ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

Kaunas BWN is guided by a council elected in 2025, which currently includes

Irma Kvedarienė

Irma Kvedarienė

 Kaunas BWN President
Margarita Baltrušaitienė

Margarita Baltrušaitienė

 Kaunas BWN Council Member
Deimantė Mitkuvienė

Deimantė Mitkuvienė

 Kaunas BWN Council Member
Žaneta Venskavičienė

Žaneta Venskavičienė

 Kaunas BWN Council Member
Daiva Vyšniauskienė

Daiva Vyšniauskienė

 Kaunas BWN Council Member
Fausta Šeputytė-Visser

Fausta Šeputytė-Visser

 Kaunas BWN Council Member

KAUNAS BWN

The Kaunas Business Women’s Network has been operating in Kaunas Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts since 2008.

The Business Women’s Network in Lithuania was initiated in 2007 by Asta Šileikienė, a member of the Kaunas Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, and the head of UAB ‘Garliavos šeimos klinika’. The Lithuanian Business Women’s Network was formally established on 23 July 2008.

Kaunas BWN Members

SECTORS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, AS REPRESENTED BY MEMBERS

The Kaunas Business Women’s Network currently brings together more than 60 women entrepreneurs and managers. The majority of the members represent micro and small companies, with the minority representing medium and large companies.

Services Sector

Members provide services in business processes, quality management, HR, occupational safety, personal data protection, legal consultancy, product labelling/notification consultancy, beauty, training, marketing, catering, catering, design and printing, dentistry, insurance, financial accounting and auditing, hotel and tourism, nursing, translation and other services.

Manufacturing Services

Textiles, clothing, rubber and plastics, pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, woodworking, home décor, household items and other products.

Trade Sector

This sector includes trade in outdoor furniture, health products, household goods, office supplies, pharmaceuticals and other products.

Science and Research Sector

The members represent the Faculty of Economics and Business of KTU.

MEMBERSHIPS

Since 2008, Kaunas BWN has been affiliated with EUROCHAMBRES Women Network of the Association of European Commerce and Industry Business Women’s Network through the Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts.

ACTIVITIES

Kaunas Business Women’s Network focuses on uniting women entrepreneurs and top-level managers, providing mutual advice and support, promoting entrepreneurship, and creating an environment conducive to women’s entrepreneurship.

FORMS OF ACTIVITY

Every year, Kaunas BWN organises about 25 events that attract approximately 700 participants.

  • Monthly community breakfasts
  • Monthly thematic meetings
  • Conference ‘Formula: Entrepreneurial and Happy’
  • Forums, networking events, visits to women-run companies in the region
  • Cultural and educational activities, trips
  • Presentation of members in social networks
  • Participation in a variety of events organised by the Kaunas Chambers of CIC
  • Participation in a variety of entrepreneurship-promoting initiatives and social activities
  • Awards

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION OF MEMBERS

We are proud of our members’ achievements and activities

  • In 2025, Lithuania’s Business Woman/Leader of the Year became Dr. Rima Balanaškienė, owner and CEO of the private limited company Aconitum. She was awarded for her outstanding contribution to the pharmaceutical industry, innovative leadership, and international recognition. Under her leadership, Aconitum has developed more than 500 plant-based medicines and food supplements, which are exported to as many as 80 countries worldwide. In recent years, the company’s sales revenue has increased by an impressive 234%, and export volumes have surged by 520%, demonstrating exceptional business success on the international stage. The award was presented on behalf of the Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts.
  • In 2024, Irma Kvedarienė, head of Kaunas Business Women’s Network and head of a limited liability company Klinika ‘Agatas’, was awarded the title of the Ambassador of the Kaunas Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts. Irma Kvedarienė is an honest and active participant in the Chambers’ activities and demonstrates unwavering loyalty to the organisation. As an ambassador, she disseminates the message of and fosters trust in the Chambers as the largest and most prominent business organisation in the region.
  • Dr. Rūta Klimašauskienė, shareholder of UAB ‘Alfa idėjos ir technologijos’, was awarded the bronze ‘Labour Star’, a bronze medal of honour of the Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts; the award was granted by Kaunas Chambers of CIC.
  • Agnė Makselytė, head of VšĮ ‘Personalo praktikų paslaugos’, was awarded a Token of Gratitude of the Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts; the award was granted by Kaunas Chambers of CIC.
  • Asta Šileikienė received an award for her pivotal role in uniting entrepreneurial women within the Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, for her leadership of the Lithuanian Business Women’s Network in 2008–2012, and for the promotion of women empowerment and community; the award was granted by the Association of Lithuanian CCIC and Lithuanian BWN.
  • Fausta Šeputytė-Visser, CEO of UAB Metga, received an award for her leadership, long-term leadership of the Lithuanian and Kaunas Business Women’s Networks, innovative ideas uniting businesswomen, moderation of events and cordial fellowship; the award was granted by the Association of Lithuanian CCIC and Lithuanian BWN.
  • Saulė Motiejūnienė, director of UAB Linolitas, received an award for her long-term sincere leadership of the Kaunas Business Women’s Network, for uniting the members of the Lithuanian Business Women’s Network, for her strong direction, for the promotion of community as the Head of the Lithuanian Business Women’s Network, and for initiating and organising the conference ‘Formula: Entrepreneurial and Happy’; the award was granted by the Association of Lithuanian CCIC and Lithuanian BWN.
  • Irma Kvedarienė, director of UAB ‘SB dantų klinika’, was awarded a Token of Gratitude of the Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts; the award was granted by Kaunas Chambers of CIC.
  • Rūta Matulaitytė, head of the group of companies AB Liteksas, UAB Lietlinen, and UAB Lietvilna, was awarded a Token of Gratitude of the Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts; the award was granted by Kaunas Chambers of CIC.
  • Saulė Motiejūnienė, director of UAB Linolitas, was awarded a Token of Gratitude of the Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts; the award was granted by Kaunas Chambers of CIC.
  • Živilė Vaitkūnienė, director of UAB Aša, was awarded a Token of Gratitude of the Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts; the award was granted by Kaunas Chambers of CIC.
  • Dr. Rima Balanaškienė, owner and CEO of UAB Aconitum and UAB Akses Swiss, was included in the TOP 20 list of the most innovative women in Europe; in G. Palma’s 20 Women for Innovation.
  • Dr. Rima Balanaškienė, owner and CEO of UAB Aconitum and UAB Akses Swiss, was awarded the ‘Excellence in Pharma: CEO of the Year 2020’; the award was granted by CPhI Pharma Global Organisation.
  • Dr. Rima Balanaškienė, owner and CEO of UAB Aconitum and UAB Akses Swiss, was awarded the EU Prize for Women Innovators 2018 as a finalist.
  • Dr. Rima Balanaškienė, owner and CEO of UAB Aconitum and UAB Akses Swiss, was awarded the ‘Profesijos riteris 2018’ (The Knight of Profession 2018).
  • Živilė Vaitkūnienė, director of UAB Aša, was awarded the bronze ‘Labour Star’, a bronze medal of honour.
  • Jūratė Gulbinienė, owner of the company Jūratė Gulbinienė, was awarded the bronze ‘Labour Star’, a bronze medal of honour.
  • Fausta Šeputytė-Visser, director of UAB Metga, was awarded the bronze ‘Labour Star’, a bronze medal of honour.
  • Dr. Rima Balanaškienė, owner and CEO of UAB Aconitum and UAB Akses Swiss, received ‘Verslios moters’ (The Entrepreneurial Woman’) award.
  • Asta Šileikienė, head of UAB ‘Garliavos šeimos klinika’, was awarded the bronze ‘Labour Star’, a bronze medal of honour.
  • Margarita Grigaliūnienė, head of UAB Liningas, was awarded the bronze ‘Labour Star’, a bronze medal of honour.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE MEMBERSHIP

A person representing a member of Kaunas Chambers of CIC, i.e. the owner/co-owner of a private or public legal entity working in this company, or the top-level manager of a private or public legal entity, or the holder of the individual activity certificate/business license can become a member of Kaunas BWN.

Those interested in becoming a member:

  • The candidate is required to attend one event organised by Kaunas BWN.
  • The candidate is required to complete a written application form to join the network.
  • The candidate is invited to attend a meeting with the Council of Kaunas BWN to discuss the expectations and network activities.

Following a thorough evaluation process, the Council of Kaunas BWN will make a decision on membership, and the candidate will be formally welcomed into the network once the annual membership fee has been paid.