Nine talented young women from across Southeast Asia were unveiled on March 20, 2018 as winners of the first ever Women of the Future Awards South East Asia, the UK-born movement showcasing and strengthening the pipeline of female talent.
The winners were celebrated across nine categories and were selected from a shortlist of 51 candidates representing 10 countries across the region. The winners in their respective Award categories are:
• Arts & Culture: Laura Mam, Singer/Songwriter, CEO and Founder, Baramey Production (Cambodia)
• Business: Christina Gao, Global Product Manager, Shell (Singapore)
• Community Spirit & Public Service: Phyu Hninn Nyein, General Manager, Farm Advisory Services, Proximity Designs (Myanmar)
• Entrepreneur: Khai Lin Chua, Co-Founder and CFO, Fundnel (Singapore)
• Media & Communications: Jessica Cheam, Managing Editor, Eco-Business (Singapore)
• Professions: Mary Bounthalath, Trade Commissioner, Office of the Embassy of Canada to Lao PDR (Laos)
• Property, Infrastructure & Construction: An Nguyen, Director, Research & Consulting Services, CBRE Vietnam (Vietnam)
• Science, Technology & Digital: Chern Ein Oon, Senior Lecturer, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Malaysia)
• Social Entrepreneur: Cherrie Atilano, Social Entrepreneur & Founder/President, AGREA Agricultural Systems International, Inc. (Philippines)
Pinky Lilani CBE DL, Founder, Women of the Future (WOF) Programme, said: “We are extremely delighted to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our Award winners and shortlisted candidates at our first Women of the Future Awards in Southeast Asia. These talented young women are reshaping their various fields and helping to create a better future for all, while blazing a trail for a new generation of women.”
“In a region faced with significant human resource challenges, women are a tremendous untapped resource that can ease the talent shortage and contribute to the growth of the region. Through the Women of the Future Awards we aim to recognise and inspire women so as to deepen and broaden the female talent pool, and build a global collaborative network of women to inspire and mentor each other to support progress in Asia,” added Lilani.
Chris Wei, Executive Chairman, Aviva Asia & FPI and Global Chairman, Aviva Digital, said: “Diversity lies at the heart of our business at Aviva and we are honoured to support the inaugural Women of the Future Awards Southeast Asia. By building an inclusive workforce that values the contributions of both women and men alike, we seek to provide an environment where talented women feel empowered to harness their fullest potential at Aviva. Congratulations to the Award winners and nominees who have made huge achievements in their respective fields. I believe they will continue to inspire many generations of female leaders to come.”
The Award winners were selected from a shortlist of 51 candidates. Judging took place at the Aviva offices in Singapore by a distinguished panel that also represented a diverse field, ranging from Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Group, Caesar Sengupta, Regional Vice President of Product Development for Google, to Jacqueline Poh, Chief Executive of Singapore’s Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and Marie-Agnès Mazas, Asia Pacific Talent Director, Sodexo. The Judging panel was chaired by Vicki Treadell, British High Commissioner to Malaysia.
Founded 12 years ago in the UK by Pinky Lilani CBE DL, and proudly supported by headline sponsor Aviva, the Women of the Future Awards are aimed at recognising the inspirational young female stars of today and tomorrow. They are open to women aged 35 or under and celebrate talent across nine different fields, ranging from business, entrepreneurship, to property, science and technology, the arts, and community service.
The Award winners and shortlisted candidates of each category will gain access to many different opportunities, including the Women of the Future (WOF) network – a global and collaborative network of women who support and inspire each other to further professional and personal success.
The Women of the Future South East Asia Awards is also sponsored by AirAsia, Astro Media, CIMB, Mishcon de Reya LLP, RICS, Shell, Said Business School, University of Oxford & Sodexo, and partnered by CNBC Asia, Grip.
Other Initiatives
The Women of the Future Programme will be hosting the Asian Women of Achievement Awards on May 9 at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Join us to celebrate the phenomenal Asian women across the UK and across industries, who are making a valuable and important contribution to British life. Click on the link to book your place! http://www.awaawards.com/book/.