| Aziz Idris |
THREE Bruneian women have been nominated for the Southeast Asia Woman of the Future Awards. The three who have been shortlisted are Dr Noor Affizan Rahman, Najaa Halbi and Supna Rania Karwanamurthi.
The Southeast Asia Woman of the Future Awards is an award ceremony which aims to build a platform to showcase regional emerging leaders who are tomorrow’s game-changers. They are celebrated for their ability to disrupt stereotypes and drive positive impactful change.
Dr Noor, a consultant ophthalmologist at the Ministry of Health, has been shortlisted for the Community Spirits and Public Service Category for her continuous work as a public speaker and advocate for personal development and social contribution focussing on empowering the youth.
Najaa, a petroleum engineer and the planning manager for East Asset Brunei Shell Petroleum, has been shortlisted for the Professions Category with almost 10 years of industry experience in the Upstream business. She is also in the final year of completing her MBA.
Supna, who has been shortlisted for the Entrepreneur Category, is the co-founder and Managing Director of Flux OS Sdn Bhd which aspires to be the leading well servicing and drilling company in the region.
This year’s winners will be announced at a gala dinner on March 21 at the Hilton Hotel in Singapore.
The Woman of the Future programme supported by the British government can encourage, motivate and provide role models to inspire and empower women. Its aim is to process create a global community of supportive and collaborative women.
British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Richard Lindsay and his spouse Xanthe Lindsay hosted a reception at his residence for the three women.
The British High Commissioner said, “The Woman of the Future Awards are a recognition of the great achievements of women across Southeast Asia. It is huge testament to women in Brunei that there are three finalists amongst those from the continent. It is also a great opportunity to celebrate the many other women in so many sectors of society in Brunei who are doing so much to shape the future.”
The reception was an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievement and was also an opportunity to start the conversation on women empowerment and about what can be done to create a more gender balanced community which was the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day.
Participants from different sectors including entrepreneurs and representatives from government and private sectors and NGOs were also present.