Inspiring the next generation of women

Introduction

1. Good evening everyone. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Her World Woman of the Year, Angelene Chan, and recipient of the Young Woman Achiever Award, Kirsten Tan.

2. I would also like to thank the Singapore Press Holdings and Her World Magazine for giving these Awards. It is important that we champion and recognise outstanding women in Singapore. They are trailblazers who have made a mark on society, and are a source of inspiration for other women. In fact, the 1996 Her World Woman of the Year Fang Ai Lian, is my role model. Seeing her climb the corporate ladder in a man's-world; break the glass ceiling at Ernst and Young, and at the same time raise two kids, was a powerful inspiration to me as a young accountant 20 years ago. She was proof that women could excel in their careers, and have a family at the same time. She showed us that it is possible, and that has given us confidence, and strengthened our determination and resolve to pursue the same.

Inspiring the next generation of women

3. That is why it is important for young women to have successful females as their roles models. And tonight we have two from the design and creative industries, industries which my ministry work very closely with.

4. As the first female CEO in the top 5 architecture firms here, Angelene is an active role model, she is mentoring her colleagues and giving back to society, she is sharing her experiences as a female architect with students, and influencing young people all the time. I am sure that seeing a woman at the forefront of their field, and at the top of their organisation, is a tremendous boost for the many young women architects.

5. Kirsten is also a remarkable source of inspiration for young Singaporeans in our filmmaking, yet another male dominated field. Even before clinching an award at Sundance, Kirsten has been receiving accolades for her rich body of work, and was recognised by the National Arts Council with the Young Artist Award in 2015. I am sure that her achievements will encourage more female filmmakers to pursue their aspirations.

6. I would like to thank Angelene and Kirsten for your outstanding contributions to Singapore. In always striving to do your best, you have flown our flag high on the international stage. Both of you have left an indelible mark on our creative industry, contributing to Singapore's economic future.

Progress of women in other fields

7. Women in Singapore are pushing the boundaries in many areas besides the creative sector. Flying our flag high right now are our women athletes at the SEA Games. I have just returned from Kuala Lumpur where our female athletes are performing outstandingly. They have contributed to about half of our 20 Gold medals won thus far in areas where we are conventionally strong in, like swimming, and table tennis, and in newer areas like fencing and synchronized swimming. Our young ladies are truly raising the bar and rising to the occasion. They are doing tremendously well, I am encouraged by their determination, and can't wait to see how far they will go.

8. I am also very excited about the upcoming ASEAN Para Games. Tonight, we honour two of our exceptional female para athletes – Young Woman Achiever Alumni, Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh. Both of you have put Singapore on the world map with your hard work and perseverance. As you will be heading for Asean Para Games next month, I am sure all of us here will like to wish you the very best in your competition. Pin Xiu and Theresa – we are behind you all the way!

Promoting advancement for women

9. I believe in encouraging our young women to be bold, so that they have the confidence to fulfil their aspirations in whichever field they choose. At the same time, we should address challenges that women face, and gender gaps where they exist. I will speak about ways to help women advance in Singapore. Before I do so, it is important to understand our demographic reality in Singapore – we have an ageing population and low birth rates over the last few decades. The combination of this two factors meant that, in order to be economically vibrant, we need to harness the 'women'-power in our society by raising the labour force participation rate of women; and support women in starting a family and having children, to grow the population. If our workplace forces women to choose one over another (work over family or vice versa) the outcome will be sub-optimal to us in the long run. An optimal outcome is to allow women, and men, to have both career and family.

10. So first, we need to create a work environment that allow women to balance their career goals and family aspirations. This will require corporates to implement progressive work-life policies, including flexible work arrangements and work-from home schemes. We should also look out for women who want to re-enter the workforce after taking a career break to care for their families. If more companies support such initiatives, it will boost the number of women in our workforce.

11. Companies that value and promote work-life harmony will be much better placed to attract and retain female and male talents. This goes beyond ensuring gender parity; it makes good business and economic sense. Millennials have different aspirations and values; they look for work that allows them to meet their personal goals. Employers should recognise that gender roles in the family, and in the workplace, are evolving, it is actually equalising. Increasingly, young fathers want to take on a more active role in parenting, and we see a more equal sharing of familial responsibilities between husband and wife.

12. Secondly, a company that does better in attracting talents from different backgrounds will do better in an economy that requires innovation and creativity. And this leads me to my second point – Diversity in leadership.

13. Diversity in leadership brings new perspectives to the table, enhancing the decision-making process for business success. To achieve diversity in leadership, corporates require effective strategies to empower and advance women in the workplace, taking full cognizance of the needs and aspirations of their employees. Organisations should build a pipeline of female talent, provide developmental opportunities, and measure the progress of women within the organisation.

Conclusion

14. It is therefore encouraging to see the Her World Awards celebrating successes of women in diverse fields, signifying the contributions of women in many facets of our society. I'd like to congratulate Angelene, Kirsten, Pin Xiu, Theresa, as well as all the amazing women here once again. All of you are proof that, with grit, determination, and passion, women can achieve great things. I would just like to echo what Kirsten said earlier, all of us here should reflect and question ourselves about the prejudices and the stereotypes that we have.

15. Thank you, and good night!