Cover The path to opportunity is rarely equal. Across Singapore, a new generation of women’s leaders is working to dismantle structural barriers and create more equitable routes forward
The path to opportunity is rarely equal. Across Singapore, a new generation of women’s leaders is working to dismantle structural barriers and create more equitable routes forward
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From digital safety to economic empowerment, leaders from SG Her Empowerment, Aware, Daughters of Tomorrow and United Women Singapore are driving the next phase of gender equality.
The fight for gender equality confined to the boardroom or the household. Today, it has moved into the digital sphere and the complex intersections of social mobility. As the challenges facing women grow more sophisticated— from the speed and scale of online harms to the gatekeeping effects of artificial intelligence in the workforce—a new generation of leadership is rising to meet them. These leaders of women’s organisations represent a new guard in Singapore’s social sector. Each brings a different mandate, from gender justice and online safety to education and long-term pathways for women and girls. What unites them is a shared focus on building durable change: redesigning structures, broadening responsibility, and moving to a sustained transformation of the city’s social fabric.
In case you missed it: Forget Barbie: Meet the real-life heroes who fought for gender equality in Singapore
Above Aarathi Arumugam, president of AWARE
Aarathi Arumugam, president of AWARE
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Advocacy Redefined
A chartered accountant by training and chief operating officer of EveryChild.Sg, entrepreneur Aarathi Arumugam brings a systems-oriented lens to advocacy, informed by experience across corporations, start-ups, and the non-profit sector. Since joining AWARE, Singapore’s leading women’s rights and gender equality advocacy group in 2009—as trainer on sexual harassment and sexuality education, then board member—she has bridged education, policy, and community engagement. Her transition into the non-profit sector—a “leap of faith” beginning with her role at Daughters of Tomorrow as financial controller— now faces a more complex chapter.
Some of AWARE’s work has recently been “weaponised and framed as identity politics”, fragmenting public discourse and complicating progress towards equity. “It is important to keep pressing for change and challenging the status quo, especially if public opinion wavers around the belief that women’s rights have come far enough,” she says. In this climate, AWARE continues to “strike a balance between policy change and public sentiment”.
As Aarathi explains, “AWARE is a mature organisation, with a long‑standing reputation ... This puts us in the best position to foster intersectional collaboration.” She sees the biggest opportunity in educating these groups on debate and critical thinking. “It’s about valuing different points of view, clarifying nuances and terminology, addressing root causes of injustices, and re-educating stakeholders to drive meaningful change.”
Founded in 1985, AWARE has shaped Singapore’s gender equality landscape through legislative advocacy and research, strengthening protections for domestic violence survivors and addressing workplace harassment and economic vulnerability. Its rigorous research agenda has spanned the spectrum of gender justice, from aligning Singapore with United Nations anti-gender discrimination standards to addressing the specific economic vulnerabilities of elderly women.
AWARE is continuing this legacy of institutional reform. “Much of our work looking ahead will focus on addressing the need for upstream efforts such as awareness around tech-facilitated sexual violence, bystander awareness training and strengthening consent education so as to ... reduce the likelihood of an incident occurring.”
The organisation is also spearheading research into masculinity, examining how social norms shape responsibility and allyship. “Men’s voices must be heard alongside women’s voices for change to happen within the seams of everyday lives,” Aarathi says. But participation alone is not enough; the next phase demands structural rethink. “The next generation of women leaders do not merely want a seat at the table,” she adds. “We are dismantling the table and rebuilding it.”
Above How Kay Lii, CEO of SG Her Empowerment
How Kay Lii, CEO of SG Her Empowerment
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Safeguarding women online
As CEO of SG Her Empowerment (SHE), How Kay Lii is leading the organisation into a phase of growth shaped by the urgent intersection of gender equity and digital safety. An independent non-profit advocating parity across the home, workplace and community, SHE has emerged as a leading voice in addressing systemic gender gaps, particularly the fast-escalating crisis of online harms. “The digital world is an extension of society—it reflects and amplifies what already exists offline,” How says. “When women face harassment or unsafe conditions online, it reinforces the same structural inequities we’ve been trying to address for decades.”
Among SHE’s core initiatives is SHECARES, Singapore’s first support centre for victim-survivors of online harms, launched in collaboration with the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations. Under How’s leadership, the organisation has strengthened its engagement with major platforms including Google, Meta and TikTok, securing accredited “trusted flagger” status that enables priority review and removal of harmful content. Alongside SHECARES, SHE runs a suite of programmes that extends its impact across the lifecycle of gender equity work. These include SHE Supports, a mentorship, skills and legal-clinic initiative that helps women return to work and balance caregiving responsibilities; Sneak Peek, which offers young women aged 15 to 21 exposure to workplaces and career pathways; SHE Annual Symposium, a flagship forum bringing stakeholders together on pressing gender equality issues; and youth campaigns that centre young voices in conversations about societal change.
SHE is also a strategic connector between technology companies, social service agencies and policymakers—bringing lived experience into policy conversations and addressing gaps no single sector can resolve. “When different perspectives come together, solutions become more grounded and effective,” How says, noting that issues like gender equity and online harms demand collective responsibility. Her leadership is informed by a deep internal understanding of SHE, having served as programmes director and chief operating officer before assuming the CEO role, alongside experience across the public and private sectors.
Acknowledging that SHE is navigating challenges in a landscape without established playbooks, How emphasises resisting simplistic narratives and “making decisions that are principled yet practical”—a stance that keeps the organisation responsive and relevant in advancing gender equity in Singapore.
Above Von Leong, president of Daughters of Tomorrow
Von Leong, president of Daughters of Tomorrow
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From access to agency
Since 2014, Daughters of Tomorrow (DoT) has empowered thousands of women from low-income households to navigate employment, caregiving and financial security. As the organisation’s first elected board president, Von Leong believes the need for that work has intensified. “What feels most urgent is helping women reclaim a sense of agency in a world that is fast changing and increasingly complex in the AI era,” she posits. “Many are carrying invisible responsibilities—caring for children or elderly parents, managing health concerns or financial uncertainty—all while trying to move forward.”
For Leong, urgency is “about restoring hope and choice”. DoT has moved from short-term interventions to a pathway-based model, offering sustained support through training, mentorship circles and legal clinics—all of which are designed to support a woman’s changing needs.
“When we look beyond immediate outcomes and focus on trust and confidence, we create conditions where progress feels possible and sustainable,” Leong says. Beyond the sector, she believes impact depends on alignment. “When institutions, funders, employers and platforms work together to ensure women can access more options fairly, women are empowered to participate in the economy on their own terms.”
Leong brings more than 20 years of experience across technology, venture capital, public service and philanthropy. Appointed in June 2025, her leadership comes at a crucial time as Singapore faces widening social divides and the accelerating impact of automation on the workforce—particularly for women from lower income tax brackets. Leong views job entry as a moment where initial uncertainty can either be mitigated through mentorship and access or allowed to solidify into lifelong disadvantage.
Her perspective on early intervention was formed during her time as managing director of the National Council of Social Service, where she led sector-wide reforms, including the launch of the Sector Salary Guidelines, and mobilised millions in strategic funds for capability building. She also pioneered the development of Singapore’s digital public health sector at national HealthTech agency Synapxe, and held global roles at Amazon Web Services and technology company IBM.
Her commitment to inclusive innovation also drives her work as co-founder of Purpose Venture Capital, where nearly half its portfolio supports female-led startups.
Above Tan Ching Ne, President of United Women Singapore
Tan Ching Ne, President of United Women Singapore
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Future-ready equality
“Beyond just building skills, it’s about giving [women] exposure to real-world opportunities, connecting them with mentors and helping them envision themselves in careers they might otherwise see as out of reach,” expounds Tan Ching Ne, president of United Women Singapore (UWS). Her leadership ensures young women gain not just opportunity, but the confidence to seize it. UWS advances gender equity through education, advocacy and strategic outreach—pivoting sharply to next-generation empowerment by bridging Stem and employability gaps and engaging boys as active allies.
While Singapore has made significant progress, Tan observes that many young women still lack the confidence to pursue Stem ambitions despite having the talent and interest. UWS’s Girls2Pioneers Stem programme reflects this: over the past decade, it has engaged more than 40,000 young women, providing Stem education and mentorship. The annual UWS STEM Fest amplifies this through corporate and academic partnerships, drawing over 1,000 participants in a single afternoon during its 2025 edition.
Recognising that systemic change requires the participation of men, these efforts are complemented by UWS Boys Empowered—the first programme of its kind in Singapore. Designed to prevent gender-based violence, the initiative creates non-judgmental spaces for young men aged 12 to 25 to examine traditional notions of masculinity and unlearn harmful stereotypes. By addressing issues such as online misogyny and digital wellness, the programme has equipped nearly 400 young men to act as proactive bystanders and male allies, ensuring that the push for a more equitable social landscape is a shared responsibility.
Tan’s leadership is defined by a rigorous, impact-driven approach, informed by over 20 years of experience in the corporate sector. A prominent tax partner at PwC Singapore and a former tax director for the Asia-Pacific region at a major multinational corporation, she brings significant strategic and financial depth to her advocacy. Tan sees this generation of leaders navigating a transformed landscape. “Today’s women leaders face more opportunities but also greater competition,” she says. “Success is no longer just about hard work. It’s about building networks, thinking globally and positioning strategically to make an impact.” Yet, Tan notes that even amid new opportunities, women remain primary caregivers—needing fresh support systems. “It’s crucial to ... equip both men and women to create an ecosystem where women can thrive.”
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Nafeesa Saini is the Features Editor at Tatler Singapore, where she shapes long-form stories on culture, business, philanthropy, wellness, and the people driving change in Asia. With a deep interest in storytelling that intersects meaningfully with identity and impact, she has profiled a diverse range of visionaries, from scientific pioneers in AI and health to creative trailblazers and literary minds.
Nafeesa’s writing includes cover stories and profiles that spotlight influential voices, alongside commentary on the trends reshaping our world.
Off the clock, Nafeesa unwinds with fiction, a good thrift hunt, and ‘brainrot’ TikTok scroll—while always keeping one eye on her next cultural getaway, usually to Indonesia.
