The Malaysian Insight

MEMBERS of the public are invited to submit nominees for the Women Institute Management (WIM) Tan Sri Dato Napsiah Omar (TSDNO) Women Leaders Award – a WIM effort to recognise women leadership in the country.

WIM chairman Siew Yong Gnanalingam said there will be six different categories of nomination, namely business and entrepreneurship; corporate management; education; community, public and social service; and, technology.

A six-judge panel will select a winner from each category and an Overall Outstanding Woman Leader, she added.

“The search is on to recognise and honour women leaders via the WIM TSDNO Women Leaders Award.

“This award is one of several initiatives to be undertaken by the women’s leadership chair, the late Napsiah Omar, setup by WIM and aptly named after the founder, with the mission to upskill and uplift the status of women through collaborative efforts, conferences, dialogues, forums, research, training and educational programmes with the theme, Empower Women to Lead.

Napsiah was a politician from the early 80s to 2000, and was twice elected as Kuala Pilah MP. She was also the national unity and social development minister in 1990.

Prior to her career in politics, she was an associate professor and head of the human studies department at Universiti Pertanian Malaysia for more than 10 years.

She died due to liver cancer on April 16, 2018. She was 74.

Siew Yong said WIM, as an organisation working towards empowering women, initiated the award to appreciate women who have broken the glass ceiling, have expertise, and deservedly achieved recognition in a leadership position in their respective fields of work.

“They, in turn, would have mentored and empowered other women involved in community work and helping the less fortunate.”

“These women leaders would have demonstrated transformative qualities like clarity of vision, innovativeness and strategic planning and have broken the stereotypes of women e.g. working in unusual fields and possibly recognised regionally and internationally.”

What sets this award apart is its focus on the winner’s achieved recognition as an inspirational and exemplary woman leader in her field, she added.

“We hope that these women leaders would, in turn, inspire other women in all fields to be exemplary leaders and reach for the sky.

“We look forward to receiving many nominations of deserving women leaders who contribute to the betterment of others in business, entrepreneurship, management or social work, and demonstrate strong values.”

Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim will be the royal guest of honour to present the Overall Outstanding Woman Leader award.

The award ceremony will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur on May 16.

The nomination form is available at WIM’s office at 7 Jalan Abang Haji Openg in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, or can be printed from the WIM website. – March 1, 2022.