Cover The Front & Female Awards Singapore 2026: Stephanie Tay, executive managing director Tatler Singapore and Tatler Thailand; awardees Hamidah Aidillah Mustafa; Grace Chia; Gillian Tee; Jennifer Heng; Lilian Ong; Dana Koh, Editor-in-chief, Tatler Singapore; Rachel Duffell, regional content director, Leadership and Front & Female lead, Tatler Asia (Image: Terrix Lin)
The Front & Female Awards Singapore 2026: Stephanie Tay, executive managing director Tatler Singapore and Tatler Thailand; awardees Hamidah Aidillah Mustafa; Grace Chia; Gillian Tee; Jennifer Heng; Lilian Ong; Dana Koh, Editor-in-chief, Tatler Singapore; Rachel Duffell, regional content director, Leadership and Front & Female lead, Tatler Asia (Image: Terrix Lin)
1 / 1
The second edition of the Tatler Front & Female Awards Singapore welcomed keynote speaker Jane Lee, former professional climber, corporate leader and entrepreneur, and recognised six women whose work is creating new opportunities, challenging conventions and moving Singapore forward
On September 2, the second edition of the Tatler Front & Female Awards Singapore brought together an inspiring community of women and their supporters at Raffles Sentosa Singapore to celebrate the women shaping what comes next.
Held under this year’s theme, Forward, the evening recognised six exceptional women reviewed through a rigorous process involving Tatler editors and an esteemed Voting Committee of influential individuals from across Singapore’s professional landscape, whose expertise and perspectives helped determine the final awardees.
Across business, entrepreneurship, innovation, education, social impact and well-being, this year’s awardees demonstrated that progress is not simply about breaking barriers for themselves, but creating new possibilities for others.
Moving forward
Above Stephanie Tay, executive managing director Tatler Singapore and Tatler Thailand welcomes guests to the second Front & Female Awards Singapore (Image: Terrix Lin)
Stephanie Tay, executive managing director Tatler Singapore and Tatler Thailand welcomes guests to the second Front & Female Awards Singapore (Image: Terrix Lin)
1 / 1
The evening opened with a welcome address from Stephanie Tay, executive managing director of Tatler Singapore and Tatler Thailand, who reflected on the significance of Forward at a time of profound transformation.
Technology is reshaping the way we work, new industries are emerging, demographics are shifting and expectations of leadership are evolving. Against this backdrop, Tay highlighted the importance of women who are not simply succeeding within existing systems, but helping to build better ones.
Drawing your own map
The evening’s keynote came from Jane Lee, former professional climber, author, corporate leader and entrepreneur, whose career has taken her from the world's highest peaks to the boardroom.
Above The Awards dinner was emceed by Valerie Lim, digital editor, Tatler Leadership (Image: Max Chan)
Above Jane Lee drew on her experiences as an adventurer and a corporate leader for her keynote talk, ‘Draw your own map: designing your path forward’ (Image: Max Chan)
The Awards dinner was emceed by Valerie Lim, digital editor, Tatler Leadership (Image: Max Chan)
1 / 2
Lee is the first woman from Southeast Asia to have scaled the Seven Summits—the highest mountains on each of the world's seven continents. She also led Singapore’s first all-woman team to the summit of Mount Everest. Yet her story extends far beyond mountaineering.
Above Jane Lee (centre) with Jingmei Li (left) and Caecilia Chu (right) (Image: Max Chan)
Jane Lee (centre) with Jingmei Li (left) and Caecilia Chu (right) (Image: Max Chan)
1 / 1
Drawing on experiences from both her professional and climbing careers, Lee explored resilience, ambition and the courage required to move forward when the path ahead is uncertain. Her journey offered a fitting reflection of the evening’s central theme: that moving forward means having the courage to draw your own path, adapt when the route no longer works, and widen it for those who come next.
Her recently published book, Small Steps to Big Summits, was also gifted to guests, with proceeds supporting Himalayan Hope Home, a girls’ shelter in Kathmandu, Nepal, which provides a safe environment and education for at-risk young women.
Meet the awardees
The awardees and partners for the Front & Female Awards Singapore 2026 (Image: Benny Loh)
1 / 8
The centrepiece of the evening was the presentation of the Front & Female Awards, celebrating six women whose work is helping to create a more inclusive future for women and girls.
The journey to the awards began with more than 150 nominations, which were carefully considered before being narrowed down to 17 nominees across six categories.
The final selection was made with the guidance of Front & Female’s Voting Committee, which includes Harmin Kaur, Caecilia Chu, Georgette Tan, Dr Ayesha Khanna, Su-Yen Wong, Serene Ong, Dean Ho and Sally Clarke, among others, bringing together accomplished voices from different fields to recognise the women whose work most strongly embodies the spirit of the platform.
Above Grace Chia, who took home the Innovation Award, with Dana Koh (Image: Terrix Lin)
Above Education & Development awardee Lilian Ong with Dana Koh (Image: Terrix Lin)
Grace Chia, who took home the Innovation Award, with Dana Koh (Image: Terrix Lin)
1 / 2
The Innovation Award went to Grace Chia, who is pioneering autonomous underwater technology and helping to lead the way for women in deep-tech.
The Education & Development Award recognised Lilian Ong, whose work helps women break through fear and step into courageous leadership.
Above Dana Koh presents Jennifer Heng with the Social Impact Award (Image: Max Chan)
Above Stephanie Tay with Well-being awardee Hamidah Aidillah Mustafa (Image: Terrix Lin)
Dana Koh presents Jennifer Heng with the Social Impact Award (Image: Max Chan)
1 / 2
The Social Impact Award was presented to Jennifer Heng, for her work ensuring that women facing crisis pregnancies have access to support, dignity and choice.
The Well-being Award went to Hamidah Aidillah Mustafa, who is breaking the silence around sexual health and cervical cancer and turning advocacy into action.
Above Claire Chiang, who received the Business Leader Award, sent an acceptance video (Image: Terrix Lin)
Above Stephanie Tay presented the Founder Award to Gillian Tee (Image: Max Chan)
Claire Chiang, who received the Business Leader Award, sent an acceptance video (Image: Terrix Lin)
1 / 2
The Business Leader Award recognised Claire Chiang, whose global business leadership is rooted in community, sustainability and the economic empowerment of women. Chiang was unable to attend the ceremony in person, but sent an acceptance video in which she emphasised the importance of using business as “a force for change, dignity and opportunities for women.”
Finally, the Founder Award was presented to Gillian Tee, for professionalising caregiving through technology and expanding opportunities for women.
Together, the six awardees reflected the breadth of ways in which women are creating change—from deep-tech and education to healthcare, social impact, business and caregiving.
Celebrating the community
Yvon Bock, Vanessa Ong, Didi Gan (Image: Max Chan)
1 / 10
Beyond the awards themselves, the evening brought together the wider Front & Female community: nominees, members of the voting committee, partners and guests united by a shared belief in advancing opportunities for women.
Guests began the evening with Californian wines from Robert Mondavi, while artist Phuay Li Ying of World of Ying created a special artwork for the occasion. It was transformed into three limited-edition twilly designs for guests, carrying a message that captured the spirit of the evening: there is no single way to bloom, and no single path to success.
Hamidah Aidillah Mustafa arrives at the Front & Female Awards Singapore 2026 in the Zeekr 009 (Image: Terrix Lin)
1 / 3
Floral arrangements by Fiore Dorato added to the setting, with the florist and founder Brenda Lee also celebrating 30 years of blooming in 2026. Guests could explore the Zeekr 7X on display in the ballroom and take part in a spin-the-wheel activation for the chance to win an exclusive three-day, two-night Zeekr experience. The Awards’ official automotive partner also chauffeured select nominees to and from the event in the 7X and the 009 vehicles.
The Zeekr 7X (Image: Max Chan)
1 / 7
The celebrations continued after the awards with an exclusive lucky draw courtesy of official awards trophy partner Lladró. Guests had the chance to win pieces from the Spanish porcelain house’s jewellery collection, including its Bubbles Earrings and Bubbles Necklace, adding a final moment of excitement to the evening.
Guests also discovered the winner of Zeekr’s spin-the-wheel activation, which saw Susan Peh take home the exclusive Zeekr driving experience.
The evening concluded with a toast to the six awardees—and to the wider community of women, supporters and advocates moving Singapore and the region forward.
As the Front & Female Awards continues to expand across Asia, it serves as a platform to connect a growing network of women who are challenging assumptions, creating opportunities and redefining what is possible.
The Front & Female Awards Singapore 2026 was hosted at Raffles Sentosa Singapore, with support from Fiore Dorato, Lladró, PHS Hairscience, Robert Mondavi, World of Ying and Zeekr.
