The Financial Women's Association Names Women of the Year: Irene Dorner, president and CEO of HSBC Bank USA, N.A., and Sylvia Ann Hewlett, founding president of the Center for Work-Life Policy

NEW YORK, May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Financial Women's Association (FWA) has announced that Irene Dorner, president and CEO of HSBC Bank, USA, N.A. (NYSE: HBC), and Sylvia Ann Hewlett, economist and founding president of the Center for Work-Life Policy, have been selected by the organization as "Women of the Year."

Dorner, private sector honoree, is responsible for the U.S. banking operations of HSBC, one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations. HSBC Bank USA serves around 4 million customers through its retail banking and wealth management, commercial banking, private banking, asset management, and global banking and markets segments, and operates more than 470 bank branches throughout the United States. Dorner has been recognized for global leadership and outspoken advocacy in support of workplace inclusiveness and expanded diversity among senior executives.

"For more than half a century, FWA has been seeking to open doors, remove barriers, and shine a light on the challenges facing women in the workplace," said Dorner. "I'm proud to be recognized by an organization that has made sustained contributions toward creating a working environment that supports all employees' professional aspirations."

Hewlett, public sector honoree, is an internationally renowned thought leader for her work at the Center for Work-Life Policy, a Manhattan-based think tank, where she chairs the "Hidden Brain Drain," a task force of 60 global companies committed to global talent innovation.

"I feel extremely honored to receive this award from the FWA, an organization I have admired for many years," said Hewlett. "My work, which centers on cracking the code and getting many more women to the top of the house, is tremendously aligned with the FWA's mission."

Susan Ganz, president of the FWA and a strategic advisor for the Center for Wealth Preservation, added, "that the FWA is delighted to recognize these two remarkable women in finance and celebrate 35 years of serving the community through our Educational Fund programming."

For more information about the FWA's Annual Dinner and Women of the Year Awards, please visit: http://www.fwaannualdinner.org  

About the FWA (www.fwa.org)

Founded in 1956 by eight women on Wall Street looking to further their knowledge and professional network, the Financial Women's Association is the premier professional association for high achieving women in every sector of the financial world, with nearly 1,000 members worldwide. The FWA is dedicated to connecting, educating and advancing women in business and finance. Each year, the FWA's Annual Dinner raises money for its Educational Fund, which has funded 20-plus years of mentoring and scholarship programs, financial literacy for teens and economically disadvantaged adults, and other programming for the business community.

Media contact:  Felicia Morton, 917 309 3489, [email protected]

SOURCE Financial Women's Association