Women

Initiative by Prestige Malaysia

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Entrepreneurship
Sustainability

Sasibai Kimis

Founder and CEO of Earth Heir

Founder and CEO of Earth Heir, Sasibai Kimis has a finance background from a private Ivy League University -- Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania -- and a masters' degree from Cambridge University. She also spent two years with a non-governmental organisation helping the poor in Ghana and worked with Khazanah Nasional before setting up ‘Earth Heir’ to help the communities trading handcrafted products and to preserve local crafts and artisans. She agrees that being one of the only Fair Trade companies still active in Malaysia is a huge achievement for her.
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Entrepreneurship
Sustainability

Claire Sancelot

Founder and CEO of The Hive Bulk Foods

Claire Sancelot is the founder and CEO of The Hive Bulk Foods, Malaysia’s largest zero-waste chain of stores. Driven by her passion for being zero-waste, Claire found the potential of a sustainable market by starting the first zero-waste store ‘The Hive Bulk Foods’ in Malaysia. Through her composting programmes, workshops and talks, she emphasises on the human's responsibility to be less wasteful and create a healthy ecosystem for the environment. As a true feminist, her gender has never been a barrier in her journey on promoting sustainability and now having her business expanded to the US market.
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Entrepreneurship
Sustainability

Najmia Zulkarnain & Atiyya Zulkarnain

Founders, Unplug

Najmia Zulkarnain and Atiyya Zulkarnain are sisters and founders of Unplug, a concept shop that carries products from selected local and international eco-conscious brands. With the brand Real.m, Najmia and Atiyya have the idea of encouraging and promoting sustainable products in Malaysia since 2015. Unplug has achieved a leadership position in environmental sustainability by applying high standard of sustainable metrics to all the products on shelves. As women in leadership roles, the duo wants to support and inspire women to be independent and strong to create equality for women in the society.
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Art & Design
Sustainability

Pamela Tan

Multidisciplinary Artist and Founder of Poh Sin Studio

Pamela Tan is a multidisciplinary artist who used to work as an architect before her curiosity in arts led her to explore a new path. Combined with architecture background, Pamela introduced her unique and professional way of understandings culture activities and art in various art forms. Pamela is now advocating the idea of sustainable art in architecture as a female-led role who could voice and control her creativity in her multidisciplinary works.
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Education
Science & Technology

Prof. Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail

Malaysian Academic & Molecular Biologist

Prof Datuk Dr Asma Ismail is the first woman to be appointed twice as the vice-chancellor (VC) of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). She served as the first female director-general of the Higher Education Department and went on to become the first female president of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM). There, she champions policy reforms which will positively impact the science community while hoping to reshape attitudes towards “impactful research” – research that makes effective use of government and publicly funded grants, translating academic efforts into real-world solutions to real-world problems.
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Health & Wellness
Science & Technology

Wan Nadiah

CEO of Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara & Executive Director and Group CEO of TMC Life Sciences

Wan Nadiah is a young leader with a resume that reads like a dream. She is currently the CEO of Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara, as well as Executive Director and Group CEO of TMC Life Sciences. The CEO names Harvard University and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as her alma mater. Prior to completing her master’s degree in public health nutrition, she had a two-year stint in Boston Consulting Group where she was constantly working on projects related to life sciences. Her first foray into the corporate world proved to be an eye-opening experience after spending four years in the lab researching on rotavirus and molecular biology. Instead of opting for the conventional choice to pursue an MBA, public health called out to her. Today, Wan Nadiah is making sure that her voice is heard to continue adding value to her work within the community.
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Science & Technology

Dr Shahidah Mohd Shariff

Head of Technology & CEO of Petronas Research

As the CEO of Petronas Research and head of technology research, group research and technology, each day poses a different scenario and challenge for Dr Shahidah Mohd Shariff. She has been with Petronas since 1987, and her work continues to push boundaries in the field of technology R&D. She believes that there isn't any barrier that can stop women from achieving their dreams; only if you overcome it by looking at them positively.
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Science & Technology

Surina Shukri

CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)

Since leaving her homeland years ago, Surina Shukri has forged a career on Wall Street, working at one of the world’s most prestigious banks and helping its clients to improve their businesses. Her final role with JP Morgan Chase was head of strategy, business management and innovation, middle market banking and specialised industries. It was during her time in New York that she bore witness to the changing dynamics of commerce and banking to become increasingly technology driven. Today, the CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is entrusted to lead the nation's digital economy and she details why Malaysian businesses are ready for digitalisation.
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Science & Technology

Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan

Malaysian Scientist

Mahaletchumy Arujanan is a Malaysian scientist of Malaysian Indian origin. She works as the Global Coordinator of International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications and executive director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center. She believes in freedom of operation and inclusivity whilst bringing awareness to the bigger mandate – getting science to the public and ensuring that the science and biotechnology industries thrive.
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Science & Technology

Lovy Beh

President of the Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild

Lovy Beh is a graduate of University College London’s School of Pharmacy, as well as a registered pharmacist in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia. More notably, she is also the first and youngest female president of the Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild (MCPG). Yet, the path to her true calling wasn’t always straight forward.
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Education
Society

Prof. Tan Sri Dr. Sharifah Hapsah

President of the National Council of Women’s Organisation (NCWO)

Prof Emerita Tan Sri Dr. Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin has dedicated herself to education, educating future generations in her quest to cultivate women in the workforce. The former vice-chancellor of the National University of Malaysia (UKM) was appointed the prestigious role in the year 2006, at a time when she was only one of two women to have ascended to the role of vice- chancellor (Tan Sri Rafiah Salim was given the role at Universiti Malaya). An advocate for women’s rights, as well as acting as their voice, UKM was the first to introduce a work-based nursery and childcare facilities under her watch. One of her greatest achievements in challenging the status quo was when she fought for equal pay not only for herself but also her fellow colleagues and won, truly a hallmark not only to her righteousness but also her intent for gender equality.
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Science & Technology

Dr Mazlan Othman

Malaysian Astrophysicist

Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman is Malaysia’s first astrophysicist, after earning her PhD at the University of Otago in New Zealand. On returning to Malaysia in 1981, she pioneered an academic programme on astrophysics at the National University of Malaysia and was appointed Professor of Astrophysics in 1994. Her accomplishments include setting up Malaysia’s national planetarium in Kuala Lumpur and being named the director-general of the Space Science Studies Division in the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry. In 1999, she was appointment as Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, an organisation which deals with space-related issues, ranging from international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space to managing the growing problem of space debris. Dr Mazlan returned to Malaysia in 2002 to serve for five years as the founding Director General of Angkasa, the Malaysian National Space Agency. Her work led to Malaysia’s first astronaut, Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.
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Business & Leadership

Aireen Omar

President of Red Beat Ventures

Aireen Omar is the definition of a power women. Her role is to help piece together and shape the digital lifestyle ecosystem bottom-up thorugh diligent investment into start-ups. Spreading wings beyond aviation, the president of AirAsia Group's subsidiary Red Beats Ventures sets her eyes on focusing on how we look at what is available within the ecosystem and make the most out of it.
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Entertainment
Entrepreneurship
Health & Wellness

Sarah Lian

TV Host & Co-founder of Supparetreat

Sarah Lian is a woman who wears many hats. She's a model, actress, host, and founder of Supparetreat that stemmed from a successful workshop she first held with the women of her Suppagood Talent and PR agencies. She envisions Supparetreat to be something colossal towards empowering the women community in Malaysia, one step at a time.
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Society

Davina Devarajan & Arissa Jemaima Ikram

Founders of Women for Refugees

Davina Devarajan, 26, armed with a background in law from the University of London and a stint with Undi 18 as programme associate, and Arissa Jemaima Ikram, 24, a bright undergraduate in international relations and law, are the two inspiring young women who are the founders of Women for Refugees. Having been actively involved in several other NGOs such as UNHCR, Mercy Malaysia, KAKAK Organisation, ASEAN Cares Foundation and Eco Knights, the pair met via Instagram over their mutual desire to help the refugee community. The grassroots movement which was set up last year and recently acquired NGO status, aims to upskill and empower marginalised and refugee women into taking up income and community building initiatives.
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Society
The Arts

Rekha Sen

Mother

Rekha Sen is one of six women made the bold decision to file a suit, seeking a declaration that Malaysian women married to foreigners have the right under the Federal Constitution for their overseas-born children to be given Malaysian citizenship. She believes in making a much-needed change -- for her children, herself, and everyone.
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Society

Omna Sreeni-Ong

Founder & Managing Director of Engender Consultancy

Founder and Managing Director of Engender Consultancy, Omna Sreeni-Ong, has more than 20 years’ experience in the design, development and coordination of programmes in the areas of policy development, gender advocacy and community building, having worked with corporations, universities and schools, NGOs, government and grassroots organisations. She aims to bring together the government, civil society and communities to advance gender equality.
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Education

Felicia Yoon | Nur Nabihah Hashim

Girls in Engineering, Math and Science Programme Leaders

Felicia Yoon, who is co-founder of Arus Academy, and Nur Nabihah Hasim are both programme leaders for The Girls in Engineering, Math and Science (GEMS) programme run by Arus Academy over the years. GEMS was founded as an initiative by students for students back in 2015 at SMK Taman Sejahtera, Bukit Mertajam. The girls-only programme allowed girls to redefine what the tech culture should look like with them being an active contributor.
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Business & Leadership
Society

Juliana Adam

CEO of Biji-Biji Initiative

Juliana Adam heads the country’s pioneering social enterprise, Biji-Biji Initiative. Founded in 2013 to transform sustainability efforts through progressive ideas, the organisation intends on changing how people view waste and sustainability issues. Turning the planet greener though isn’t the only subject matter Biji-Biji is fervent about; gender equality and uplifting the lives of the marginalised communities are part of its agenda.
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Society

Rozana Isa

Executive Director of Sisters in Islam

Rozana Isa ventured down the path of women’s rights advocacy 22 years ago. The executive director of Sisters in Islam acknowledges that there is still much to strive for, for women to be recognised as equals in law and practice in Malaysia. She continues to rally for the challenges faced by the country's Muslim women and how they can overcome them.
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Science & Technology

Purnima Wijendra

Co-founder & Technical Director of TechSpring Academy

Purnima Wijendra is driving the increase of skilled women in technology in Malaysia and around the region as the co-founder and technical director of TechSprint Academy, an all-women coding school offering education and training to ladies already in the industry or completely new to it. The former civil engineer and data scientist, who founded the non-profit Kuala Lumpur School of Artificial Intelligence, aspires to close this gender gap and empower women towards financial independence, which will simultaneously contribute to the growth of the economy of the country.
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Society

Nadiah Hanim Abdul Latif

Socialpreneur & Co-founder of OpiS International

Nadiah Hanim Abdul Latif is a modern-day wonder woman with over 20 years of experience ranging from corporates to NGOs and humanitarian efforts. By day, she heads the strategy and programmes division at Yayasan Anak Bangsa Bisa, a foundation launched by the Indonesian multi-service platform Gojek in March 2020. The foundation, formed to help create more sustainable livelihoods for those who depend on daily income, offers timely assistance to those sharply impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. She is also the co-founder of OpiS International, an impact-driven enterprise committed to redefining the norms of work-life balance within families in the community.
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Entrepreneurship
Health & Wellness

Raja Jesrina Arshad

CEO & Co-founder of PurelyB

Raja Jesrina Arshad is the CEO and co-founder of PurelyB, which is a social enterprise registered with the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC). Today, PurelyB has expanded its social impact initiatives beyond just working with marginalised farmers in the harvesting of our herbs, but now to also train and employ marginalised communities to be able to sell products and spread good health in an affordable and sustainable way.
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Health & Wellness
Society

Siti Aishah Hassan Hasri

Founder of Spot Community Programme

Siti Aishah Hassan Hasri is the founder of Spot (Soroptimist Puberty Organising Toolkit) that champions the provision of comprehensive sexuality education for youths through age-appropriate and culturally sensitive approaches in the interest of preventing sexual abuse and exploitation. The Spot Community Programme encourages a positive attitude towards reproductive health, bodily autonomy, personal and social development. The Prestige 40 Under 40 alumna is confident of her activism and the impact it has on raising the strong women of tomorrow.
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Agriculture
Business & Leadership

Dr Sarena Che Omar

Senior Research Associate at Khazanah Research Institute

Dr Sarena Che Omar is a senior research associate at the Khazanah Research Institute. Her areas of interest include developing policies surrounding food, farming and sustainable practices within the industry. Sarena was a Yayasan Khazanah scholar at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, where she earned her PhD in Plant Science. Her doctoral thesis employed genetic technologies to explore fungal disease control in rice, the world’s most important food crop.
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Education

Melissa Tanya Gomes

Co-founder & CEO of Edvolution Enterprise

Melissa Tanya Gomes was a management consultant at a global firm who harboured an ambition to contribute to marginalised communities ever since her university days. Buried away due to societal views of social work at the time, Melissa never acted upon her impulses until years later when she heard an advertisement beseeching young Malaysians to solve education inequity aired on the radio. Posted to a high-need national school, her passion for education grew stronger, knowing the full benefits education can bring. Over time, she made a pledge to provide education for everyone using the knowledge and experience she gained as a consultant. She went on to found Edvolution Enterprise, not-for-profit social enterprise she co-founded with her best friend Janice Chong -- setting out to fundamentally transform the way the education system functions.
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Business & Leadership
Society

Izzana Salleh

Co-founder & President of Project Girls for Girls International

Co-founder and President of Project Girls for Girls International aims to help young women around the world develop the courage, vision, and skills to take a on public leadership in society. The Prestige Malaysia 40 Under 40 alumna is also CEO at Techknowlogy Imageware Sdn Bhd.
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Science & Technology
Society

Dr. Jezamine Lim Iskander

Principal CEO of Cell Biopeutics Resources & Co-founder of The Joke Factory

Principal CEO of Cell Biopeutics Resources and co-founder of The Joke Factory, Dr Jezamine Lim Iskander is a self-professed people person. She believes that doing the best at this moment puts you in a best place for the next moment.
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Art & Design
Entrepreneurship

Su-Quinn Teh

Interior Designer & Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur, Su-Quinn Teh is all about her effortless style in fashion, interior design and floristry. The mother of twin boys Chad and Casper Teh spends most of her time juggling between family and her passion in home decor. She believes that the constant change in the world of design is the beauty of life.
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Art & Design
Science & Technology

Lilian Tay

Vice President & Director of Veritas Design Group

Lillian Tay is the vice president and director of Veritas Design Group, one of the leading architectural firm in Malaysia. She joined the firm in 1992 and continues to play a pivotal role in the company. She also lends her expertise in this field, serving as the deputy president 2015/2016 and president 2019/2020 of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), as well as council member of the Heritage Trust of Malaysia (Badan Warisan). She continues to advocate the conservation of urban architectural heritage particularly in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.
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Culinary
Entertainment

Ili Sulaiman

TV Host & Culinary Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur, TV host and celebrity chef, Ili Sulaiman loves food. On top of juggling her life on and off screen, Ili is an advocate in introducing the flavours of Malaysian cuisine to the world. The ‘foodpreneur’ is a co-founder of social enterprise Agak Agak Initiative and looks to grow and nurture the food-obsessed community with Dish by Ili and most recently, with Ili Pot.
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Politics

Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz

Malaysian Politician

In the 90s, Malaysia emerged as de-facto leader of the ASEAN region, standing up to the developed world, ensuring that trade negotiations weren’t one sided. Leading much of this was former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz. The “iron lady,” as she is fondly referred to was infamous for ‘battling’ with the likes of former US Trade Secretary Charlene Barshefsky and Secretary of State Madeline Albright. During her 21-year tenure as Minister, Rafidah led Malaysia’s industrialisation policy. She is credited for having opened the country to foreign investments, reducing trade barriers while being involved in tough trade negotiations and free trade agreements. Rafidah was also instrumental in the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and in establishing MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation), a trade agency aimed at raising the profile of Malaysian exporters in foreign markets. Rafidah was recently appointed to the Economic Action Council (EAC), an organisation that aims to address economic issues faced by the public.
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Art & Design

Lim Wei-Ling

Founder & Director of Wei-Ling Gallery

Lim Wei-Ling is the founder and director of art gallery, Wei-Ling Gallery, a space that has cultivated many Malaysian artists, catapulting them onto the world stage. Lim ventured into the art scene with no knowledge on how to run a gallery. However, through her will to learn and sheer determination, her gallery has earned a prestigious reputation. It’s been a steep learning curve for her, going from stockbroking to running an art gallery, but she has emerged a winner.
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Education

Tan Sri Dr. Asiah Abu Samah

Former Education Director-General, Education Ministry

Tan Sri Dr. Asiah Abu Samah was the first woman to become director-general (DG) of the Ministry of Education. During her tenure as DG, the Ministry revolutionised the education system by introducing a new curriculum that focused on the “3Rs” – reading, writing and arithmetic. Asiah played an integral role in the development of Malaysian education having been in service for 32 years, in various capacities – teacher, lecturer and director of curriculum before being appointed. After retirement she was a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) commissioner from 2002 to 2010. She is currently a member of G-25, a civil society organisation comprising former high-ranking Malay civil servants with the goal of providing a moderate voice for society.
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Society

Ivy Josiah

Activist & Co-founder of Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)

Ivy Josiah has often been at the front lines of the struggle to reform domestic violence laws and create refuge for mistreated women. As the executive director of the Women’s Aid Organisation, a Malaysian NGO that provides free shelter, counselling and crisis support to women and children who experience abuse, Ivy is headstrong in her voice in the battle against domestic abuse. Through her irrefutable contributions to the nation, Ivy has been credited in helping to “put domestic violence on the national agenda”.
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Entertainment
The Arts

Tiara Jacquelina

Actress & Producer

Starting out as an actress in Kuala Lumpur, Tiara Jacquelina has been involved in the entertainment industry for over 30 years in various capacities including singing, acting, directing and producing stage shows. One of her most popular roles was that of the female protagonist in both the stage musical and movie of Puteri Gunung Ledang. Tiara is the “chief dream maker” of performing arts company Enfiniti and the founder of Tiarasa, a luxury glamping resort in Janda Baik. Enfiniti is the creative powerhouse behind some very successful musical theatre productions in Malaysia, including the critically acclaimed Ola Bola the Musical, which had its second run in February at the Istana Budaya, and Mud The Musical which ran for three years at the Panggung Bandaraya in Kuala Lumpur.
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Science & Technology
Society

Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah

Doctor & Former First Lady of Malaysia

Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali serves as the perfect role model for today’s woman, young and old alike. Behind every successful man is a great woman, and Dr Siti Hasmah, our first lady, epitomises this saying. Truly a pioneer in her field, as well as a trailblazer for future generations, Dr Siti Hasmah was one of the first Malay woman doctors in Malaysia as well as the first woman to be appointed a Medical Officer in government service for the State of Kedah. Dr Siti Hasmah was also one of the first Malay women to enroll for a medical course at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore after the war.
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Business & Leadership

Datin Vivy Yusof

Fashion Entrepreneur & Co-founder of Fashion Valet & dUCk Group

Co-founder of Fashion Valet and dUCk Group, Datin Vivy Yusof’s reputation as Malaysia’s top fashionpreneur has long been solidified, not an easy feat considering the many glass ceilings she’s had to break. A law graduate from the London School of Economics, Vivy put her passion for writing to use while at LSE, setting up her blog at proudduck.com, where she still blogs even after 10 years. During a stint at her father’s property development company the Proven Group, Vivy’s entrepreneurial spirit prompted her to start a business of her own with her then boyfriend, who would become her husband. And the rest is history.
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Entertainment

Fatimah Abu Bakar

Thespian & Writer

A much adored thespian, writer and acting coach, Fatimah Abu Bakar is a woman of many roles. The matriarch of the Malaysian entertainment industry, worked for many years with the New Straits Times and also had a stint as coach on Akademi Fantasia. She helped set up Salt Media Consultancy, and continues to coach clients in communications and media relations.
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Entertainment
The Arts

Datuk Dr. Faridah Merican

Actor, Director, Producer, Co-founder of KLPAC & PenangPAC

The First Lady of Malaysian theatre, Datuk Dr. Faridah Merican has dedicated her life to cultivating Malaysian theatre in the hopes of showcasing local talent to the world. The passion for theatre was instilled in her from a young age, and her influence stemmed from watching regular stagings of bangsawan and Chinese opera. Along with actor-husband Joe Hasham, they share a mission of empowering young talents in Malaysia to appreciate the arts. Forming The Actors Studio (TAS) in 1989, they have come a long way. Seven venues on, hundreds of award-winning productions later, The Actors Studio continues to go strong, staging plays at KLPAC and PenangPAC.
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Business & Leadership

Datin Mina Cheah-Foong

Managing Director of The Body Shop

The Body Shop is well known to Malaysians from all walks of life. It’s been with us for so long that it has become an important part of our retail landscape. This kind of longevity is rare, and it’s all down to Datin Mina Cheah- Foong’s adept business skills in ensuring the UK brand continues to reap success on Malaysian as well as Vietnamese shores. Basing her business philosophy around ethics and sustainability, Mina prides herself in running a business that prioritises today’s social issues as much as it does profit. From championing the rights of women and children to raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, it is perhaps this strong moral compass that has provided The Body Shop the positive public image that has surely contributed to its longevity.
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Entertainment

Erra Fazira

Actress, Singer & Film Producer

Rising to prominence in the mid early 1990s from her roles in Sembilu and Pasrah, Fazirah Wan Chek, better known as Erra Fazira, is not only an critically acclaimed actress, but also a singer, fashion model, TV Host, film producer as well as former beauty queen. Winning the title of Miss Malaysia/World in the year 1992 at just the age of 18, she then subsequently represented Malaysia in the Miss World pageant in South Africa. Besides that, she also represented the country in Miss Southeast Asia 1992/1993, where she placed third. She was also adept at singing, releasing her first self-titled EP in 1994. She would then go on to release 6 more, with the 7th and last being released in the year 2006. As an actress, she has won the Malaysia Film Festival Award for Best Actress twice, a tribute to her talents.
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Entertainment

Lina Tan

Managing Director of RED Communications

A pioneer in the local entertainment industry, Lina Tan is the founder of RED Communications. Having proven to be instrumental in supporting the new wave of Malaysian filmmakers that proceeded to shine at international film festivals in the 2000s, RED Communications also set new standards in commercial films for mainstream audiences. It now has a library of films that which owns and co-owns, on top of a wide range of films in development. In addition, Tan’s involvement in HIV/AIDS and women’s NGO work inspired her to create 3R (Respect, Relax, Respond), one of RED Communications’ most memorable productions.
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Sports

Pandelela Rinong

National Diver

Following a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London that propelled her to fame, Pandelela Rinong has since made way into the history books as one of Malaysia’s finest athletes and the first Malaysian female athlete to win an Olympic medal. At the age of eight, Pandelela was picked out by a diving coach who saw something special in the youngster from Sarawak. In the years that followed, Pandelela would embark on an exhilarating adventure, leaving her mark everywhere that she went. She captured a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics at the age of 23 with fellow diver Cheong Jun Hoong, and went on to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
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Entertainment

Puan Sri Normala Samsudin

TV Personality

Renowned television personality Puan Sri Normala Samsudin will be mostly remembered for her hosting stint on the iconic show Nona from the year 2001 to 2004. A long-standing show dedicated to a female audience, Normala shone in her role as host, captivating the audience not only with her beauty, but more importantly her shining charisma. Off-camera, Normala was known to be an absolute professional in terms of her craft, while at the same also a friendly face to those around her, setting a perfect example to other aspiring women of television.
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Entertainment

Sheila Majid

Singer

When asked about Datuk Sheila Majid, that one word alone is enough to encapsulate her. Best known for her 1986 hit song Sinaran, her excellence in the genre of jazz has earned her the reputation of being “Malaysia’s Queen of Jazz”. Not just in Malaysia, Sheila was also renowned in all of Asia, and especially in Indonesia where she won the prestigious BASF Award for Best Female Artist in the R&B category in 1987, the first non-Indonesian to win the award. Now the chairperson of Recording Performers Malaysia Berhad (RPM) along with other prominent recording artists in Malaysia in the board of directors, RPM aims to protect the welfare of today’s artistes and musicians in the face of threats such as piracy.
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Business & Leadership

Carrie Fong

Director of Hedgeford Sdn Bhd

Hedgeford Sdn Bhd’s Director Carrie Fong is one of the trailblazers in the real estate industry. She cultivated her interests in the property world through her father Dato’ Richard Fong, whom she spent most of her childhood with trailing through construction sites. Today, she continues to tap into the trends and conversations that were already happening around the region and bring it here into Kuala Lumpur.
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Art & Design

Izan Satrina

Founding CEO of Cendana

Izan Satrina believes that art is for everyone. The founding CEO of the Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana) has also played a pivotal role in various industry development committees and headed Enfiniti Vision Media, the award-winning producers of Malaysian hit musicals including The Secret Life of Nora.
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Business & Leadership

Soo Shea Pin

Fashion Entrepreneur

There is an almost Thatcher-like quality to Soo Shea Pin. That she displays a similar fortitude in the way she presents herself is perhaps unsurprising. After all Shea Pin was a young law student in the UK during the rise of Thatcherism. Incidentally, the former British prime minister, was also a strong influence on Anya Hindmarch, the witty accessories line that the former lawyer turned entrepreneur introduced into Malaysia 10 years ago. Shea Pin continues to established her presence in the fashion retail industry with the opening of British royal heritage brand Halcyon Days and later on with Feith, a multi-label shoe company she founded together with her daughter Wen Fei.
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Politics

Maria Chin Abdullah

Member of Parliament & Activist

Maria Chin Abdullah’s legacy is nothing short of amazing. Aside from being a Member of Parliament for the Petaling Jaya constituency, Maria identifies herself as a feminist and a human-rights activist. Determined and strong willed, Maria has been an integral part of Malaysian women’s movement for over 30 years. Maria’s efforts in women empowerment have not gone unnoticed, as she has worked on gender, development and democracy issues in women’s rights groups such as the All Women Action Society, the Women’s Centre for Change, and the Women’s Development Collective. It was when Bersih was revamped as Bersih 2.0 in 2010 that Maria began to be at the forefront of the calls for electoral reforms.
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Politics
Society

Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan

2018 was a year of change for Malaysia, and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan played a big part in making it happen. Chairing Bersih 2.0, the lawyer and human rights advocate played a big part in the rally in Kuala Lumpur that showed how united Malaysians were in the pursuit of a brighter future for the nation. A former president of the Malaysian Bar, Ambiga is the founding partner of Sreenevasan, Advocates & Solicitors. Carrying over three decades of experience with her, she has the distinction of numerous reported cases at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court. Her plethora of achievements serve as a distinction as to her ability to make it in yet another field that has always favoured men.
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Business & Leadership

Lee Jim Leng

CEO of Hong Leong Investment Bank

CEO of Hong Leong Investment Bank, Lee Jim Leng Jim Leng graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Acadia University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Dalhousie University. It was then that she discovered she was actually good at accounting and finance, hence settling on banking as a profession. After being in a banking career spanning almost 30 years, Jim Leng fuels her thirst for success and life’s indulgent pleasures through her inherent passion for her job.
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Politics

Hannah Yeoh

Malaysian Politician

At the age of 29, Hannah Yeoh made the decision to run for public office. She contested for the Subang Jaya state seat during the 2008 general elections. Often described as an "accidental politician", Hannah's interest in politics was stirred with over a simple discussion about voting. She admits that she had mixed reactions to the huge mandate she received in her new role. She also realises that her life is no longer her own.
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Sports

Farah Ann Abdul Hadi

National Artistic Gymnast

One of Malaysia’s most accomplished athletes, Farah Ann Abdul Hadi has made numerous strides in the world of gymnastics. An icon in her own right, Farah Ann represented Malaysia at the multiple Commonwealth Games, Southeast Asian Games, and World Championships. Having picked up gymnastics at the age of three, Farah Ann has certainly come a long way. After a decade since making her Commonwealth Games debut, Farah Ann is a living testament that patience and hard work leads to success when she became the third Malaysian gymnast to qualify to the Olympics.
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Politics

Nurul Izzah Anwar

Malaysian Politician

Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar is a scion of Malaysia’s leading political family, being the daughter of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and current President of Parti Keadilan Rakyat or People’s Justice Party (PKR), and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the outgoing President of the party and current Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Nurul Izzah is a strong advocate of human and civil rights with a special interest in prisoners of religious prejudice. Nurul Izzah’s political career began with the establishment of PKR in 1999.
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Society

Tengku Zatashah

Social Advocate & Environmental Activist

With her formative years moulded by British public school and early adulthood developed in both Spain and France, Tengku Zatashah Idris is a strong advocate of progressiveness, self- empowerment and personal accomplishment. In a quest to protect the environment, Tengku Zatashah’s #zerofoodwastage campaign saved five tonnes of food last year and she continues towards reaching a wider audience this year. Selangor’s Princess is also widely praised for lending support to projects such as #StandTogether, a nationwide campaign that aims to end bullying through promoting kindness in school.
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Politics
Society

Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir

Socio-political Activist

Women empowerment is at an all time high, and it is due to the voices of untiring activists such as Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir. Besides being a voice for feminism, the eldest child of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is also an active socio-political blogger and patron of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation. In 2010, she was awarded UN Person of the Year for her good work in combating HIV/AIDS. The founder of Asian women traveller’s portal Zafigo.com, she exemplifies the undying fire of fighting the good fight. She is also on the board of Sisters in Islam.
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Entertainment
Society

Marion Caunter

TV Personality & Entrepreneur

Marion Caunter has come a long way from her hosting days of 8TV Quickie on local television. Since then, she has gone on to helm regional shows for international channels such as Channel V and E! News, while also once hosting Biggest Loser Asia, setting the bar for true professionalism on and off the camera. Now the mother of three beautiful children, Marion is also an entrepreneur, with her first foray in the form of Hairplay Salon. While travelling the world, she has taken advantage of the opportunities to expand her horizons while also appreciating fashion from around the world. One of the most recognisable personalities in Malaysia, the best thing about Marion would definitely be how down to earth she is regarding everything that she has achieved.
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Culinary

Danielle Peita Graham

Model & Culinary Entrepreneur

From her modelling days to working with big names like filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai in Hong Kong, Danielle Peita Graham talks about her journey in rebranding herself as an all-round culinary entrepreneur. Danielle exudes an air of confidence so effortless that some might feel intimidation in approaching her. With her commanding presence, she navigates our photoshoot dressed in elegant FENDI with ease and little direction.
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