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Prize Presentation 2024​

On 2 November 2024, we hosted the annual EDUGRANT Award Ceremony, bringing together inspiring individuals in celebration of education and mentorship. The event began with an intimate sharing session by Tan Su Shan, incoming CEO of DBS Bank, where attendees gained invaluable insights and advice.   Beyond honoring the awardees, YWLC introduced their mentorship program, encouraging young women to take part in this meaningful initiative. It was truly heartening to see the award winners engaging with our fellow IWF members, exchanging stories and aspirations.   Looking forward to the Edugrant Ceremony 2025! 

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

A Singaporean Success Story

The remarkable journey of Jessica Tan, recently featured on CNA, showcases an extraordinary rise from humble beginnings to becoming the president of Sun Life Canada. Her stellar career trajectory includes leading China’s largest insurance company Ping An Group, where she served as group co-CEO, growing their client base from 80 million to 230 million during her 11-year tenure. This outstanding leadership earned her recognition as one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders in 2021.  Tan’s academic excellence shone through early, from her days at CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School to achieving perfect grades at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she earned two Bachelor of Science degrees and a master’s in electrical engineering and computer science. Her professional journey began at McKinsey & Company in 2000. Her commitment to excellence led her to Ping An Group in 2013, where she transformed the company by integrating innovative eldercare services into their financial services.  At Ping An Group, Tan’s vision for eldercare services resulted in 200,000 families signing up within three years of launch, demonstrating her ability to create substantial social impact while driving business growth. Now at Sun Life Canada, which serves 12 million clients – more than a quarter of Canada’s population – she aims to help Canadians achieve financial security and healthier lives during their retirement years. This move marks what she calls “chapter three” of her professional and personal life, allowing her to explore the North American market.  The 48-year-old Singaporean’s success story is particularly noteworthy given the current corporate landscape, where women occupied only 8.2 percent of CEO positions in S&P 500 companies in 2023. Tan’s leadership philosophy emphasizes making a difference beyond profit margins, focusing on creating real impact for clients and communities. Her journey from a humble beginning to leading major financial institutions serves as an inspiring testament to the power of determination, and visionary leadership.    Read the original featured article on CNA here: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/up-close/global-view-humble-roots-ping-4862376?cid=FBcna&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR35ziculrSPE8LKa7_sr2aB5fsKMyIzE7-SqEqCTI_LX3WfnNKIa2xNuw8_aem_G-8TR3cxIEdR1IRzVE_1uQ    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-tan-077b84b/?originalSubdomain=sg  

A Trailblazer in Nanotechnology

The extraordinary journey of Jackie Ying, featured on Forbes 50 Over 50, is a scientist who helped define nanoscience and nanotechnology. She illustrates a remarkable ascent from her academic beginnings to becoming a global pioneer with over 400 research papers and 200 patents to her name. Her distinguished career began with a Ph.D. from Princeton and a professorship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992. Her commitment to scientific advancement led her back to Singapore, where she was raised, to lead the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in 2003. From there onwards, she has revolutionized the field and under her leadership, the Institute transformed from obscurity into a world-class research center that has generated more than 650 patents and 1,330 research papers.  Her exceptional contribution to the field of science has cemented her status as a defining figure in her field, with her journey now continuing as executive director of research and innovation at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Riyadh  Read the original featured article on Forbes here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2025/01/23/50-over-50-global-2025/  

IWF Gala 2023​

On 7 March 2023, we gathered for the International Women’s Forum Singapore 25th Anniversary Dinner in support of the IWF Education Grant fundraising. It was a memorable evening filled with warmth, generosity, and a shared commitment to empowering young women through education.   Thanks to the incredible support of our donors, we surpassed our stretch target, raising $500,000 for the education grant. These funds will provide bursaries for low-income young women, helping them pursue their dreams of tertiary education.   A heartfelt thank you to all who contributed—you are making a lasting impact on the lives of these young women. Looking forward to the next chapter of this meaningful journey! 

Celebrate Lunar New Year 2025​

On 15 January 2025, Melissa Kwee hosted a CNY lunch at Cassia @ Capella Hotels, bringing everyone together to usher in the Lunar New Year. It was a wonderful start to the celebrations with an early Loh Hei, filled with laughter and good company.   A heartfelt thank you to Melissa for being such a gracious and elegant host. The afternoon was filled with lively conversations as the ladies caught up and shared their plans for the year ahead. 

From Adversity to Advocacy: A Journey of Empowerment

Fueled by a profound desire to support victims of crime – especially women and children – Charis Chow, an undergraduate student, is on a mission to make a difference. Her commitment is deeply personal, rooted in her own family experiences where she witnessed the devastating effects of crime on the most vulnerable in her family. This journey has ignited her determination to advocate for those in need and create a safer, more compassionate world.   “Growing up, I saw how crime so deeply affected the lives of the women in my family,” Charis shares. “It made me realise early on that I wanted to help those often overlooked and silenced.” However, the path to fulfilling her dreams was not without challenges. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Charis’ family faced financial strain as her father was retrenched. Thankfully, she found financial aid from the IWF Singapore Education Grant.  “The EduGrant not only subsidised my university tuition fees but also allowed funded my participation in a conference to which I was invited, where I had the chance to connect with senior thought leaders from various industries,” Charis recalls. “I felt completely out of my depth but incredibly challenged. It was a turning point for me.” This pivotal experience at the conference expanded her perspective beyond the immediate impact of on-the-ground therapeutic work. Charis began to see the broader picture—the need for social, private, and public partnerships to accelerate and bolster the effectiveness of initiatives, especially those emerging from non-governmental or non-profit organisations. Driven by a newfound vision, Charis sought to maximize the opportunities she was given, recognizing the privilege of being born in Singapore and receiving a quality education. She channelled her energy to uplift vulnerable children through research. She is currently working on her psychology honours thesis, which focuses on the social and emotional development of refugee children in Malaysia. Her thesis explores strategies to enhance the resilience of these refugee children in the face of crisis, reflecting her commitment to using her knowledge and resources to uplift those less fortunate. Having been exposed to both ends of the spectrum – from working with refugees to engaging with accomplished women in the International Women’s Forum Singapore – Charis recognises the vital role of building connections that can drive meaningful change. “There’s so much more work to be done to bridge the top 1% and the bottom 1%,” she emphasises.  As she looks to the future, Charis aspires to continue her work at the intersection of advocacy and business to gain insights into best practices from the private sector. She plans to leverage this experience to drive meaningful change and promote a more just and compassionate society. Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, education, and the desire to make a difference. In offering advice to others who may face similar challenges, Charis encourages them to persevere and seek out opportunities that align with their passions. Charis’ story is a shining example of what can be achieved when passion meets purpose. Through the support of the IWF Singapore Education Grant, she has not only overcome personal adversity but also set herself on a path to becoming a leader and advocate for those in need.

IWF Mentorship 2024/25 is Now Open

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enquiries@iwfsg.com

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