The forum will take place at Hilton Kuala Lumpur on Mar 11.
This may start things off on an aggressive note but to borrow a quote from Gloria Steinem, we should not think about making women fit the world but “think about making the world fit women”. It is common sense (and basic maths) that women, on average, constitute at least half the world’s population at any given point in time. And yet, it is equally clear that the playing field is still not level: in terms of wages, opportunities, access to resources ... the list goes on and on. Moreover, in many parts of the world, one can still find societies where men continue to be favoured over women, a status quo that is often institutionalised, be it legally or via social norms.
And yet, as the world turns, things change. Education remains the fundamental key to addressing systemic disparities, gender-based discrimination or even unconscious bias. Everyone talks about the Boys’ Club but the Girls’ Lounge is starting to be part of the conversation, and inching towards equality is slowly but surely happening.
One of the best ways to close this gender gap is for women to step up, voice out their views and proactively mentor and sponsor one another. Circles of trust need to be built where information and experiences may be shared, networks forged and more players welcomed into the hypothetical “inner circle”. Join the conversation on March 11 with the women who are leaders in their industries as well as heads of companies who have long believed in investing in the female workforce.
Tan Sri Prof Emerita Dr Mazlan Othman
The world-renowned astrophysicist and founding director-general of Malaysia’s national space agency (Agensi Angkasa Malaysia) is without doubt the country’s most vocal, prominent and passionate proponent of space studies and exploration. Having led the Angkasawan Programme, which launched Malaysia’s first astronaut to the International Space Station, Mazlan is currently executive director of the Tropical Science Foundation and actively championing the role parents and teachers play in inspiring more young women and girls to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in their studies.
Madhusmita Bora
Multifaceted and multitalented, the co-founder of Sattriya Dance Company balances her passion for dance with her journalistic calling. A teacher, writer and filmmaker, Pennsylvania-based Madhusmita is presently employed by WHYY News as managing editor of suburban coverage. She also finds time for her work as a board member at the Bartol Foundation and adjunct professor at Lincoln University in the US. But it is her dedication to the deeply nuanced and rare Sattriya art form that has proven most groundbreaking, as it challenges traditional norms which only allow celibate monks to perform it.
Lina Tan
It is no mean feat achieving 25 years in the challenging creative field but the founder of Red Communications, established in 1999, shows no signs of stopping — or slowing down. Having produced big screen hits such as Gol & Gincu and Istanbul Aku Datang! as well as award-winning documentaries and series like Oh My English! and From Saga With Love, Tan is a known champion of Malaysian women since creating her earlier hit series 3R, which broke new ground by covering hard- hitting topics like rape and unwanted pregnancies. In between her production work, she also finds time for Suatukala, a not-for-profi t outreach programme based in Langkawi that aims to expose youngsters from rural communities to the performing arts.
Mint Lim
The founder of Singapore-based School of Concepts is well aware of the power of education. After all, it was her personal struggle with dyslexia that gave her an epiphany: She became fully cognisant of how basic language skills can impact a person’s life forever. After spending years researching, creating and fine-tuning a curriculum that would equip learners with the gift of literacy, Lim opened School of Concepts in 2017. A 2023 Fellow of the prestigious Cartier Women’s Initiative global programme, she plans to expand School of Concepts to countries in the region next.
SUPPORTING VOICES
There will also be two panel discussions on that day, with ‘Nurturing Female Talent’ and ‘The Road Ahead for Creative Women’ as key topics. Here are some of the featured women panellists.
Amanda Zhang
Appointed CEO and President Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Head of Region SEA II in August 2023, Zhang is the celebrated carmaker’s choice to continue cementing its strong role while steering the marque’s vision to not just be a brand that stands for innovation and excellence in motoring, but also placing sustainability at the forefront.
Wendy Ting
Managing director of group international business and group corporate banking for RHB, Ting also oversees and drives the bank’s regional business in Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Brunei. With almost 20 years of experience, specifically in corporate lending, leveraged buyouts, syndication and capital market-related activities, she is committed to building meaningful relationships with corporates and public-listed entities, always aiming to form and forge mutually beneficial relationships with its clients.
Nadirah Zakariya
Internationally celebrated photographer Nadirah’s work has met with both commercial success and critical acclaim. She has exhibited in several key cities around the world, and her images have graced the pages of Vogue Italia, The New York Times and Bloomberg as well as cool industry magazines like Nylon, Confused, and Vice and Dazed. She was selected for Flora Photographica, a special publication by Thames & Hudson that showcases spectacular flower imagery by over 120 of the world’s leading practitioners, including Cindy Sherman and Vik Muniz. Nadirah is also founder of Layar Lucida, an entirely women-led creative studio.
Beh Gaik Lean
Still Malaysia’s only female chef with a coveted Michelin star, Beh, fondly referred to as “Auntie Gaik Lean”, is both culinary star and de facto torch bearer for Nyonya cuisine as well as upholder of Penang’s reputation as a gourmet destination. Having set up her eponymous Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery, now into its 11th year of business, with her son Adrian Tan, she continues to serve as inspiration for the next generation of Malaysian chefs, regardless of age or gender.
Dr Anita Ratnam
Choreographer, performer, producer, speaker, mentor, cultural activist and arts entrepreneur, Chennai-based Anita is founder of Narthaki.com, the largest online portal on Indian dance, and founder- director of the Arangham Trust, a cultural foundation that seeks to explore, enrich and promote the performing and visual arts of India. Holding a PhD in Women’s Studies from the University of Madras, she is one of her country’s most generous contributors to the performing arts and has produced and choreographed a vast body of work.
For enquiries, email [email protected].
This article first appeared on Mar 4, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia.
