On March 7, 2024 we announced the six winners of our second Front & Female Awards Malaysia, which celebrates the individuals championing the progress of women.

Selected with the help of our expert voting committee, which includes some of the most influential leaders in Malaysia, these six women were chosen from a shortlist of 19 inspiring nominees, following a lengthy vetting procedure during which the names of almost 150 women had been submitted for consideration.

The winners were recognised at a live dinnertime Awards ceremony, presented in partnership with BMW Malaysia, Sun Life Malaysia, Cartier, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Minuty, Cosentino Malaysia and Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park.

Also in this week’s newsletter:

• How distinguished architect Lillian Tay built one of Malaysia’s top architectural practices
• International Women’s Day 2024: 9 books by Malaysian women authors
• What is the state of gender inclusion in Asia Pacific?
• Cartier celebrates the centennial anniversary of its first design icon—the Trinity ring

Happy International Women’s Day,
Sim Wie Boon
Digital Editor

In 2023, Lillian Tay became the first woman to be awarded the PAM (Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia - Malaysian Institute of Architects) Gold Medal and only the 13th recipient of this coveted award.

This recognition did not come as any surprise to those who know of Tay and her work, as the highly accomplished architect has distinguished herself in her professional practice and in her efforts to develop a greater appreciation of design within the profession and amongst the Malaysian public.

An outspoken advocate for better gender representation in the male-dominated building and architecture industry, Tatler Homes speaks to Tay on her extraordinary career trajectory.

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There’s nothing quite like a good work of fiction to transport you to imaginary worlds vastly different from the familiarity of your own surroundings. But in the past decade or so, numerous Malaysian authors have come to the forefront, proving that Malaysian stories and experiences have a place in the cultural zeitgeist both locally and abroad.

This International Women’s Day is the perfect time for bibliophiles to celebrate the female authors contributing to this exciting literary space, using their works of fiction either to tell local stories with diverse perspectives or spell-binding tales with universal appeal.

From Karina Robles Bahrin’s The Accidental Malay to Preeta Samarasan’s Tales of the Dreamer’s Son, here are nine fiction titles to add to your International Women's Day reading list this month.

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For Asia Pacific (APAC), gender inclusion and women-led development are crucial to achieving inclusive, sustainable development. However, according to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, it will take another four decades and more for APAC to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development based on the current trends.

Delving further into this issue, Asia Gender Network members Radha Goenka and Kathleen Chew led a study to reveal the state of gender inclusion in Asia Pacific, how far we still have to go and some strategies for the future.

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In the world of jewellery, few names carry as much weight and prestige as Cartier. With its historic role as the supplier of bespoke jewellery to royalty and aristocracy, the French maison has been synonymous with luxury, elegance and timeless design. Among its many legendary creations, one stands out as a true icon: the Trinity ring.

Conceived in 1924 by Louis Cartier, his “three-ring, three-gold” design has withstood the test of time, remaining as cool and captivating a hundred years later. In celebration of Trinity’s long-lasting power, Cartier marked its centennial anniversary with three magnificent fetes, commencing from New York, followed by London, and culminating in Paris.

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