London, United Kingdom – In a landmark event held at the terrace suite of Norton Rose Fulbright, overlooking the iconic Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the modern towers of the City of London, the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC) proudly announced the launch of the United Kingdom Chapter of the International Women’s Chamber of Commerce (IWCC).
The inaugural event brought together 90 female leaders from diverse sectors, including legal, finance, media, marketing, government, international trade, public services, the armed forces, and education, to celebrate this historic moment and commit to advancing the empowerment of women and girls globally.
Suzan Deison, President and CEO of the GHWCC, opened the event alongside five colleagues from Houston, emphasising the critical need to empower future generations of women and girls with knowledge, skills, and mentorship.
“It is imperative that we work together to build a better, safer, happier, and more equal future,” said Deison.
She also thanked Anne-Marie Martin of the British Chambers of Commerce for hosting the delegation earlier in the day and for committing to forge an alliance with the new IWCC to boost bi-lateral trade between the UK and Texas.
Deison introduced Chris Grieves, Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, who welcomed the guests and highlighted the firm’s strong ties to Houston, citing the pivotal merger with then Houston-headquartered Fulbright & Jaworski that expanded the firm’s presence across the United States.
Grieves underscored the importance of the IWCC’s mission, stating,
“The representation of women on boards remains far too low. Empowering women is not just a goal—it’s a necessity for creating a more equitable and prosperous future.”
Deison then introduced her fellow female leaders from the GHWCC delegation, who had travelled to London to share their experiences, explore business opportunities, and support the establishment of the new IWCC chapter. Each delegate shared inspiring stories of how they and their organisations promote the empowerment of women and girls.
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The delegation included:
Kim Coomber-Hallum BP and Chair of the GHWCC.
Theresa Einhorn, Haynes Boone LLP.
Nancy Strohmer, Investment Management.
Maria Martinez, Murphy Oil Corporation.
Antoniette Latham, Verizon Business.
Miranda Martinez, Intern from the University of Texas.
Martha Castex-Tatum, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Houston, who summed up the importance of empowering women by saying:
“When women succeed, families succeed. When families succeed, communities succeed. And when communities succeed, nations succeed.”
Deison then introduced Jurga Zilinskiene MBE, founder of Guildhawk and GAI Translate, as the Chair of the new UK Chapter. She celebrated Zilinskiene’s achievements in business and her dedication to helping women flourish. Zilinskiene, who was honoured with an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for her services to international trade, has been a long-time partner of the GHWCC, hosting the Houston delegation’s first visit to London in 2014 and leading both a physical trade mission to Houston and a virtual panel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Jurga is a trailblazer,” said Deison. “Her leadership in AI and technology, her commitment to creating opportunities for young people, and her success in international trade are an inspiration to us all.”
Deison also highlighted the success of Zilinskiene’s AI-powered translation platform, GAI Translate, which recently won the SSEA Market Disruptor Award 2025 and is described as a “game-changer” by its users.
Taking the stage, Zilinskiene expressed her gratitude and excitement for the role.
“I am deeply honoured to chair the UK Chapter of the IWCC. My successes and honours, including recognition from the Royal Family, would not have been possible without the help and inspiration of the incredible women in this room,” she said.
Zilinskiene also thanked Chris Grieves and Hannah Culshaw, co-chair of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Women in Norton Rose Fulbright (WiN) network, for their support of the new IWCC chapter.
Echoing Deison’s remarks, Zilinskiene emphasised the urgency of empowering future generations of women, particularly in the face of rapid technological disruption.
“AI will transform every industry, and we need skilled women and men to help us prosper. Supporting women is not just a nice thing to do—it’s imperative,” she said.
This commitment to supporting women and strengthening the relationship between London and Houston was further underscored by Howard Dawber, Deputy Leader of London for Business and Growth, who welcomed the delegation and the IWCC's introduction.
The evening concluded with networking and a high-energy animated video showcasing the award-winning GAI Translate software, created by Zilinskiene’s AI development team. The video, themed around a spaceship in orbit, featured an avatar of Zilinskiene as the captain of the ship. To support the new Chamber, Zilinskiene announced that 50% of each subscription to the GAI Translate solution made by attendees would be contributed to the IWCC.
The launch of the UK Chapter of the IWCC marks a significant step forward in the GHWCC’s mission to expand its global reach and create a network of empowered women leaders.
About the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC):
The GHWCC is a non-profit business organisation dedicated to empowering women through education, networking, and advocacy.
About Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF):
Norton Rose Fulbright provides a full scope of legal services to the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions. The global law firm has more than 3,000 lawyers advising clients across more than 50 locations worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg, covering Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. With its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, Norton Rose Fulbright is recognised for its client service in key industries, including financial institutions; energy, infrastructure and resources; technology; transport; life sciences and healthcare; and consumer markets. For more information, visit nortonrosefulbright.com.
About Jurga Zilinskiene MBE and Guildhawk:
Jurga Zilinskiene MBE is the founder of Guildhawk, a global technology and multilingual video production company, and GAI Translate, an award-winning AI-powered secure translation platform.
