Cover Wonder women: Meet Yap Sue Yii, Nurfarahin Romli and Emily Jeneble, the Founder’s Award nominees for the Front & Female Awards 2026
Wonder women: Meet Yap Sue Yii, Nurfarahin Romli and Emily Jeneble, the Founder’s Award nominees for the Front & Female Awards 2026
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Meet the ambitious entrepreneurs driving change and creating meaningful impact for women
Now in its fourth edition, the Front & Female Awards continues to honour women who are shaping a more equitable future for women and girls. The initiative recognises individuals whose work and lives are advancing progress, whether through breaking barriers, championing rights and representation, narrowing gender gaps or serving as role models whose example empowers others to follow.
Nominations for the 2026 awards opened to the public in January and drew more than 120 submissions from across a wide range of sectors. In addition to public nominations, Tatler Malaysia also invited recommendations from its Front & Female Tribe, an expert voting committee comprising women who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields, alongside past recipients of the award. This year’s Tribe includes Dato’ Dr Hartini Zainudin, Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Professor Dr Chong Pei Pei, Fiona Tan, Aida Zunaidi, Aisya Rahman, Suri Kempe and Dr Premitha Damodaran, as well as other respected professionals who were approached to contribute their nominations and insights.
Following the nomination period, submissions were reviewed internally to create a shortlist spanning six categories: Business Leadership, Innovation, Founders, Rising Champions, Social Impact and Wellbeing. The shortlisted nominees were then presented to the voting committee, and votes were tallied internally to determine the winners of the Front & Female Awards Malaysia 2026.
The winners will be revealed at a live ceremony on March 12 at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur. The evening will feature a fireside chat and awards dinner presented in partnership with official car partner Chery, Sime Darby Property, Cartier and Lladro, and will centre on the theme “Unstoppable”, a reflection of the extraordinary women who continue to create positive change within their communities.
Friends. Sisters. Mothers. Professors. When women affirm women, it unlocks our power. It gives us permission to shine brighter
This year’s discussion will explore what it truly means to be unstoppable, with a candid discussion on menopause as a universal experience connecting women across sectors and stages of life. Dr Premitha Damodaran, obstetrician-gynaecologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, and Dr Bharathi Vengadasalam, psychiatrist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, will share insights on the challenges women face during perimenopause and menopause while balancing professional, family and leadership responsibilities. The chat will be moderated by Emma Chong, Managing Editor at Tatler Malaysia, highlighting a topic often overlooked in women’s health and professional lives.
The evening will culminate in a celebration of the award recipients, individuals whose work over the past 18 months has created meaningful impact. Their achievements not only advance opportunities for women and girls in Malaysia, but also demonstrate how redefining what is possible can spark enduring and transformative change.
Three candidates have been shortlisted for this year’s Founder’s Award, which recognises entrepreneurs and founders who are breaking new ground and making a transformative impact in the lives of women.
Yap Sue Yii
Above Yap Sue Yii is the co-founder and CEO of Komuniti Tukang Jahit
Yap Sue Yii is the co-founder and CEO of Komuniti Tukang Jahit
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Yap Sue Yii is the co-founder of Komuniti Tukang Jahit (KTJ), a certified social enterprise that empowers women from B40 communities through sewing skills training and structured income opportunities. KTJ operates on the belief that empowerment must be economically sustainable, combining technical training, sales support and consistent production orders so that women can earn from home while maintaining family responsibilities.
Since its establishment, KTJ has supported more than 300 women, produced over 230,000 handmade items and helped generate more than RM460,000 in income for participants. Each product represents not only craftsmanship but also dignified livelihood for women whose skills often lacked market access.
KTJ focuses on building inclusive supply chains where women’s labour is valued and reliably rewarded. The enterprise was also invited to design a special collection for Raja Zarith Sofiah, reflecting the recognition of its craftsmanship and social mission. Over the next five years, she aims to scale dignified home-based employment models so more women can transform vocational skills into sustainable income and long-term economic independence.
Nurfarahin Romli
Above Nurfarahin Romli, better known as Farah Lee is a
humanitarian activist and founded Pertubuhan Kebajikan FL (Childrity)
Nurfarahin Romli, better known as Farah Lee is a humanitarian activist and founded Pertubuhan Kebajikan FL (Childrity)
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Nurfarahin Romli, widely known as Farah Lee, founded Pertubuhan Kebajikan FL, also known as Childrity, in 2022 to address the urgent needs of vulnerable children through humanitarian action. Her organisation focuses on improving children’s lives through access to education, healthcare, shelter and psychological and spiritual support, while responding to crises such as poverty, conflict, hunger and disaster.
Operating largely through social media platforms, she has built an engaged online community that helps mobilise support for humanitarian initiatives. Since its inception, Childrity has raised more than RM3.6 million, supporting over 5,000 children and benefiting more than 24,000 individuals through 21 projects across nine countries, including Malaysia, Afghanistan, Syria and Türkiye.
For Romli, supporting women is closely linked to protecting children. She believes that empowering women enables them to create stable and nurturing environments for their families. Through Childrity, she continues to rally communities to extend compassion and practical aid to those most in need.
Emily Jeneble
Above Emily Jeneble is a weaver, creative entrepreneur and founder of Seri Elf Enterprise
Emily Jeneble is a weaver, creative entrepreneur and founder of Seri Elf Enterprise
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A skilled weaver and creative entrepreneur from rural Sabah, Emily Jeneble has built more than a craft business. Through Seri Elf Enterprise, she empowers women, youth and the B40 community with weaving and business skills, enabling them to become self-reliant. Working with her own kampung and neighbouring villages, she nurtures a growing network of weavers, including single mothers, who now derive sustainable income from their handmade creations using natural materials harvested from the surrounding jungle. In the next five years, she aims to expand structured training and create wider market access so that more women and young people can confidently turn their craft into viable livelihoods.
For Jeneble, supporting women is about fairness of opportunity. She believes that when one woman rises, a family and community rise too. The most rewarding part of her work is seeing woven pieces valued not only as products, but as sources of dignity and income. Inspired by the resilience of village women, she remains committed to preserving ancestral heritage while building long-term economic stability for the community.
Guided by balance and purpose, she measures success not only in material terms, but in inner growth, relationships and the values left behind.
Be sure to check out the other nominees shortlisted for the Front & Female Awards 2026:
- Front & Female Awards 2026: Meet 3 changemakers driving impact in education, pay transparency and disability advocacy
- Front & Female Awards 2026: Meet 2 pioneers championing women’s health and empowerment in Malaysia
- Front & Female Awards 2026: Meet 3 young changemakers empowering women and girls across Malaysia
- Front & Female Awards 2026: Meet the trailblazing women redefining innovation from technology to healthcare
- Front & Female Awards 2026: Meet 3 powerhouse women championing leadership, equity and impact
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