18th Outstanding Woman is: Rev. Alma Louise de Bode-Olton

Rev. Alma Louise de Bode-Olton was recognized during the 20^th Annual Female Leadership Conference in Curaçao last Friday as the 18^th Outstanding Woman.

This annual event which focuses on career women aims to have role models in the spotlight to have more great examples for younger women.

The annual outstanding woman must be older than 60 years, from the Caribbean and her professional life activities must be benefitting other women.

This year’s outstanding woman is literally a big personality.

She was born in Curaçao in 1949 and made an impressive career, starting as a chemical specialist working in the National Laboratory.

She later went on to study law and got her degree in law, and continued her career as a treaty lawyer in the local Office for Foreign Relations in Willemstad.

She continued her outstanding career as a Foreign Service officer, with postings in Havana, Cuba, and in Port of Spain, Trinidad W.I..

Back home she was Interim Director of the Directorate for Foreign Affairs/Change Manager where she ended her professional career before retiring.

She did not go home to sit under her mango tree but continued service as a pastor at the Anglican Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Curaçao and she is the first ordained female pastor on the island.

Her motto is to serve and to be of service to all in need.

She also is still advising professionals who need to tap into her experiences since sharing her knowledge and wisdom and understanding people, is a priority for her.

‘We live by serving and sharing’, says our 2023 Outstanding Woman Rev. Alma Louise de Bode-Olton.

A surprise moment was when a 19^th Outstanding Woman was presented to the initiator and organizer of the Annual Female Leadership Conference in Curaçao Reyna Joe who was without words for this situation.

The recognition is for her creation of this event and best of all keeping it going and benefitting many ambitious women.

Reyna Joe accepted the recognition hoping to be able to continue serving her community.

The organization of the Annual Female Leadership Conference in Curaçao congratulates Rev. Alma Louise de Bode-Olton and Reyna Joe for being an example for all ambitious women.