide[/intlink], will speak about the movement to emancipate women and fight global poverty by unlocking women’s power as economic catalysts. 

2. Maria Otero

This political powerhouse is the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs. She’ll offer us the U.S. Department of State’s perspective on poverty and microfinance. 

3. Tamara Cook

As a program officer for Financial Services for the Poor in the Global Development Program at the http://www.opportunity.org/about/strategic-partners/strategic-partner-bill-melinda-gates-foundation/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation[/intlink], Cook focuses on savings and commercial banks, with an emphasis on providing savings accounts to the poor, and manages several program-related investments (PRIs). At the conference, she’ll speak about microfinance as an example of the foundation’s core values, and will share Melinda Gates’ insights from http://www.opportunity.org/blog/melinda-gates-highlights-opportunity-international/her visit[/intlink] to Opportunity Malawi. 

Do not miss the chance to be a part of the vibrant, intelligent discussions of these three experts, and many more. Go to http://www.opportunity.org/opportunity-international-conference/opportunity.org/opportunity-microfinance-conference[/intlink] and register[/intlink] for the conference today.