A series of life changes—and a late-night epiphany (“I looked up and said to myself, ‘I can do better’”)—led Junie Foo from a thriving career in banking to the joys of social work. Today, she helps the distressed live in dignity as CEO of Methodist Welfare Services, the charity organisation that looks after the most vulnerable—low-income seniors, at-risk girls, families facing conflict—through a network of care centres in Singapore. 

Foo, who also champions equality for women as the president of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations and co-chair of SCWO’s initiative BoardAgender, among other roles, points out that positive change can begin with small acts, sharing on Twitter: “we do not have to thump our chest and declare to everyone that we want to change the world. we can start with the next person who needs our help. Simple. A smile. A greeting. A nod. A connection A generous heart. An outstretched hand”.

we do not have to thump our chest and declare to everyone that we want to change the world. we can start with the next person who needs our help. Simple.
A smile. A greeting. A nod. A connection
A generous heart. An outstretched hand.

#socialchange #kindness #forwardsingapore

— Junie Foo (@jubilantfoo) November 26, 2022

Read Junie Foo’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Don't miss: Asia's Most Influential: SCWO President Junie Foo on Finding Joy in Helping the Less Fortunate

Agriculture is essential to the life of every single person in the world, and yet agricultural workers are among the most disadvantaged in many aspects—farmers are among the most underpaid and most socially vulnerable sectors in most countries, and work under the hardest conditions while also being the least likely to have access to social security and protection.

Cherrie Atilano calls herself the “founding farmer” and President/CEO of AGREA Agricultural System International and co-founder of Hatienda Holdings, both of which are dedicated to empowering farming communities in the Philippines. Growing up on a sugarcane farm in Negros Occidental, Atilano dreamt of contributing to positive change in the sector, and became an agricultural scientist and entrepreneur to make it happen.

Through AGREA, Atilano is working to build the One Osland Economy Model in Marinduque—one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines—by implementing programs that aim to achieve Zero Waste, Zero Hunger and Zero Insufficiency in the communities, and therefore create what she calls “an ecology of dignity to food producers”. AGREA has also become a platform for poverty alleviation and gender equality, and has been recognised as a Covid-19 Action champion at the UN Women 2020 Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards.

“In the country, we have about 12 million hectares of underproductive lands; most of them in the countryside,” Atilano explained in an interview published on the World Bank website for International Women’s Day 2022. “Many Filipinos are going to bed hungry, and the pandemic has worsened the situation—with 4.5 million families now experiencing involuntary hunger. People are leaving rural areas to seek better lives in greater cities. So I hope that our work in the future will be replicated in different islands in the country to provide agricultural economic opportunities for the people to reverse migration from the urban to the rural areas, make the land productive to create more Filipino-made products, and address food insecurity.”

Read Cherrie Atilano's full profile on Asia's Most Influential 2022

In case you missed it: Cherrie Atilano at the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit: Working for a Sustainable Future

Through her work as a lawyer, Fang-Yu Lai helps victims of domestic violence and assault, as well as women going through a most difficult time in their life: the dissolution of their marriage. The family law expert is known for representing many high-profile celebrities and personalities such as actress Barbie Hsu of Meteor Garden fame, singer Stella Chang and artist Huang Jiaquian in their divorce proceedings. Notably, Hsu’s divorce resolution included an agreement to divide assets (including a hotel named after Hsu) reportedly worth NT$950 million.

More importantly, however, this women’s rights champion has advocated for more stringent laws to protect against stalking and harassment and served as a member of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of China.

Read Fang-Yu Lai’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Tatler Asia's Most Influential is the definitive list of people shaping our world today. Asia's Most Influential brings together the region's most innovative changemakers, industry titans and thought leaders who are driving positive impact in Asia and beyond. View the full list here.

NOW READ

Asia’s Most Influential 2022: Inspiring Changemakers Taking On Social Problems That Others Overlook

Asia’s Most Influential 2022: Great Asian Minds Working to Eradicate Disease and Protect Life

Asia’s Most Influential 2022: Visionaries Creating More Opportunities Through Education