Two exceptional leaders have achieved exceptional success in historically male-dominated fields, to not solely elevate our metropolis’s international standing, but in addition function a wellspring of inspiration for girls in Singapore and internationally.
These two ladies, Professor Jackie Ying,founding father of A*Star’s NanoBio Lab and co-founder of Cellbae, and Caecilia Chu, co-founder and CEO of cell fintech platform YouTrip, had been honoured on the Her World Girls of the Yr gala dinner this night, the place they obtained the 2023 Girl of the Yr and Younger Girl Achiever awards respectively.
The Her World Girl of the Yr accolade, first introduced in 1991, has been an annual custom that celebrates inspirational ladies who break boundaries of their respective professions, leaving a long-lasting impression on society, each regionally and globally. This prestigious award recognises ladies who’ve made exceptional contributions to society, achieved notable success by way of their very own dedication, and whose affect has prolonged far and large, capturing the eye of the general public. The recipients of this award embody the best qualities of Singapore, serving as each inspirations and position fashions, whether or not at dwelling or on the worldwide stage.
Since its inception in 1999, the Younger Girl Achiever award has been devoted to recognising extraordinary younger ladies who break new floor, transcend current boundaries, and function sources of inspiration for these of their midst whereas additionally forging pathways for future generations.
To rejoice the exceptional accomplishments of each extraordinary award winners, this 12 months’s occasion introduced collectively roughly 200 distinguished company for an awards presentation and gala dinner on the elegant JW Marriott Singapore South Seashore.
Amidst the celebratory ambiance, company had been additionally capable of admire a curated choice of superb timepieces courtesy of The Hour Glass Group in addition to the beautiful desk centrepieces thoughtfully crafted by Clé de Peau Beauté. The occasion was additionally made potential by way of supporting companion Qualcomm.
The night was graced by the presence of the Minister for Sustainability and the Setting Grace Fu. The gala additionally welcomed a distinguished meeting of completed enterprise leaders, business veterans, well-known figures from the humanities, along with fashion trendsetters and influential thought leaders.
Among the many notable attendees had been luminaries corresponding to Jennie Chua, the 1999 Her World Girl of the Yr and chairperson of the Her World Girl of the Yr judging committee, in addition to previous Her World Girl of the Yr winners corresponding to Ng Gim Choo, founder and chairwoman of EtonHouse Worldwide Training Group, and Susan Chong, founder and president of Greenpac.
Additionally in attendance had been previous Younger Girl Achiever recipients, together with poet, lawyer, and multi-hyphenate Amanda Chong, who received the award final 12 months, in addition to industrial designer Olivia Lee and Singaporean movie director Kirsten Tan.
Kicking off the night, Her World’s editor-in-chief Elizabeth Lee, prolonged a heat welcome to the gala’s company in her opening deal with, which touched upon the choice course of for the Girls of the Yr. She additionally launched the contemporary look of the title following our latest revamp, and an thrilling new editorial route that focuses on the content material pillars of cash, profession and wellness.
“We’re uplifting and supportive, the older sister that dispenses recommendation willingly. You’ll discover that Her World has undergone not simply an aesthetic makeover, however it’s additionally imbued with a brand new sense of function that underlines each endeavour that we undertake,” she shares.
She then elaborated on the profitable completion of the inaugural Her World Mentorship Programme, a six-month initiative that paired 11 mentees with eight completed ladies who’re leaders of their respective fields. Concluding her deal with, she inspired everybody to remain looking out for sign-up alternatives for subsequent 12 months’s program.
Visitor of honour and Minister for Sustainability and the Setting Grace Fu then took the stage for her keynote speech, through which she highlighted the significance of celebrating ladies.
“Let me first thank Her World in your sustained efforts in championing and celebrating ladies in Singapore, not least by way of the Girls of the Yr and Younger Girl Achiever awards. There may be a lot trigger for celebration. Singapore ladies, previous and current, have contributed considerably to our nation’s improvement, whether or not it’s within the office – the place ladies had been pioneers within the social area within the early twentieth century, and as time passes, in lots of extra fields and professions – or at dwelling, the place many have sacrificed their careers, power, and sleep to dedicate their energies and time to lift their kids and handle their family.
Through the years, we’ve made strides in ladies’s illustration throughout all domains, be it sports activities, arts, media, enterprise, finance, sustainability, politics, permitting ladies to pursue their aspirations and obtain nice heights,” says the minister, who can be Singapore’s first feminine full minister to helm a ministry.
“You will need to rejoice ladies, to supply a tangible report of ladies’s illustration and the successes we’ve achieved, to encourage different ladies to lean in and attempt for excellence of their chosen fields; to spotlight position fashions that ladies and younger ladies can look as much as and study from; and to problem stereotypes and shift mindsets among the many present and future generations, lighting the best way to a good and extra inclusive society.” Throughout her speech, the minister additionally revealed that there’ll quickly be a backyard devoted to ladies reverse the Istana.
As company fêted the event over a four-course menu, native songstress and Her World’s Might 2023 cowl star Keyana graced the event with a charming efficiency of her newest single, Shelter from the Rain. These in attendance additionally had the privilege of being among the many first to expertise an unique preview of her yet-to-be-released single, Say Ooh.
The night then transitioned into the award presentation section. Yvonne Mak, the chairperson of the Younger Girls Management Connection, stepped onto the stage to ship the quotation for the Younger Girl Achiever.
“She has not solely enhanced the comfort of modern-day journey however has additionally launched transparency into the overseas change funds sector. She’s exemplified the true spirit of entrepreneurship by displaying unwavering dedication, a fierce preventing spirit, and the flexibility to revolutionise and reshape our lifestyle with a groundbreaking concept.”
The 2023 Younger Girl Achiever award was conferred upon Caecilia Chu. In her speech, she thanked everybody at YouTrip, particularly the feminine workers and leaders, for main the corporate to the place it’s as we speak.
“I’m really humbled and honoured to be receiving an award tonight, however I additionally know that I wouldn’t be standing right here as we speak with out the good assist of all of the robust ladies position fashions which have come up earlier than me,” she shares. “After I began YouTrip about six years in the past, it’s true that there have been certainly only a few ladies within the discipline of finance and expertise. At the moment, I’m honoured and excited that we’ve such a deep bench of very proficient, passionate and devoted ladies leaders inside YouTrip.”
The Girl of the Yr award ceremony then commenced, marked by a quotation delivered by the founder and chairwoman of EtonHouse Worldwide Training Group, Ng Gim Choo, who was the 2022 Girl of the Yr award recipient.
“All through her 32-year profession as a nanobiotechnology scientist, Professor Jackie Ying has undoubtedly made a profound and enduring impression on our day by day lives by way of her analysis. Her work encompasses a variety of fields together with biomaterials, safer and extra environment friendly power storage, agritech, and paper-based diagnostic platforms, to call only a few.”
Professor Jackie Ying then stepped on stage to simply accept the 2023 Girl of the Yr accolade. In her speech, she recounted her adolescence in Singapore, and famous that her alma mater, Raffles Women College, has formed who she is as we speak. “Once we are right here celebrating the ladies leaders and what we’re capable of contribute, I need to recognise the truth that my alma mater was very a lot [shaped] my particular person traits and amongst many issues, it was a fantastic setting, among the many proficient ladies and the nurturing lecturers. She needed to depart Singapore in 1981 when she was 15, when her father determined to maneuver to the US.
When she was 25, she turned the primary feminine Asian professor in engineering at MIT. “I didn’t realise at the moment, however many issues weren’t arrange for individuals of our measurement, gender, or race. For instance, [the school had] these 9 three-by-three blackboards. I can solely attain the underside half of the three blackboards. So in different phrases, each few equations, I needed to erase all of them. Now, after all, issues have grow to be very totally different. And I used to be very glad that after I visited MIT once more to offer a lecture, I can attain the second degree of the board. So, half the board,” she shares with a chuckle.
“In 2001, my daughter was born, and shortly after that, Mr. Philip Yeo, who was then the chairman of A-Star, visited me and advised me in regards to the Biopolis. I needed to return again to Singapore, and with that lab being constructed and every little thing, it’s a dream come true for a scientist. We began at IBM and grew to 170 employees. And over time, we’re very proud, not solely of simply the papers or patents, however particularly, we’ve 13 spin-off firms. Three have truly grow to be publicly listed. One which I used to be concerned in co-founded. referred to as Curios, truly simply went IPO final month.
And searching again on the previous 20 years, I’m tremendously proud to have the chance and be capable to contribute to the constructing of the biomedical analysis enterprise in Singapore. I’d wish to thank the Singapore authorities for having a lot religion and giving us all of the assets to do that. And particularly, I’m very grateful to the lads that I work with. I used to be one of many few ladies in Biopolis then. Mr. Philip Yeoh, Mr. Boon Swan Foo who can’t be with us [tonight], who got here in first, Mr. Kong Hwai Loong who’s additionally right here, and Mr. Lam Kong Peng. I thank them, as a result of I don’t know whether or not they bear in mind, however after I was trying by way of some previous stuff, I discovered all of the recollections [of us] going forwards and backwards preventing on numerous various things. I used to be most likely not the simplest individual to work with. And with these gentleman, regardless that we’d not at all times agree on the method, all of us have the identical thoughts to grasp this excellent mission for Singapore and I’m actually grateful for all their assist.”
She concludes: “These 20 years has been an incredible journey, so I need to dedicate this award to my employees and college students, and my previous pals for sharing this imaginative and prescient to make this social financial impression.”
Supply: Her World