Singapore – From a museum curator to the founder of a voluntary organisation, nine outstanding women have been honoured at this year’s Great Women of Our Time Awards.
The awards ceremony is an annual initiative that honours the achievements of the country’s most inspiring women.
The Singapore Women’s Weekly, one of Singapore’s most popular women’s magazines published by SPH Magazines Pte Ltd, announced the winners at a cocktail party cum awards presentation at Lewin Terrace on Thursday (Sept 29).
On hand to grace the event was Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Finance Ms Indranee Rajah.
Here’s a look at the winners for all the categories:
Arts and Media
Lim Shu Juan
Curator, National Gallery Singapore
After a $532 m decade-long restoration, the National Gallery Singapore is now home to the world’s largest collection of modern Southeast Asian art. Behind the transformation of the former Supreme Court and City Hall, stands a committed team of industry experts, including Ms Lim, who played a key role in the restoration project as its building history curator.
She is also the project editor of The Making of National Gallery Singapore, a 168-page book that documents the history and transition of the two monuments.
Design and Style
Lim Wen Hui
Director, Spark Architects
Many of us have marvelled at the architectural design of the rejuvenated Clarke Quay and the beautiful Shanghai International Cruise Terminal. These well-known projects were completed by award-winning architecture firm, Spark.
Ms Lim, who spearheads the socially-conscious firm’s Singapore headquarters, also oversees its global brand and graphic identity. She is credited for leading the teams that won Spark’s first commissions in Vietnam in 2009, and in Australia in 2013.
Education and Public Service
Fion Phua
Founder, Keeping Hope Alive
For over 20 years, Ms Phua and her team of more than 50 volunteers have been knocking on the doors of one- and two-room rental flats every Sunday, actively seeking out residents who need help. These volunteers deliver porridge to the needy, providing them with practical necessities like induction cookers and mattresses.
Last year, the mother-of-one was a recipient of the annual President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards, and also won The Singapore Woman Award 2015.
Finance and Commerce
Yvon Bock
Managing Director & Founder, Hegen
Ms Bock’s vision has always been about making a difference. The mother-of-four drew on her own breastfeeding experience to create a revolutionary line of baby bottles. Hegen was founded with the aim to design meaningful products that advocate breastfeeding, protect the integrity of breast milk, and enhance the breastfeeding journey for parents everywhere.
In 2014, the mumpreneur showcased Hegen bottles at Kind + Jugend, the largest baby products trade show in Cologne, Germany.
Health, Sports and Wellness
Dr Sheila Vasoo
Senior Consultant & Rheumatologist, Mt Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre
Dr Vasoo pioneered the Pregnancy Loss Program (a first in Singapore) at the National University Hospital with Professor Mahesh Choolani.
In 2012, she was awarded the John Gusdon New Investigator Award at the joint American and European Society of Reproductive Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting, for their work on the placenta and the immune system in women with recurrent pregnancy losses.
Science and Technology
Associate Professor Ho Ghim Wei
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore
Believing that women can excel equally in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industry, Assoc Prof Ho now leads the Ho Research Group at NUS with the aim of creating novel nanostructured materials for energy and environmental sustainability.
Last year, the mother-of-two was an honouree winner in the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) 2015 Awards.
Subsidiary Award – Skin Inc Outstanding Businesswoman Award
Tan Su-Lyn
Co-founder & CEO, The Ate Group
Ms Tan is a multi-hyphenate: As a brand catalyst, she co-founded integrated communications agency, The Ate Group (which counts Odette, Destination New South Wales, and The Omakase Group, amongst its illustrious list of clients); she has edited numerous cookbooks and restaurant guides, such as Passion and Inspiration (renowned chef Justin Quek’s first cookbook), and the Lonely Planet World Food Guide to Malaysia and Singapore.
She also co-founded food blog Chubby Hubby with her husband, Aun Koh.
Subsidiary Award – Swarovski Trendsetter Award
Winnie Chan
Founder and CEO, Bynd Artisan
Bynd Artisan reflects Ms Chan’s fight to take the traditional art of bookbinding into the future. Bynd Artisan is her way to provide the new generation of customers with a tactile experience of choosing and making their own notebooks – something Ms Chan, the third generation scion of Grandluxe, a 71-year-old stationary manufacturing company, wants to preserve as we enter a digital world.
In July, the home-grown brand, which can be found in selected retailers in Singapore, made its first international launch in Lane Crawford, IFC Mall, in Hong Kong.
Most Inspiring Award
Chrissy Goh-Tasker
Founder and CEO, JLCSports.com
When Ms Goh-Tasker wanted to spend time with her young child, she decided to start her own e-commerce site retailing sporting goods, right at home. Her company JLCSports.com has since become the leading online regional platform that acts as both retailer and wholesaler for sports brands such as Adidas, Puma, New Balance and Nike.
Ms Goh-Tasker has since diversified into the business of recycling.
Her company Nephews & Nieces imports beautiful vintage furnishings from the UK; while her latest venture, The Gon Company, has developed a Domestic Crushing Machine that reduces the size of recyclable cans and bottles. She hopes this will be a way we all can play a part in caring for the environment.
