Archives

IWF Dine Around

The Dine Around sessions are small-group gatherings hosted by IWF members, designed to encourage meaningful connections and open discussions across a wide range of topics in a relaxed and engaging setting.

Annabel Pennefather Excellence Awards Night – Chong Yoke Sin and Laura Hwang

The Annabel Pennefather Excellence Awards Night is a meaningful initiative established by the International Women’s Forum (IWF) to honour the legacy of the late Annabel Pennefather, Singapore’s iconic figure in hockey. This annual award celebrates the spirit of excellence, resilience, and leadership embodied by Annabel, and aims to inspire the next generation of young women. Each year, two outstanding female student-athletes from the Singapore Sports School are selected as award recipients. These aspiring young women are recognised not only for their athletic achievements, but also for their character, determination, and potential to make a lasting impact in their respective fields. Beyond recognition, the Awards Night reflects IWF’s broader commitment to supporting the education and development of young women. As strong advocates for empowering future female leaders, IWF members actively provide scholarships to students in institutions of higher learning—particularly those who require financial assistance to pursue their ambitions. In partnership with the Young Women’s Leadership Connection (YWLC), IWF also offers mentorship and career guidance to scholarship recipients, helping them navigate their personal and professional journeys with confidence. Funds for the IWF EduGrant scholarships are raised through a combination of events, fundraising dinners, and the generous support of members and friends. The Awards Night stands as both a celebration of achievement and a testament to the collective effort in nurturing the potential of young women.

IWF New Year Lunch 2026

IWF Singapore New Year Lunch at East Treasures Restaurant, Clarke Quay — a gathering to celebrate the beginning of 2026 with members and friends.

HK’s 35th Anniversary

Held on 11 November 2025, the IWF Hong Kong 35th Anniversary celebration marked a significant milestone in honouring the organisation’s legacy. The event brought together members and leaders to celebrate achievements, recognise impactful leadership, and continue inspiring future generations of women.  

IWF Edugrant Awards 2025

We are thrilled to share the recent International Women’s Forum Edugrant Awards Ceremony, where we proudly recognized the achievements of 34 outstanding young women awardees from the polytechnics, universities, NAFA and LaSalle college of the Arts. These bright individuals were carefully selected through a  interview process by our dedicated Edugrant committee. Thanks to Tan Yen Yen, Chong Siak Chung, Dr Fong Cheng Hong, Caecilia Chu and Chia Yong Yong who served as fellow interviewers on the committee.  Thanks to our ever efficient and trusted Karen Teo who keeps our activities humming like clockwork. We are grateful to DBS for generously allowing us the use of their 46th floor seminar room for the event. Certainly lifts the aspirations for our participants! This initiative is more than just an award; it’s a platform for empowerment and growth. Our awardees will benefit immensely from the mentorship provided by our trusted  partner, the Young Women Leaders Connection. Comprised of dynamic and enterprising professional women, this mentorship program promises to offer invaluable guidance and support. Together with the dedicated IWF member volunteers, they form a powerful network of advisors, confidantes, and role models. Thanks to Nyx Chong, director of Social Impact at YWLC who gave an uplifting speech about YWLC’s mission and activities at the event. We are incredibly grateful to our partner, the Community Foundation of Singapore, for their vital role in the administration of these awards. Their support helps us to not only provide resources to our awardees but also to foster their personal and professional development. Thanks to Dr Ayesha Khanna who gave an exhilarating expose on the Future of AI and work. We will be wearing AI in the near future. Watch for this space. Our mission is clear: to equip these young women with the tools and guidance necessary to make informed decisions about their studies and future careers. What better way to navigate these critical stages than with the support of like-minded, accomplished women and partner organisations who understand the journey? Congratulations to all our awardees! Here’s to a future filled with growth, leadership, and success.

Council for Board Diversity (CBD) Singapore

We honour our fellow member, Swee Chen Goh, on her recent appointment as co-chair of the Council for Board Diversity (CBD) Singapore. Her appointment marks another milestone in an exemplary career dedicated to leadership excellence and organizational transformation. As Chairman of the Nanyang Technological University Board of Trustees and the National Arts Council, along with her board directorships at JTC Corporation and Singapore Airlines, Swee Chen exemplifies the caliber of leadership that defines our IWF community.  Her appointment comes at an encouraging moment in Singapore’s journey toward greater board diversity, with women now representing 34.3% of statutory board directors and 31.7% of top IPC board positions. As co-chair of CBD, Swee Chen will play an instrumental role in further advancing diversity and good governance in Singapore’s boardrooms.  We congratulate Swee Chen on this significant appointment and look forward to her continued impact in promoting inclusive leadership across Singapore’s corporate landscape.  Read the original featured article on LinkedIn here: Linkedin

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