Cover Women making a difference: Meet Prestine Davekhaw, Professor Dr Sushila Krishnaswamy-Chang and Beatrice Leong, the Wellbeing Award nominees for the Front & Female Awards 2026
Women making a difference: Meet Prestine Davekhaw, Professor Dr Sushila Krishnaswamy-Chang and Beatrice Leong, the Wellbeing Award nominees for the Front & Female Awards 2026
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Meet the women who are advancing wellbeing through education, advocacy and inclusive representation, empowering women and communities to thrive
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 think realising that you’re not alone, that you are standing with millions of your sisters around the world is vital
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 nominees were shortlisted for this year’s Wellbeing Award category, which recognises individuals whose work supports the health and wellbeing of women and girls across physical, mental, social or sexual dimensions.
Prestine Davekhaw
Above Prestine Davekhaw is the founder of MalaysianPAYGAP
Prestine Davekhaw is the founder of MalaysianPAYGAP
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Prestine Davekhaw founded MalaysianPAYGAP, a viral advocacy platform that promotes salary transparency and encourages more open conversations about pay equity. Through the initiative, workers can anonymously share salary data and career insights, helping Malaysians better understand market rates and professional expectations.
Davekhaw’s work focuses on dismantling long-standing taboos around discussing wages, particularly in a society where cultural norms and workplace hierarchies often discourage transparency. By creating a space for open information sharing, she aims to reduce knowledge gaps that can disadvantage employees, especially women negotiating salaries or career progression.
Gender pay disparities remain a persistent global issue. Estimates from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) suggest as recently as 2024, women professionals in fields such as law, accounting and education may earn about 18.6 per cent less than men in comparable roles, highlighting the importance of transparency and informed negotiation. Driven by a strong belief that information is power, Davekhaw hopes to grow MalaysianPAYGAP into a sustainable movement that reshapes how the country discusses pay, fairness and opportunity.
Professor Dr Sushila Krishnaswamy-Chang
Above Professor Dr Sushila Krishnaswamy-Chang is the vice chancellor and CEO of Asian Women's Leadership University College (AWLUC)
Professor Dr Sushila Krishnaswamy-Chang is the vice chancellor and CEO of Asian Women's Leadership University College (AWLUC)
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Professor Dr Sushila Krishnaswamy-Chang leads Asian Women’s Leadership University College (AWLUC), established in 2022 as Southeast Asia’s first not-for-profit women’s liberal arts and sciences university. Modelled after the United States’ historic Seven Sisters colleges, the institution aims to nurture future leaders through interdisciplinary education, critical thinking and global perspectives.
Krishnaswamy-Chang’s commitment to women’s advancement is deeply personal. Raised in a low-income immigrant family with limited access to education, she experienced firsthand the challenges faced by many women striving to overcome social and economic barriers. Her career across multiple countries has reinforced her belief that women play essential roles in leadership, decision-making and community building, yet remain underrepresented in positions of power.
Through AWLUC, she hopes to equip students with both technical expertise and critical skills including problem-solving, communication and systems thinking so they can navigate complex global challenges. Over the next few years, she also aims to personally mentor emerging leaders who embody resilience, authenticity and ethical leadership, empowering them to create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
Beatrice Leong
Above Beatrice Leong is a documentary filmmaker and autistic gender-disability advocate with the Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group (AIDA)
Beatrice Leong is a documentary filmmaker and autistic gender-disability advocate with the Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group (AIDA)
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Beatrice Leong is a documentary filmmaker and disability rights advocate who works to improve visibility, understanding and protection for autistic and disabled women and girls. Diagnosed with autism at 35, she focuses on the experiences of late-diagnosed and “lost girls” whose needs are often overlooked by social and medical systems.
As founder of AIDA, an autistic-led advocacy organisation, she promotes legislative protection against discrimination, stronger safeguarding against abuse and better support structures for women with invisible disabilities. She has also contributed to national policy work as the first autistic woman self-advocate appointed to Malaysia’s National Council for Persons with Disabilities.
Through her documentary work, including the development of The Myth of Monsters, she seeks to challenge stigma, address shame narratives and encourage Southeast Asian women to tell their own stories. Over the long term, she hopes disabled women and girls will have greater access to education, employment and life choices without being limited by societal assumptions.
Be sure to check out the other nominees shortlisted for the Front & Female Awards 2026:
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