International Women’s Day – 2025 Speakers

Juliana Adam

Juliana Adam is the CEO and a founding partner of Biji-biji Initiative, Malaysia’s pioneer impact-driven enterprise focused on championing sustainable living and practices. Having a strong passion for sustainability and the creative field, Juliana has also co-founded Me.reka, an alternative education space nurturing creativity and sustainability in STEAM-centric education, Taboo Enterprise -an events-based enterprise focusing on sustainable event management and Tick Talk, a sustainability consultancy and impact reporting company. Juliana is also an Acumen Fellow, part of the inaugural Malaysian cohort, and have made it to Prestige Malaysia’s 2020 Top 40 under 40, and also listed as Prestige Malaysia’s Women of Power, 2022.

Meg Allan

Meg Allan brings a systems lens to social enterprise and community-led approaches, working to shift the conditions that enable rural communities to shape their own futures. Initially studying politics and policy and later completing postgraduate studies in regional development, Meg was drawn to the role of social enterprise as a lever for systemic change. She lives in the remote town of Mallacoota, Australia, where she works with the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE), leading advocacy and market development. Meg is Co-founder and Board Chair of the Wilderness Collective, Non-executive Director of the Gippsland Community Foundation and a member of the SEWF Youth Advisory Group.

Nikoline Arns

Nikoline Arns is a creative technologist and civic-tech entrepreneur focused on democratising digital tools. She co-founded Citizenlab.tech, building platforms like pact.social and citizen.chat—AI-powered privacy-focused civic tools. Active in the social enterprise sector, she has collaborated with Impact Boom to amplify social impact initiatives. Nikoline’s past projects include DoinGud, a Web3 ecosystem for NFTs and decentralised governance. She is now building the Hubs Network, a constellation of intentional spaces for social innovation. She’s an ambassador for RadicalxChange, Akasha Hub Barcelona and more.

Stephanie Arrowsmith

Stephanie is the Co-founder of Impact Hub Jakarta and also serves as a Board Director of the Impact Hub Network. She has over 10 years of experience in international development, ecosystem building and innovation, focusing on designing programmes and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region to support social entrepreneurship and systemic change. She is passionate about inner development, community building and the power of facilitation to transform the way we collaborate on the issues we care most deeply about. She is an active member of global changemaking communities including the Presencing Institute, School of System Change, College of Extraordinary Experiences, DSIL and Enspiral.

Jennifer Beason

Jennifer “Jen” Beason is a high-energy, creative and results-driven leader who wants to make SAP and the world a better place to work, live and play. After a decade supporting SAP’s customers in North America, she applied her skills as a natural dot-connector and transitioned into corporate affairs to integrate company-wide efforts that help improve people’s lives. Her innovative approach to business continues to push the boundaries of leadership development and corporate procurement, to name a few areas of focus. Today, she is the Global Director of Social Entrepreneurship at SAP, leading programmes and partnerships that accelerate social business in more than 140 countries and through this ecosystem, collectively impacts more than one billion lives.

Sagarika Bose

Sagarika is Regional Head – CSR for SAP in APAC. She brings over 25 years of experience in CSR, sustainability and social development. She has demonstrated her expertise in program management across various thematic areas, including skilling and entrepreneurship, public health, livelihoods, impact enterprises and environmental conservation. Sagarika holds two Masters from the London School of Economics and is a trained Special Needs Educator.

Sara Calvo

Sara Calvo is a Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Business at the Open University and Co-Founder of Minca Ventures Ltd, a UK-based social enterprise consultancy. With over 15 years of international experience, she has led sustainability and impact projects across Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Sara is the co-author of several books, including Social and Solidarity Economy: The World’s Economy with a Social Face, Social Enterprise in Latin America and Leading with Purpose: Stories of Social Heroes. Her work bridges academia and practice, focusing on sustainable development, community empowerment and social innovation.

Cindy Carpenter

Cindy is Ambassador and former Chair of The Bread & Butter Project, Australia’s first social enterprise artisan bakery, investing 100% of profits to provide training and employment pathways for refugees. She also led the advisory groups supporting three other refugee-focused social enterprises; CommUnity Construction, FoodLab and Aunty’s Ginger Tonic, and co-founded the Work-Integration-Social-Enterprise Hub within Social Enterprise Australia. She is also co-founder and Chair of the Global Refugee Academy (an NGO that trains and supports refugees to access university scholarships and skilled visas), and is a Board Director for Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia. Cindy is a member of the SEWF Social Investment Working Group.

Shelley 張瑾文 Chinwen Chang

As a creative practitioner dedicated to transforming natural plants into a sustainable lifestyle, Shelley is committed to promoting human wellness and environmental sustainability. With years of study in Traditional Chinese Medicine, aromatherapy and natural healing, she brings deep holistic insight into modern living. Formerly a senior executive in several renowned corporate groups, she has successfully built and revitalised multiple well-known brands while advancing Taiwan’s organic industry, lifestyle aesthetics and ecological cuisine. As the founder of Lepulse Inc., she integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine, aromatherapy and food therapy, transforming ancient wisdom into simple daily self-healing practices. Her work has empowered thousands to cultivate a balanced body and mind while generating meaningful social impact.

Kuan Chen

Kuan is the Founder and Creative Director of Story Wear, the only zero waste ready-to-wear brand in Taiwan. Kuan was educated at OCAD University in Toronto and received a master’s degree in fashion management from the University for the Creative Arts in the UK. She is a branding and marketing specialist with over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry and international trade.

Kirsten Nai Hsin Chen

From multinationals to SMEs and public institutions, Kirsten’s work helps leaders expand beyond borders, renew their brands and design cultures that last. Yoshi Design Lab is where sustainability meets strategy—and where companies learn to grow with impact. Kirsten is also a certified B Consultant.

Sophia Cheng

Sophia Cheng is the Chief Investment Officer of Cathay Financial Holdings and Chair of the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC). With 30 years of experience in research and investment, she previously served as Chairman and Head of Research at Merrill Lynch Taiwan. Sophia is highly regarded for her leadership in financial sector research and policy development, and for promoting Corporate Sustainability and Responsible Investment in Taiwan. She serves as Vice Chair of the Taiwan Impact Investment Association and sits on several national committees. Sophia holds a Master’s in Finance and Banking from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor’s in Atmospheric Sciences from National Taiwan University.

Donna Chu

Donna Chu is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She works on research about youth media culture, gender and media literacy. Since 2012, she has started a media literacy summer project for secondary school students in Hong Kong. In 2017, she founded Mars Media Academy, a social enterprise, to engage in the teaching and learning of media and information literacy in networked society.

Jintjutha Ploy Chutipoonyapat

Jintjutha Chutipoonyapat serves as the Asia Communications Associate. In this role, she oversees communications across ANDE’s East and Southeast Asia and South Asia chapters, while also contributing to global initiatives. Her responsibilities span strategic communications planning, social media management, website coordination and the production of targeted email campaigns.

She holds a BSc in Environmental Geography and International Development from the University of East Anglia. Beyond her professional commitments, Ploy is deeply engaged in advancing social entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Carol Chyau

Carol Chyau is the founder of SHOKAY, the leading sustainable yak wool brand and largest global provider. SHOKAY pioneered industry standards and is the only provider selling certified traceable yak wool, directly impacting over 4,000 Tibetan families. Carol’s innovative work earned recognition as Top 10 Creative Talent in Shanghai (2013), Forbes China’s Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30 (2010) and a Cartier Women’s Initiative Award for community impact. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration/International Development (MPA/ID) from Harvard Kennedy School.

Lorraine Corcoran

Lorraine is a recognised expert in Irish social enterprise, with extensive strategy, policy, and implementation skills. She is a Director of Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, chairs the committee advising the Minister for Finance on the Credit Union Sector and is a Director of Microfinance Ireland. As Principal of Afanite, she leads a business which bridges the gap between social, commercial and public sectors.
A graduate of Trinity College Dublin with a B.A. Mod in Economics and Geography (1992) and Masters in Literature (1994). She also holds a Masters in International Relations focussed on social enterprise from Dublin City University (2012).

Maeve Curtin

Maeve is passionate about increasing opportunities for enterprises that put people and planet first and leveraging these business models for economic inclusion. She has worked on public sector economic development projects and for NGOs, social enterprises and third sector intermediary organisations around the world. Her most recent work focused on policy advocacy and strengthening the global evidence base for social enterprise. She holds a PhD in Public Management and Social Policy, where her research examined policy co-production in the context of social enterprise strategy development. Currently, she is strengthening opportunities for impact enterprises through cross-sector collaboration at the Clinton Global Initiative.

Marie Lisa Dacanay

Marie Lisa Dacanay is Founding President of the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) and Convenor of the PRESENT Coalition in the Philippines. She champions policy reform and sustainable development through social enterprise. As ISEA President, she engages the UN on SDGs via the Asia-Pacific Civil Society Mechanism. In 2019, Marie Lisa was named Outstanding Social Innovation Thought Leader by the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum. She holds a Master’s in Development Management (with Distinction) and a PhD in Organizational Management.

Michelle de la Harpe

Coach Michelle de la Harpe, RTCA, FCSCGA is the founder of MDaat Eco Wellness, an initiative that integrates eco-wellness with cultural and environmental sustainability. Through MDaat, she works with coastal and rural communities in Sabah to develop self-sustaining tourism experiences that promote wellbeing while preserving local traditions. Her work empowers women and supports local enterprises through nature-based and heritage-inspired programs. MDaat Eco Wellness builds on Michelle’s earlier community and environmental projects under the Meraki Daat Sabah Initiative, reflecting her ongoing commitment to creating harmony between people, culture and the environment.

Irma del Mundo

Irma del Mundo is a classic branding and marketing professional trained in FMCG blue-chip corporate-land. She brings 35 years of global brand building experience to the world of social impact and now bridges profit and purpose by connecting her community of over 70 branding professionals (talent philanthropists) with social enterprises. Inspired by seeing good brands succeed, she thrives on creating ideas, stories and messages. A trained workshop facilitator, she looks forward to sharing ways to tell impact stories better and with authenticity.

Azima Dhanjee

Azima Dhanjee is a Child of Deaf Adult (CODA), Co-founder and CEO of ConnectHear, Board Member of the Social Enterprise World Forum C.I.C and a member of the National Youth Council (an initiative by the Prime Minister of Pakistan). She is a Diana Award winner and has been invited as a speaker on various platforms. She is an alumna of the Institute of Business Administration (Class of 2020), with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.

Azima is raised by Deaf parents and Pakistani Sign Language (PSL) is her mother tongue. Growing up, she was always concerned by how simple communication was a challenge for the Deaf due to the language barrier. The lack of awareness and accessibility led her to start ConnectHear at the age of 19 with her high school friends. ConnectHear is a social enterprise that strives for sign language accessibility and Deaf inclusion by using technology.

Imelda Esteban

Imelda Esteban is the General Manager of Kauyagan Savers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines. A lifelong development worker, she previously spent 20 years with the foundation before taking on her current role in 2017. At Kauyagan, she leads a team of 30 and ensures that its social enterprises are managed effectively to improve the lives of members, particularly Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers, women and youth. Kauyagan’s enterprises include savings and credit services, an agricultural value chain focused on coffee, and a consumer store offering affordable household essentials. Imelda believes that putting God first in all things leads to success.

Celeste Fang

Celeste Fang is the Executive Director of plantārium (Tzu Chi Foundation), leading initiatives on sustainability, youth empowerment and community transformation. She is also the Chief Operating Officer of CloudAD and a Corporate Trainer with CLN Asia, delivering leadership, ESG and AI programmes across industries. Currently pursuing her Master’s in Decision Making and Applied Analytics at Minerva University, Celeste connects business, academia and social innovation to advance a wellbeing economy that prioritises people and the planet.

Tatiana Glad

Tatiana Glad is an entrepreneur, sustainability practitioner and change strategist with a focus on impact entrepreneurship, social innovation, and sustainable business. Tatiana is Executive Director of the global Impact Hub Network and a co-founder of the social enterprises Impact Hub Amsterdam and Waterlution. She has an MSc in Responsible Business Practice and is on the University of Amsterdam Honours Programme Sustainability Board. Tatiana previously served as an appointed expert to the City of Amsterdam’s Social Entrepreneurship action programme and as Supervisory Group Chair of AIESEC International. As a steward of the Art of Hosting, participatory community building is at the core of her work, coupled with experience working in a global financial institution, public sector innovation and small enterprise. Tatiana is a Canadian, based in Amsterdam.

Sarah Haigh

Sarah is a dynamic and dedicated professional with expertise in economics, law and social policy. Over the past 11 years, she has been a key player in the Office of Social Impact at Queensland Treasury. Sarah leads on complex, whole-of-system reforms aimed at improving outcomes for marginalised Queenslanders through better human service provision.  With a background as a yoga teacher, she brings a holistic approach to her work and a passion for community and resilience. Sarah excels at bringing diverse groups together, fostering collaboration and driving meaningful outcomes.

Helianti Hilman

Helianti Hilman is an award winning social entrepreneur and founder of Javara, a pioneering enterprise that bridges Indonesia’s Indigenous food heritage with modern, premium markets. With a background in law and a passion for food sovereignty, her organisation has worked with over 10,000 smallholder farmers and food artisans across Indonesia. Through inclusive value chains, regenerative practices and ethical branding, Helianti has turned rural traditions into global opportunities. Recognised globally for her impact, she champions rural innovation, food biodiversity, indigenous knowledge and sustainable food systems- making her a leading voice in driving equitable and resilient rural economies. Her work exemplifies the power of culture-based, community-led enterprise.

Peifen Hsieh

Peifen Hsieh is the Deputy Secretary General of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), Taiwan’s official development assistance agency. She previously served as Spokesperson and Director of International Affairs at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Policy Research Associate at Taiwan’s National Security Council and a diplomat in the Permanent Mission of Tuvalu to the United Nations. Peifen has represented the DPP in the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and served on the Fair Trade Committee of Liberal International (LI). She received her LLM and MPP from Harvard and a BA in Law and Political Science from National Taiwan University.

Gigi Wen-Chi Huang

Wen-Chi Huang (Gigi) graduated from the Department of Marine Environment and Engineering at National Sun Yat-sen University. With a deep love for the ocean and a strong connection to it since childhood, Gigi chose to return to Hualien after graduation to combine academic knowledge with personal experience. Using fish, one of the most familiar marine elements in daily life, as a medium, the goal is to reconnect people with the ocean, support the revitalisation of traditional fisheries and offer innovative ways to consume seafood. This initiative invites everyone to rediscover and protect marine resources by drawing closer to the sea.

Chloe Huang

Chloe Huang is the Secretary General of B Lab Taiwan. Together with a group of like-minded partners committed to leveraging business for positive impact, she promotes the global B Corp movement in Taiwan. By fostering cross-sector collaboration among business, government and academia, she helps mobilise entrepreneurs, students and the general public to launch social and environmental initiatives, align with international standards, advance ESG practices and realise business as a force for good. Previously a university lecturer and a strategy and knowledge management consultant at an international consulting firm, Chloe believes that true sustainability is only possible when businesses critically reflect on their value—past, present and future.

Alice Yi Jou Hung

Yi Jou Hung (Alice) is the Founder of Micro PC, where she integrates marine waste recycling and marine education into her entrepreneurship. After university, she received a government subsidy to join a Silicon Valley accelerator. Now in its sixth year, her company continues to grow, including the launch of a second business. Alice supports the Taoyuan City Government to recycle over ten tonnes of marine waste annually and advises on marine education. She also works with Taiwanese companies to repurpose marine waste and has served in several youth advisory and leadership roles nationally and internationally.

Huda Jaffer

Huda is a product/service/systems designer with a keen interest in user centric design specifically for sustainability and developmental issues. She has an undergraduate degree in design from Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore and a Masters of Science in Engineering and Business (Integrated Design and Management) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.

Huda has been critical in building the necessary processes of SELCO Foundation, which has led to it being known as a pioneer in the field of building the ecosystem for sustainable energy access for the poor.

Debrah Jiang

Debrah Jiang is Assistant Director of Partnerships at AVPN. Working with the AVPN Health Impact, Gender Equality and ImpactCollab teams, she fosters strategic partnerships across projects, programmes and events that enable capital and intent to move towards action and impact. She was previously Chief of Staff to the CEO at AVPN, driving the network’s strategic vision by advising the CEO and management team and coordinating cross-functional initiatives. Debrah has worked on social impact and sustainability programmes in China, India and Southeast Asia, bringing cross-sector experience in policy, arts and culture, entrepreneurship and sustainability. She is also a trained design thinking practitioner and facilitator.

Tony Joy

Tony Joy is passionate about rural development and has nearly a decade of active experience working in social enterprise to support development in rural communities. As the founder of Durian, she supports marginalised groups such as rural people, especially women and girls, in Nigeria to lead better lives. A recipient of multiple awards, Tony Joy is desirous of engaging women in communities to lead the process of change as they create rural communities of the future. She also intends to lead the conversation on the meaning of development for rural communities.

Kristin Kagetsu

Kristin Kagetsu is the Co-founder and CEO of Saathi, an award-winning Indian social enterprise. An MIT-trained engineer with a deep passion for sustainable manufacturing, Kristin’s journey in India began while developing natural dye crayons for an NGO, an experience that cemented her commitment to creating impactful solutions on the ground. At Saathi, she pioneers fully biodegradable and compostable menstrual hygiene products from banana and bamboo fibres. This innovative approach tackles plastic waste, champions the circular economy and empowers women through an inclusive supply chain. Kristin has been named a Forbes 30 Under 30 fellow and a Cartier Women’s Initiative finalist, while Saathi has gained global recognition from TIME Magazine, Fast Company and the UN Environment Programme.

Ting-Yueh (Eva) Kang

Dr. Ting-Yueh (Eva) Kang is the Deputy Director of Research Division VIII at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, the country’s first private think tank dedicated to assisting the government in policy research and promotion. She focuses on social innovation, social enterprises, regional revitalisation and SME development. Her work also spans the SDGs, ESG and youth engagement. Eva has contributed to Taiwan’s cross-departmental “Social Innovation Action Plan” and is committed to creating social impact to make Taiwan a better place.

Sasibai Kimis

Sasibai Kimis left a successful finance career to found Earth Heir, an award-winning Malaysian conscious lifestyle brand and social enterprise. Founded in 2013, Earth Heir celebrates Malaysian craftsmanship with pieces made by heritage artisans and marginalised communities. Certified by the World Fair Trade Organisation and B Corp, Earthheir.com offers sustainable, socially impactful lifestyle goods and ESG gifts. Earth Heir Collective champions social procurement in Malaysia, helping organisations boost supplier diversity, measure impact and reduce costs. The company’s 1% Social Pledge encourages organisations to support social impact products. Sasibai holds a BSc in Economics from the Wharton School and an MPhil in Environment and Development from Cambridge University.

MacKenzie King

MacKenzie King is the Regional Partnerships Lead for the Impact Hub Network in Asia-Pacific. In this role, she builds high-impact entrepreneurship and innovation programmes that strengthen ecosystems and communities. Her work spans disability-inclusive entrepreneurship, circular supply chains and nature-based solutions, approached through a political ecology lens. She has led multi-country partnerships with foundations, public agencies and international organisations. MacKenzie also advises WE-Can, a women’s entrepreneurship network in Thailand, and serves as a policy council member for the Rihla Initiative on green economic growth, focused on Gulf climate investment strategy in South and Southeast Asia. She holds a Master’s in Social Innovation and Sustainability from Thammasat University.

Ellie Koepplinger

Ellie Koepplinger is a corporate strategist and sustainability advocate with expertise in the circular economy. While Head of Growth at Reposit, she led the UK’s first returnable cup scheme with major brands including Costa, Caffe Nero and Burger King. A UC Berkeley economics graduate and Bain & Co alumna, Ellie’s fluency in Mandarin Chinese enables her to combine global strategic business acumen with a passion for environmental impact. She currently runs a non-profit consultancy supporting BIPOC-led start-ups to scale and serves as a Trustee for Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland.

Wei Shan Koh

Wei Shan Koh is Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE), where she drives strategy, communications, partnerships and collaborative financing to strengthen the social enterprise ecosystem. She has guided founders through venture building, including running Asia’s first venture capital-backed accelerator for socially impactful enterprises with Quest Ventures. Beginning her career at Ogilvy Singapore, Wei Shan led campaigns for global brands and spearheaded corporate social responsibility initiatives. Passionate about using business as a force for good, she champions intentional, sustainable and collaborative approaches to social impact.

Penny Pei Wen Lai

Penny Lai is the Co-founder of MUVE NPO, a non-profit in Taiwan that uses eye-tracking technology to support people with severe physical disabilities. Over the past ten years, she has led the team in developing inclusive education systems that make assistive eye-tracking technology more accessible. MUVE NPO focuses on using technology not just for innovation but to create meaningful impact in people’s lives.

Vivian Lee

Vivian Lee is the Co-founder and CEO of Go!Mama, a Singapore-based social enterprise driving innovation in maternal and family-friendly infrastructure through tech-enabled lactation pods and digital wayfinding solutions. Her work has shaped a new model of public–private collaboration, partnering with government agencies, corporates and community institutions to advance caregiving accessibility across Singapore. Beyond Go!Mama, Vivian contributes to national efforts in women’s leadership and workforce transformation through roles with the ACE Women Entrepreneurs Committee, NTUC Tech Talent Assembly and NTUC Women & Family Unit. Recognised by Tatler Gen.T and raiSE VentureForGood, she champions inclusive growth for working mothers and families.

Wulan Trisya Lembonunu

Wulan Trisya Lembonunu is the Director of Education and Empowerment at the Sikola Mombine Foundation, a grassroots organisation in Central Sulawesi that advances women’s and youth leadership through education, environmental initiatives and social entrepreneurship. She has led transformative programmes such as the Village Learning Center and the development of a gender-responsive social forestry roadmap. In collaboration with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, she is currently building an inclusive economic ecosystem for women with disabilities in Palu City, Central Sulawesi. Wulan is deeply committed to strengthening women’s leadership as agents of social and political change towards a just, inclusive and sustainable future.

Melissa Alut Lim

Melissa Alut Lim is a founder and director of Rustic Borneo Craft – a local social enterprise based in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. They are committed to supporting local communities by utilising the rich natural resources of the Borneo rainforest. They specialise in supplying locally crafted amenities, including eco-friendly, sustainable products such as soaps and amenities, massage oil, herbs and plant essences and aromatherapy essential oil.

Hsiu Peng Lin

Hsiu Peng Lin is a community organiser and social innovator based in Yuanli Township, Miaoli County, a rural area of Taiwan. Hsiu Peng has co-founded initiatives that promote women’s empowerment, sustainable agriculture and cultural education through creative entrepreneurship. Her work bridges cultural heritage and civic engagement, enabling communities to co-create sustainable and inclusive futures. One key effort revitalises traditional rush-weaving to foster economic autonomy among older women. Lin’s place-based approach shows how grassroots action and participatory practice can build local resilience, preserve cultural identity and foster social enterprise rooted in the everyday lives of rural communities.

Sunny Yi-Han Lin

Sunny Yi-Han Lin is the Founder and CEO of Social Enterprise Insights, established in 2012. Social Enterprise Insights is the first Mandarin online-to-offline information portal promoting social entrepreneurship, as well as an incubator for growing social impact organisations and talent. Sunny completed her undergraduate studies in Public Administration and Law at National Chengchi University and obtained her Master’s degree in Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin in the United States.

Sandy Lin

Sandy is the Director of International Business Development at DaFon Environmental. She is a passionate sustainability advocate with deep roots in the recycling industry, having grown up in a family involved in the sector for decades. A Northeastern University graduate, she has founded two companies, one of which was successfully acquired, while building an engaged social media following of over 700,000. With a focus on the circular economy, Sandy champions transparency in sustainability practices and promotes environmentally conscious decisions. Her work aims to raise awareness and contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet.

Chelsey MacNeil

Chelsey MacNeil, a recognised expert in social impact and community economic development, leads The Purposeful Group in Canada, a prominent consultancy specialising in social enterprise, community development and sustainability. With a career marked by pivotal contributions—establishing initiatives like rural entrepreneurship programs and catalysing large-scale policy changes in income support and social finance—her impact is significant. Chelsey also supports future economic leaders as a faculty member at Memorial University’s MBA Program. Nationally lauded for advancing social procurement and supporting underrepresented groups in economic development, her dedication to empowering communities solidifies her as a leading influencer in reshaping social impact and community-driven economic development.

Hélène Malandain

Hélène has been serving as the Chair of SEWF since 2019. Hélène runs Pocketknife, a New Zealand-based advisory firm that works with people and organisations who navigate change towards better futures. She has recently relocated to France, her home country.

Hélène has been working in the social impact and social innovation space for over 10 years. Her journey started with a focus on growing social enterprise in Aotearoa New Zealand as a vehicle towards economic transformation, and has since expanded to many sectors and pockets of the economy.

Her work currently ranges from advising grassroots community-led networks on multi-year behaviour change programmes, to co-designing change strategies for NFPs, advising local government on New Economy frameworks, and working with researchers on the topic of ethical leadership.

Hélène enjoys working across multiple scales: from global and multicultural environments to local and place-based contexts. She’s used to working on the ground, or around the Board table. She is curious about models, innovative frameworks and philosophies that can inform the redesign of our systems towards a new economy. She is committed to continuous learning, to growing her toolbox and her practice, and to keep expanding her horizons – and those of others’ through collaboration.

Margaret McSporran

Margaret McSporran is a Head of Community Wealth Building at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). HIE drives economic and community development across over half of Scotland, fostering growth, innovation and sustainability. An experienced business woman, Mags McSporran has held a number of senior roles with HIE since 1995. As head of community wealth building, Mags leads policy development and supports third-sector clients and communities throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Roopa Mehta

Roopa Mehta is Secretary of Sarba Shanti Ayog (SSA) and Executive Director of Sasha Association for Craft Producers (Sasha), a pioneering Fair Trade social enterprise in India. She has served on the Boards of Sadhna (Seva Mandir’s handicrafts initiative), Fair Trade Forum-India and All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (AIACA). She is a former President of the World Fair Trade Organization, long advocating for Fair Trade and artisan livelihoods.

With an MBA from Delhi University and qualifications in Social Communication, Roopa began in hospitality and merchandising, later becoming CEO of a textiles company before joining Sasha. She continues to champion sustainable, equitable and dignified livelihoods.

Joy Munthamraksa

Joy Munthamraksa is the East and Southeast Asia Regional Chapter Head for the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), a global network of organisations that propel entrepreneurship in developing economies. Through convenings, research and capacity building programmes, Joy is committed to driving resources to improve support for the small and growing business sector, contributing to job creation, inclusive development and environmental and social benefits.

Before joining ANDE, Joy had extensive experience in sustainable development and social entrepreneurship in Thailand and Myanmar. She is a Development Studies graduate from the University of Cambridge, UK.

Karen Ngui

Karen Ngui is the Group Head of Strategic Marketing and Communications at DBS, sitting on the Group Management Committee and reporting to the Group CEO. She is also head of DBS Foundation and one of its founding board members. Since joining DBS in 2005, Karen has been pivotal in advancing the bank’s purpose-driven approach, leading brand positioning, corporate communications and DBS People of Purpose. She was instrumental in founding DBS Foundation in 2014, which has since supported more than 160 purpose-driven businesses and benefited 10 million people through grants and community programmes. Karen previously worked at Standard Chartered as Global Head of Brand Management.

Phạm Kiều Oanh

Jessica Oyarbide

Jessica Oyarbide is a specialist in Social Enterprises, purpose-driven brands and impact ecosystems. She is the founder of EKHOS — official partner of People and Planet First — connecting India, Latin America and the UK to strengthen ecosystems of impact. She also founded Marcas que Marcan, a conscious branding agency that supports people and organisations putting people and the planet first. She has worked with clients such as UN Women, UNICEF, UNHCR and Fair Trade. Jessica lived in India researching Fair Trade and Social Enterprises, teaches at Universidad Austral, speaks internationally and is currently writing her first book.

Joji Pantoja

Joji Pantoja is a passionate advocate for sustainable peace and development in the Philippines. As a leader at Coffee for Peace, she empowers Indigenous Peoples and local communities through social entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship and inclusive economic initiatives. Her work bridges cultural values and enterprise, cultivating peace from the ground up.

Eadie Pfahlert

Eadie Pfahlert (she/her) is a Policy Officer based in Edinburgh, originally from Australia. She works across global programs that support rural communities and social enterprises, with a focus on inclusive policy development, network building and practical collaboration.

Eadie leads work on the Global Rural Social Enterprise Network, a peer-led initiative connecting rural changemakers around the world. She also co-coordinates SEWF’s Community Hubs program, supports the SEWF Youth Advisory Group and helps deliver the bi-annual Rural Gathering.

Her work focuses on making policy more accessible and representative by centring lived experience and connecting grassroots ideas to global decision-making. She is especially passionate about rural equity and youth leadership in the social economy.

Ambika Sangaran

Ambika Sangaran is a strategic leader with over a decade of experience in capacity development, operational excellence and sustainable program design. As the Chief Operations Officer and Co-founder of Mereka, she has driven transformative socio-economic initiatives, streamlining operations, spearheading revenue growth and cultivating high-performing teams. Ambika holds a BA (Hons) in Tourism and Environment from Brock University, complementing her practical expertise with a strong academic foundation and ongoing professional development in global challenges and sustainable business practices. Her robust blend of leadership, strategic insight and educational excellence underpins her commitment to fostering social equity and scalable positive change.

Viviantie Sarjuni

Viviantie Sarjuni is the Chief Executive Officer of Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN), with over 20 years of leadership spanning multinational corporations, academia, grassroots communities and government agencies including MaGIC. She previously led the Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC), advancing technology, creativity and rural social entrepreneurship and positioning Sabah among Malaysia’s top three states for social enterprise growth. A Chevening Scholar with an MSc in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (University of Strathclyde) and a Computer Science degree (UPM), she also serves as Chairperson of the Sabah Women’s Advisory Council’s Economic Subcommittee and President of Chevening Alumni Malaysia (2024–2026).

Uliantie Sarjuni

Uliantie Sarjuni is an Acting CEO of the Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC). A dedicated driving force behind Sabah’s creative and innovative landscape, Uliantie leads initiatives that nurture local talent, strengthen the creative economy and cultivate an environment where innovation can thrive.

With her strong commitment to ecosystem development, she bridges policy, community and industry – creating meaningful impact and sustainable growth across Sabah.

Mary-Anne Scully

Mary-Anne Scully is a business strategist, facilitator and communicator who specialises in working with people and organisations who want to make an impact beyond the city lights. In 2019, Mary-Anne joined ACRE to lead Breakout Accelerator, a dedicated programme for rural innovators. She continues to devise and lead opportunities for rural social entrepreneurs, including the 2022 SEWF ‘Rural Gathering’ and REJUVENATE – an initiative that connects, guides and supports rural people who want to build and sustain community-led initiatives. Anne is also a driving force for ‘Unlocking the power of rural’ – an international manifesto for rural social enterprise developed in partnership with SEWF.

Andri Setyowati

Andri Setyowati is the Founder of Nichoa Chocolate, an Indonesian bean-to-bar chocolate brand that champions sustainability, traceability and innovation. She works closely with smallholder cacao farmers to build transparent and fair value chains that uplift local communities. Through Nichoa, Andri promotes Indonesia’s rich cacao heritage while fostering meaningful social and economic impact in rural areas. Passionate about ethical entrepreneurship and the future of sustainable food, she continues to advocate for collaboration, transparency and fair value within Indonesia’s growing chocolate ecosystem, redefining how business can create both purpose and prosperity.

Jyotsna Sitling

Jyotsna Sitling, a member of the Advisory Committee to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on the Social Stock Exchange of India, is a former Indian Forest Service officer recognised nationally and internationally for her environmental contributions. Known for her social innovations in public systems, she has worked to find sustainable solutions to diverse equity and environmental challenges. Since 2014, Jyotsna Sitling has promoted social entrepreneurship in India. Impact reporting, social enterprise–government engagement and business–biodiversity collaboration are her areas of expertise. She continues to contribute passionately at the intersection of market, equity and environment to create social and environmental impact.

Åsa Skogström Feldt

Åsa Skogström Feldt leads IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV, which through investments and programmes supports social entrepreneurs to create opportunities for vulnerable people and communities. She brings a combination of business and NGO experience, having served as Global President and CEO of The Hunger Project in New York and CEO of The Hunger Project Sweden. Åsa established social entrepreneurship in the IKEA supply chain and previously worked at companies including Sony Ericsson in Germany and Ericsson Mobile Communications in MEA. Throughout her career she has focused on entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment, serving on boards and co-founding two women’s organisations.

Catherine Wing-Chee So

Dr Catherine So is the Founder and Director of Science and Technology for Autism Remediation (STAR). She is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. STAR empowers autistic children and their families through the application of power and technology. Since 2018, she and her team have provided holistic support to families with autistic children in Hong Kong. One of its signature programmes, Robot for Autism for Behavioural Intervention (RABI®), has improved the social and behavioural wellbeing of over 3,000 autistic children and enhanced the quality of life of their family members.

Marilyn Su

Ana Marina Tan

Ana Marina Tan is the Director of the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSEnt) at Ateneo de Manila University, where she leads initiatives that promote inclusive and sustainable development through social enterprise. Previously, she served as Programme Manager at British Council Philippines, where she led the I Am a Changemaker programme under the global Active Citizens initiative, nurturing young innovators and catalysing grassroots impact. Ana is the co-author and co-editor of two casebooks, including Creating Sustainable Value in Social Enterprises, which was nominated for the National Book Awards. Through ACSEnt, she continues to shape social enterprise discourse and practice in the Philippines and beyond.

Amelia Tan

Amelia is an investment banker turned social entrepreneur. A story-teller by heart, her 1st foray into the social impact space began at Teach For Malaysia as a fundraiser. She later co-founded 100% Project by EdSpace, a crowdfunding platform that raised RM3 million for teachers across Malaysia. She was also the Project Director for Mangosteen and the Marketing Lead for Acumen Malaysia.

Amelia is now the co-founder and CEO of Conscious, an impact brand builder that aims to redirect the forces of capitalism to fund sustainable solutions for people and planet. Conscious aims to bring together the best of technology, community, business and media to bring forth a world that is better for all.

Tizzita Tefera

Tizzita is the co-founder and a board member of Social Enterprise Ethiopia. Social Enterprise Ethiopia works to raise awareness around the field of social enterprise in Ethiopia as well as undertakes policy advocacy work on behalf of the 55000 social enterprises in Ethiopia. She has also worked with intermediaries such as Social Enterprise Kenya and is a board member at Social Enterprise World Forum. She is passionate about all things social enterprise, having worked in different capacities in the sector. She also works as a principal consultant at We Scale Impact, working to scale the impact of social enterprises.

Yan Teh

Yan Teh is committed to creating impact through strategic development, partnerships and storytelling. Her work spans civic empowerment, innovation, sustainable development and public infrastructure, gained from her time at an urban regeneration nonprofit. She also served as Marketing Director at one of America’s fastest-growing Inc. 5000 companies. Now at Biji-biji Initiative in Malaysia, Yan brings her expertise in network building and turning ideas into actionable, real-world initiatives to national and regional projects focused on social and environmental change.

Hsin-Ling Tsai

Hsin-Ling Tsai is the Founder and CEO of Silver Linings Global (SLG), a leading social enterprise advancing innovative longevity solutions. She drives best practice exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration and impactful training programmes, empowering talent and organisations to transform services for a better long life. With over 10 years’ experience in the healthcare and ageing sectors across the US, China and Taiwan, Hsin-Ling is recognised as a regional and global thought leader. She specialises in strategic planning, business development and international partnerships and is a registered pharmacist with a bachelor’s degree from Taipei Medical University and a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Carol Tsai

Carol is the Founder of Loopick, a Taiwan-based social enterprise dedicated to building a sustainable circular system for food delivery and reusable containers. Loopick integrates technology, logistics and behavioural design to make sustainability effortless in everyday life. The company partners with hospitals, schools and large venues such as baseball stadiums to reduce single-use waste through its rental, collection and washing network. Carol’s vision is to normalise sustainable habits by creating a service model where “eco-friendly” becomes the most convenient choice for everyone.

Clara Wan

Clara Wan is the Founder and CEO of Saving Graze, a social enterprise dedicated to making food affordable while tackling food waste in Malaysia. She leads two impact-driven brands: Graze Market, a surplus food market and Graze Eatery, a surplus food café and catering provider. Since its inception in 2019, Saving Graze has diverted over 200 tons of edible food from landfills and supported more than 10,000 low-income individuals through corporate partnership programmes. Driven by her belief in food equity, Clara is committed to increasing access to nutritious, affordable meals while addressing systemic food loss sustainably.

Leiya Wang

Leiya Wang is the Co-Founder of ei studio, a circular design studio based in Taiwan. With a background in storytelling and brand building, she explores how design can reshape our relationship with waste. Through creative products, community collaborations and a dose of playful irreverence, ei studio transforms recycled plastic into everyday objects that hold both purpose and the story of what they once were. Leiya believes in slow impact and local change. She continues to build conversations around sustainability, not as a solution but as an evolving practice rooted in care, creativity and community.

Emily Y. Wu

Emily Y. Wu is a podcast producer and presenter based in Taiwan. She founded Ghost Island Media in 2019 as an independent network focused on social issues and cross-cultural programming. Ghost Island Media’s 15 programmes are in Mandarin, English or French and have received accolades and awards in the UK, Finland and Taiwan. Emily has served as an award juror at Cannes Lions (Audio & Radio, 2024), Dubai Lynx (2025), International Women’s Podcast Awards (London 2024 and 2025) and ‘Books From Taiwan’ by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture (2020). She is an Asia 21 Next Generation Fellow at Asia Society.

Yuri Yuko

Yuri Yuko is the CEO of Jidi Culture Publishing, a company inspired by her roots in the Alang Pajiq community, located at the foot of the Central Mountain Range on the east side of Taiwan. Growing up surrounded by the myths and histories of the Truku tribe, Yuri developed a deep admiration for her cultural heritage. Today, she embarks on the entrepreneurial journey with the hope that these stories will continue to be shared and preserved for generations to come.

Ayesha Zulfiqar