On Friday 6 March, women from across the Algarve’s professional and business community gathered at Lobos Club to mark International Women’s Day with a day centred on connection, collaboration and shared inspiration.

The event brought together entrepreneurs, small business owners and professionals from a wide range of industries, reflecting the increasingly diverse professional landscape taking shape across the region. While the Algarve is widely recognised for tourism and hospitality, events such as this highlight the growing network of women establishing businesses, launching projects and building careers locally.

The event was organised by Carolyn McKeown of Shebang PR, who brought together speakers, exhibitors and sponsors for the occasion. Support for the event came from businesses including Currencies Direct Portugal, while floral displays were provided by Casa de Mondo.

The morning began with an extended networking session, allowing attendees time to meet and reconnect while exploring exhibitor stands showcasing a variety of local ventures and services. For many participants, these gatherings offer a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and expand professional networks in a region where connections often develop through personal introductions and community events.

Later in the morning, guests gathered to hear from a series of inspirational speakers who shared personal experiences and reflections from their professional journeys. Among the speakers were Erika Harding, Jo Halliday, representatives from Currencies Direct Portugal, Zephyr Art Portugal and Expat Haven Algarve, as well as singer-songwriter Raquelle Gracie.

The talks touched on themes of leadership, resilience and the evolving role of women in business, offering both practical insight and encouragement to those navigating their own careers or entrepreneurial paths.

Following the talks, attendees sat down to a shared lunch prepared by Lobos Club. The menu featured seasonal Mediterranean dishes designed for relaxed dining and conversation. Starters were served as sharing plates, including burrata with cherry tomatoes and basil, roast pumpkin and feta salad with toasted seeds, and warm focaccia and sourdough served with butter.

Guests then selected from a range of main courses including grilled chicken thighs with chimichurri, baked seabream with lemon and herbs, or a vegetarian aubergine parmigiana layered with tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmesan. Dessert was served as a smaller selection of sweet bites, including chocolate brownie pieces, lemon tart slices and fresh berries, accompanied by coffee and tea.

The afternoon continued with further networking, live music by Filipe Neves (aka The Snowman) and a prize draw, allowing conversations started earlier in the day to continue in a relaxed atmosphere.

During the event, singer-songwriter Raquelle Gracie was recognized with the International Women’s Day Entrepreneur Award, celebrating her achievements within the Algarve’s creative and business communities.

While International Women’s Day is recognised globally, events such as this demonstrate how the occasion is also shaped at a local level. In the Algarve, where international communities often intersect with Portuguese businesses and professionals, gatherings like this create space for collaboration across cultures and industries.

For many in attendance, the value of the day lay not only in the formal programme but in the informal moments of conversation and the introductions made over coffee, the exchange of ideas between businesses, and the sense of a professional community continuing to grow within the region.