Cover Women who work hard: Meet Viviantie Sarjuni and Dr Hannah Nazri, the Social Impact nominees for the Front & Female Awards 2026
Women who work hard: Meet Viviantie Sarjuni and Dr Hannah Nazri, the Social Impact nominees for the Front & Female Awards 2026
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Meet the women who are driving meaningful social change by expanding opportunity and advancing more inclusive, culturally informed approaches to women’s health and empowerment
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.
I can promise you that women working together—linked, informed and educated—can bring peace and prosperity to this forsaken planet
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.
Two nominees were shortlisted for this year’s Social Impact category, which recognises individuals supporting underserved, overlooked, vulnerable or marginalised women and girls, or working to advance human rights and equality.
Viviantie Sarjuni
Above Viviantie Sarjuni is the CEO of Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN)
Viviantie Sarjuni is the CEO of Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN)
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Viviantie Sarjuni is the chief executive officer of INSKEN, where she leads national efforts to build entrepreneurial capability and create more inclusive economic opportunities. Growing up with sisters in a society that often undervalued girls’ potential, she developed a strong commitment to ensuring talent is supported by access, confidence and opportunity regardless of background.
A Chevening Scholar with over 20 years of leadership experience, she previously served as CEO of Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC), helping position Sabah among Malaysia’s leading states for social enterprise development. She is also President of Chevening Alumni Malaysia (2024–2026) and actively promotes rural social entrepreneurship and women’s economic empowerment.
Sarjuni believes nation-building requires collaboration between women and men as partners in creating inclusive workplaces. In 2026, she became the first Malaysian recipient of the World Economic Forum Public Social Innovator Award 2026, recognising her contributions to social entrepreneurship. Over the next five years, she aims to nurture empathetic, inclusive leaders and expand decentralised entrepreneurial opportunities for underserved communities.
Dr Hannah Nazri
Above Dr Hannah Nazri is an obstetrics and gynaecology doctor and adjunct senior research fellow with Monash University Malaysia
Dr Hannah Nazri is an obstetrics and gynaecology doctor and adjunct senior research fellow with Monash University Malaysia
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Dr Hannah Nazri is an obstetrics and gynaecology doctor and women’s health researcher recognised as one of Southeast Asia’s leading medical voices advocating for the end of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C). Combining clinical expertise with culturally informed advocacy, she has played a significant role in shaping evidence based and rights affirming discourse on the practice in Malaysia and the wider region.
Nazri serves as Director of Malaysian Doctors for Women and Children, where she leads medical engagement on FGM/C and challenges the growing medicalisation of the practice. She is also a core member of the UNFPA Malaysia FGM/C Partnerships Committee and an advisory board member of the Asia Network to End FGM/C, contributing medical expertise to regional strategies addressing the issue. Her policy work includes collaboration with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and the global legal advocacy organisation Equality Now, helping to strengthen rights based responses for women and girls.
Her essay, ‘Decolonising FGM/C Advocacy: Respecting Local Expertise’, has become an important reference point in reframing conversations on the practice by centring medical ethics, cultural understanding and community agency. She was invited to the King Charles III Garden Party 2024 in recognition of her contributions to women’s health advocacy. She was also named to the WeAreTheCity Rising Star Awards 2025 shortlist for her work in the public sector.
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 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 women founders transforming communities through craft, opportunity and compassion
- Front & Female Awards 2026: Meet 3 powerhouse women championing leadership, equity and impact
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