Chairman wins the  WORLD OF DIFFERENCE AWARD

The International Alliance for Women honor 100 Awardees at Global Forum, October 27 2011

 Thordis Loa Thorhallsdottir, Chairman of Finnish Icelandic Chamber of Commerce & owner of Pizza Hut in Iceland & Finland, has been selected by The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) as a recipient of the 2011 TIAW World of Difference 100 Awards.   Thordis Loa received the awards last October 27, 2011 as part of the TIAW Global Forum, in Washington, DC, USA.

 The 2011 awards recognize 100 achievers from 27 countries for their efforts in advancing the economic empowerment of women locally, regionally or worldwide. Recipients are selected from leaders of communities, organizations, corporations or countries who have taken action to support women’s economic empowerment and advancement in society and in business.

 Thordis Loa is the chairman of the board for the Icelandic investment group, Naskar ehf.  A group of 10 powerful women from Iceland interested to learn practice and have fun while investing into various entrepreneurial projects.  The group was formed shortly before the economic crash in Iceland (autumn 2008) and was one of few groups of investors who didn't loose their whole investments during the crash.

As the chair of this group, Thordis Loa has worked tirelessly at promoting, teaching, empowering and mentoring other women to look at themselves as successful investors.  This gives them the confidence to reach out and see their own opportunity to be financially more independent.

Thordis Loa is a true role-model in her field and is already making a "world of difference" to thousands of women in Iceland and Finland.

Thordis Lóa has a BA in social & media studies as well as having graduated studies in Social Work.  She has a MBA degree in international Business.  She owns and runs Pizza Hut in Iceland & Finland along with her Partner Pétur Jónsson, operating 10 restaurants and employing around 180 people in both countries.  Thordis Lóa is currently chairperson in her own companies as well as leading the Naskar Investment group & Finnish Icelandic Chamber of Commerce.  Thordis Lóa was on the board of FKA (Icelandic Association of Women Entrepreneurs) through 2008-2010.

TIAW (www.tiaw.org ) is an international umbrella organization which strives to support and promote professional women through resources and networks. Founded in 1980, it has emerged as the global voice of businesswomen who want to make a difference in their communities. TIAW connects leading women’s organizations and their members worldwide to leverage their reach and resources. Located primarily in the Americas, Asia and Europe, they represent more than 35,000 members worldwide.

The TIAW Global Forum was held October 26-28 when women leaders and thoughtful strategists from around the world gather at the Canadian Embassy, in Washington, D.C.  For more information on the TIAW Global Forum, please go to www.tiaw.org.