The fourth annual Women of the Future Awards Southeast Asia, the only movement of its kind to recognise and nurture the pipeline of young female talent across the region, in association with NTT, announced today 61 shortlisted finalist across 11 countries comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam.
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly revealed the enormous reliance on women at home and in the essential services and, as identified by the UN, it has put hard-fought gains for women’s rights and representation of women across all industries under threat. It is therefore more important now than ever to shine a light and recognise women’s leadership and nurture, develop and support female talent.
This year’s line-up is phenomenal, with candidates from all over the region and from truly diverse sectors. From business dynamos and entrepreneurs to athletes and academics, the women shortlisted work tirelessly to empower others, forge new paths and positively impact their colleagues, communities, and the world at large.
The number of nominations received – the highest since the initiative launched in 2018 – reflects the growing and diverse pool of female talent in the region, with shortlisted candidates from backgrounds ranging from astro-physicists to Olympic gymnasts, to human rights lawyers and architects.
Pinky Lilani CBE DL, Founder, Women of the Future (WOF) Programme said: “We are absolutely blown away by the calibre of the shortlist for The Women of the Future Awards Southeast Asia 2021. The talent of our nominees is astounding, and we need to celebrate every one of these women for the role they play in shaping the countries they are from in the region. From those making medical breakthroughs and digital innovations to women who are Olympians and fighting to end human trafficking these are the change-makers and visionaries pushing the boundaries of what is possible.”
The judging will take place virtually this year in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Each of the 61 candidates will be interviewed by their respective category judges the week of 7 June to determine the overall winner of each category. The judges are leaders from a variety of fields and include John Lombard (CEO Asia Pacific, NTT), Sarita Singh (Director, Facebook), and Wincel Kaufmann (VP, Blackrock Asia), among other luminaries.
Chair of the judging panel, and CEO and Director of DBS Group, Piyush Gupta said, “The depth and breadth of local talent showcased in this years’ shortlist is beyond heartening, particularly given the disproportionate challenges that women have experienced during the pandemic. The shortlist clearly evidences the growing pool of young women waiting to be recognized, and who can benefit from the Women of the Future community. It is incredibly important to provide these inspiring trailblazers with a platform to encourage the next generation of talent in Southeast Asia, to believe that they too can excel and achieve their dreams.”
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 finalists from each category comprise:
Arts & Culture
- Nandini Balakrishnan (Malaysia)
- Adana Legros (Cambodia)
- Melissa Tan Li Hsia (Malaysia)
- Pamela Poh Sin Tan (Malaysia)
- Red Hong Yi (Malaysia)
Business
- Angie Ang (Brunei)
- Sharlene Chan (Singapore)
- Imeiniar Chandra (Indonesia)
- Josefhine Chitra (Indonesia)
- Sharon Tan (Singapore)
- Sarah Voon Ruyen (Malaysia)
Community Spirits & Public Service
- Ruby* (Philippines)
- Sereyrath Aing (Cambodia)
- Thae Su Aye (Myanmar)
- Manoly Sisavanh (Laos)
- Jonia Leite Soares (Timor Leste)
- Maria Glorian Tomen (Philippines)
Entrepreneur
- Pratiwi Hamdhana AM (Indonesia)
- Amanda Cole (Indonesia)
- Tan Nini (Malaysia)
- Thyda Thaung (Cambodia)
- Abetina Valenzuela (Philippines)
Media & Communications
- Hou Hemmunind (Cambodia)
- Falencia Naoenz (Indonesia)
- Panha S. Theng (Cambodia)
- Benjienen Toledo (Philippines)
- Alice Yu Yuebo (Singapore)
Mentor (open to both women and men)
- Ireen Catane (Philippines)
- Duncan Hewett (Singapore)
- Konthea Mean (Cambodia)
- Mikaela Luisa Teves (Philippines)
- Ma Carmela Vilela-Toreja (Philippines)
- Phillia Wibowo (Indonesia)
Professions
- Nur Amalina Che Bakri (Malaysia)
- Grace Chong (Singapore)
- Maria Pilar Lorenzo (Philippines)
- Izreen Ramli (Malaysia)
- Jiraporn Sindhuprai (Thailand)
- Busayapa Srisompong (Thailand)
Property, Infrastructure & Construction
- Lim Wai Cheng (Singapore)
- Veronica Ng (Singapore)
- Chan Pichmonyka (Cambodia)
- Mei Tan (Malaysia)
- Quek Su Jun Edwina (Singapore)
Science, Technology & Digital
- Nur Adlyka Ainul Annuar (Malaysia)
- Regine Chan (Singapore)
- An Dongmei (Singapore)
- Irene Lock Sow Mei (Malaysia)
- Yi Lin Ng (Malaysia)
- Malypoeur Plong (Cambodia)
Social Entrepreneur
- Souphaphone Dangmany (Laos)
- Huong Dang (Vietnam)
- Louise Emmanuelle d.G. Mabulo (Philippines)
- Raudhah Nazran (Malaysia)
- Aida Zunaidi/Wei Qi Wong/Ming Chi Toh (Malaysia)
Sport
- Farah Ann Abdul Hadi (Malaysia)
- Bùi Thanh Huyền (Vietnam)
- Lao Khang (Laos)
- Jen Macapagal (Philippines)
- Nicole Tiamzon (Philippines)
- Qinthara Nabigha (Indonesia)
The winners of the Women of the Future Southeast Asia Awards 2021 will be announced on 6 October, 2021 at the awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel Singapore.
About Women of the Future
Women of the Future (“WOF”) Programme is a portfolio of events and projects that support and celebrate the successes of women through the WOF Awards, WOF Summit, WOF Ambassadors and WOF Network. WOF was founded in 2006 by Pinky Lilani CBE DL and Cherie Blair CBE is Awards patron.
WOF is a movement focused on kindness and collaboration in the workplace, galvanising a community of influential women to work together as a new generation of talent across business, media, culture and public service.
Previous winners of the WOF Award Southeast Asia include singer/songwriter Laura Mam (Cambodia) Managing Editor of Eco-Business online magazine, Jessica Cheam (Singapore), Founder of Agrea Agricultural systems, Cherrie Atilano (Philippines), Founder of True Complexions Rozella Mahjhrin (Malaysia), Writer & Researcher, Aye Thiri Kyaw (Myanmar), Co-Founder, Flux OS, Supna Rania Karwanamurthi (Brunei).
Women of the Future Global Ambassador – HRH The Countess of Wessex
