From deep-tech to courageous leadership to caregiving, these are the awardees of the Front & Female Awards Singapore 2026

Grace Chia is co-founder & CEO of BeeX.

Through BeeX, Chia builds, designs and operates intelligent underwater drones, challenging how underwater work is done and making these processes safer and more scalable.

What achievement are you most proud of—and why/what impact did it have?
Keeping a team of experts that have been building with us since the start for more than a decade. The same people who were with BeeX ten years ago are still the same people in the company today. We really believe that the work we do is important, and we’re driven by our vision in using autonomous robots for more accessible, scalable and sustainable underwater solutions.

How do you sustain yourself—mentally or physically—while doing your work?
I’m someone who barely gets tired and mentally exhausted. My brain is just filled with a to-do list and seeing progress really makes me excited. 

What impact do you hope to make over the next five years?
I’m hoping to see an increased adoption of autonomous robotics to decrease time, costs and risk. It is the smarter choice for underwater stakeholders. Along the way, I would like to facilitate and inspire a greater appreciation for robotics among the youth so that they can realise a career in robotics. Robotics is more exciting than most people think! 

What's one belief about leadership or success you've unlearned?
That those who join us must be superstars. We just need people who are good at what they do. It really depends on how fast the person is, in addition to their ability to plan properly and follow through.

What is one barrier for women in Singapore that still needs urgent change?
Definitely the perception of what women are “supposed” to do. We’re often expected to take on domestic, administrative or support roles, when women can just as easily be out offshore, working outdoors, building things, engineering solutions or creating something new. There are so many fields we can be in. 

Complete the sentence: The future will belong to women who… are committed to building long-term impact.

Lilian Ong is founder, Class Living & Women of Courage Asia.

Ong helps women overcome fear, self-doubt and limiting beliefs through Women of Courage Asia, HER Courage Biz Network and Class Living, with the aim of developing courageous female leaders who can create ripples of change.

What first sparked your commitment to this work?
My own courage journey sparked this commitment. Through overcoming childhood trauma, depression and years of self-doubt, I discovered that my life unfolds in proportion to my courage to first lead myself in spite of fear. 

I learnt that awareness empowers us with a choice, while courage requires us to take intentional action to create the change we want to see in our lives. I also discovered that we do not learn simply from our experiences; we learn by reflecting on them. 

As I experienced transformation in my own life, I realised that many women were silently held back by fear, self-doubt and limiting beliefs. That became my calling—to help women awaken their courage, lead themselves first and create change in their own spheres of influence.

What achievement are you most proud of—and why/what impact did it have?
I am most proud that a personal journey that began with a desire to become a courageous role model for my children has grown into an ecosystem that empowers women. But the achievement that matters most to me is seeing women who once felt stuck or afraid find their voice, rebuild their confidence, start businesses, step into leadership and eventually turn around to empower someone else. To me, true success is not measured by how many people follow you, but by how many people become courageous enough to lead after being influenced by you.

What's one belief about leadership or success you've unlearned?
I used to believe that successful leadership meant having the answers, being strong and doing more. I have since learned that leadership begins with self-awareness and the humility to remain teachable. The strongest leaders do not need to be the hero in every story; they create safe spaces for others to discover their own strengths, make courageous choices and become leaders themselves.

What is one barrier for women in Singapore that still needs urgent change?
I believe one of the most significant barriers is the invisible weight women carry—the fear of judgment, self-doubt, imposter syndrome and the pressure to succeed simultaneously as professionals, entrepreneurs, mothers, daughters, wives and caregivers.

We have made progress in creating opportunities for women, but opportunity alone is not enough. We also need cultures that intentionally cultivate mentorship, psychological safety, confidence and authentic leadership, so women feel empowered to step forward, use their voice and lead without feeling that they must compromise who they are.

Complete the sentence: The future will belong to women who… have the courage to lead themselves first, choose purpose over fear, use their influence to lift others, and create a better future for the generations that come after them.

Jennifer Heng is founder and director of Safe Place.

Heng founded Safe Place based on her own experiences, to ensure that women facing crisis pregnancies have support, dignity and choice.

What first sparked your commitment to this work? 
When I experienced two unsupported pregnancies and abortions as a teenager, I wondered why there was no help available for me. As I spoke with more women who had been through similar circumstances, I stopped lamenting the lack of help, and decided to create the help that was needed. With each mother that is supported, the conviction that this makes a lasting impact grew deeper. 

What's one belief about leadership or success you've unlearned?
Leadership or success is not about rising to the top. On the contrary, it is about enabling and celebrating how others can rise to their fullest potential. The greatest satisfaction is when I see those I lead become confident in living out their purpose. 

Name a book, film, or person that has shaped you.
My daughter. She’s helped me to be more self-aware and empathetic through her honest insights and perspectives. She reminds me through her resilience that children and young people can really thrive when someone believes in them. This challenges me to see goodness in others, even when they don’t see it in themselves. I didn’t believe that I could be a good mother due to my past hurts and mistakes. But she made me believe that I could.

What is one barrier for women in Singapore that still needs urgent change?
Motherhood should be viewed as something that is part of our dreams and careers, instead of a barrier. With the right support and changes, women can successfully navigate the seasons of parenthood and careers. We were made for this!

Complete the sentence: The future will belong to women who… are hopeful and positive, uplift one another and serve the vulnerable.

Hamidah Aidillah Mustafa is founder of Parrot Social & TalkAboutSex; vice president of ASME; and Alliance for Active Action Against HPV (A4HPV) volunteer activist.

Mustafa is an advocate for cervical cancer and HPV prevention alongside promoting positive sexual health for women and girls.

What first sparked your commitment to this work?  
I was exposed to cancer prevention work and the healthcare sector almost 19 years ago when I helped a very young cervical cancer patient with young children. What moved me was the impending pain, suffering and the thought that she was going to lose her life and leave her children at a very young age. During that time, I also learnt of other young women in their 20’s losing their lives to cervical cancer. And I as grew older; I too had friends and family who were affected by early-stage cervical cancer or experienced pre-cancerous lesions. And so, I stayed the course and continued helping others in this work. 

What achievement are you most proud of—and why/what impact did it have?
During the last 18 months, more than 400 women from diverse backgrounds have benefited from my promotion of the HPV Simple test, which is a gamechanger for women who fear or who are embarrassed to go for Pap smear screening. Women both young and old, and of all races, came to better understand cervical cancer and get themselves tested. And for the first time ever, testing was brought down at scale to various Grassroots Constituencies. We galvanised and trained more than 20 female volunteers to assist the women and girls in these tests. The experience was astounding in that over 80 per cent of the participants said that they found that the process was surprisingly easy and comfortable. One lady commented about how easy it was to swab herself in less than five seconds using HPV Simple test and she just needed to hand the swab over to a healthcare professional thereafter. It was self-empowering to her and relieved her of awkwardness or discomfort when doing a traditional Pap test. 

Second, producing the recent HPV Toolkit has helped women understand the myths and facts about HPV and cervical cancer easily, gaining an awareness of how to prevent themselves from getting HPV through vaccination, and to know where to go to get help. This widely circulated toolkit is helpful for women who would otherwise not have sought help or obtained the relevant information on their own.

How do you sustain yourself—mentally or physically—while doing your work?
Having a great support network consisting of other passionate individuals who are professionals in their own right truly helps.

Name a person that has shaped you.
The late Princess Diana—the People’s Princess. She never shied away from doing the difficult things and things that would have easily made others cringe or avoid totally. She was an iconoclast of her time despite facing her own personal struggles. From her, I learnt the value of giving and loving others unconditionally. Because life is not measured by transactional relations, but it should be one filled with depth and sincerity especially when serving others around us.

What is one barrier for women in Singapore that still needs urgent change?
I think women should be braver to come forth to talk about or share their illnesses. Even today some women don’t dare share about sexual health issues, or even physical ailments on their breasts or nether regions with doctors or healthcare professionals openly. And that needs to change urgently in order for early detection and more lives to be saved. Because early prevention, detection and regular screening saves lives.

Complete the sentence: The future will belong to women who… are brave enough to make the change for a better tomorrow, savvy enough to bring together people and resources despite the challenges, and determined enough to see it through the end, while having the grace and wisdom to understand the cultural, social and political sensitivities to better amplify their causes. 

Claire Chiang is co-founder & senior vice president of Banyan Group.

Chiang co-founded Banyan Group with her husband Ho Kwon Ping and has built a business model centred on creating value for people, communities, culture and the environment, including through initiatives that create sustainable livelihoods for women artisans across Asia.

What achievement are you most proud of, and why/what impact did it have?
I am proudest that we proved you don’t have to choose between doing good business and doing good. When we opened our first Banyan Tree resort more than 30 years ago, we wanted sustainability and community to be part of our business model, and not added as an afterthought. Through our hotels, the Gallery and the Banyan Global Foundation, we have worked with communities and artisans to create livelihoods while preserving culture and the environment. That is the legacy I value most.

How do you sustain yourself, mentally or physically, while doing your work?
I stay curious. I read, I talk to young people, I spend time with people very different from myself, and I continue to learn. I also believe you cannot give endlessly if you don’t make space for yourself, your family and the things that bring you joy. Life is not a sprint; it is about having enough energy and purpose to keep contributing over a long period. You are the architect of your own destiny. No one owes you a living.

What impact do you hope to make over the next five years?
I want to multiply the number of women who believe they can lead. Through mentorship, education and programmes such as Women of the World at Banyan Academy, and our lifecation travel programmes, I want more women to have the confidence, skills and opportunities to take responsibility, not only for their own careers, but for their organisations and communities.

What’s one belief about leadership or success you’ve unlearned?
I have unlearned the belief that leadership means having all the answers. The older I get, the more I believe leadership is about asking the right questions, listening carefully and giving other people the space to become leaders themselves. You don’t build a legacy by making yourself necessary; you build one by making yourself less necessary. Learning is lifelong and not age-specific. It is about mutual exchanges and connections with all ages.

Name a book, film, or person that has shaped you
More than any book, [women’s rights activist] Shirin Fozdar shaped me through one conversation. She showed me that empowerment is not simply about giving women help, it is about giving them the opportunity, education and means to stand on their own feet. She also cautioned me not to fight life all alone by leaving the men behind. Carry them along—because the two wings of a dove flying in equilibrium will be steadier and smoother. That philosophy has stayed with me throughout my life.

What is one barrier for women in Singapore that still needs urgent change?
The challenge is still having to make choices between career and family, and finding it difficult to balance the demands of being both a good mother and an ambitious CEO.

Complete the sentence: The future will belong to women who… craft their lives with intention, and resource themselves with positive networks.

Gillian Tee is co-founder and CEO of Homage.

Tee co-founded Homage, which builds care systems that combine technology with the human touch, to make quality care easier to find, more human to experience and accessible to more families, while creating meaningful and flexible work opportunities for care professionals.

What has been the greatest challenge you have overcome—and what did it teach you?
Building Homage has meant navigating years of uncertainty: entering new markets, surviving difficult funding environments, making painful decisions and carrying responsibility for a mission much larger than myself.

It taught me that resilience isn't about being unaffected by difficulty. It is about continuing to move with clarity and conviction despite it—and learning to distinguish between what needs to change and what is worth holding onto.

Perhaps most importantly, I have learnt that endurance is not an individual sport. The people you choose to build alongside matter enormously.

How do you sustain yourself—mentally or physically—while doing your work?
Movement and quiet are both important to me. I exercise regularly, spend time outdoors whenever I can, and try to protect moments where there is no agenda—time with family and friends, or simply time to think.

I've also learnt that sustainability comes from being present in the life you're building, rather than perpetually postponing life until after the next milestone.

What impact do you hope to make over the next five years?
I want to help reshape how society thinks about care—not as something we scramble to arrange during a crisis, but as essential social infrastructure that allows people to live with dignity and agency throughout their lives.

Over the next five years, I hope we can use technology and AI to dramatically reduce the friction surrounding care while preserving what technology cannot replace: trust, empathy and human connection. A big part of that is strengthening the care workforce itself. Through Homage Academy, we have built a community of more than 30,000 care professionals, and my ambition is to train and mobilise an additional 100,000 care professionals—creating meaningful livelihoods while significantly expanding our collective capacity to care.

I also want to leave a legacy through people. Within Homage, that means developing the next generation of leaders in the care sector, giving them meaningful opportunities to lead across different roles, take ownership and ultimately shape the future of care themselves.

If we succeed, better care will not simply be more efficient or accessible; it will give caregivers more capacity, care professionals better livelihoods, individuals greater control over how they live, and a new generation of leaders the opportunity to carry this mission forward.

What's one belief about leadership or success you've unlearned?
That leadership means having all the answers. I've come to believe that leadership is much more about creating the conditions for good answers to emerge—bringing together people who see what you cannot, asking better questions, making difficult decisions when necessary, and giving others enough trust and space to lead.

Success has similarly become less about proving what I can accomplish personally, and more about what becomes possible through the people and systems we build together.

Name a person that has shaped you.
My nanny and my grandmother, who raised me. They shaped my understanding of care long before I had the language for it. Losing them relatively early gave me a deep awareness of the finite nature of time, and the recognition that it is often the moments of care we give and receive that have the greatest longevity.

That has influenced many of my choices since: to be deliberate about how I spend my time, to invest deeply in people, and to continually sieve out what brings a true sense of personal purpose. It has also shaped how I think about vocation—that with limited time, the work we choose should be selected with meaning, and should contribute to something beyond ourselves.

What is one barrier for women in Singapore that still needs urgent change?
We need to change the assumption that caregiving is primarily a woman's responsibility. Women have made tremendous progress professionally, but the invisible architecture of care—raising children, supporting ageing parents, managing households and carrying the mental load—still falls disproportionately on women.

Until care is treated as a shared societal and economic responsibility, we will continue asking women to make choices that men are less frequently required to make. Better care infrastructure isn't only a healthcare or ageing issue; it is fundamental to women's economic participation and equality.

Complete the sentence: The future will belong to women who… define success on their own terms—and have the courage to build the world they want to inherit.

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