Her World Women of the Year 2024 award: What is it about and who were the past winners

The Her World Women of the Year (WOTY) Award, a hallmark of excellence, has celebrated exceptional women across various fields in Singapore since 1991. The Young Woman Achiever (YWA) Award, introduced in 1999, honours remarkable women under 40 whose influence extends beyond their professional spheres.

A celebration of excellence and inspiration

The Her World Women of the Year and Young Woman Achiever awards celebrate the extraordinary women who have shattered glass ceilings, defied expectations, and made a lasting impact on society. Their success is a testament to the power of self-belief, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

This year, two extraordinary women have been selected to receive these awards, embodying the spirit of disruption, innovation, and resilience. Despite hailing from different industries, they share a common thread: a relentless pursuit of excellence and a profound impact on their communities. The prestigious awards ceremony will be held on October 14th at the JW Marriott South Beach, where the winners will be honoured in the presence of esteemed guest-of-honour Jane Ittogi.

A rigorous selection process

The journey to becoming a Her World Women of the Year and Young Woman Achiever is demanding. Nominations were open to the public from January 2024, attracting a diverse pool of talented individuals. A panel of SPH Media editors from Lianhe Zaobao and Tamil Murasu carefully evaluated the nominations, followed by a judging panel chaired by Jennie Chua, co-founder of Beeworks, Inc.

The judging panel, comprised of esteemed individuals like Pat Law, founder of Goodstuph; Melissa Ow, chief executive of the Singapore Tourism Board; and Ng Boon Heong, deputy CEO of Temasek Trust and CEO of Temasek Foundation, sought candidates who demonstrated exceptional achievements, unwavering grit, and a commitment to making a positive difference.

Who were the past 2023 winners?

Before the 2024 winners are unveiled on 14th October, let us take a moment to acknowledge the extraordinary contributions of the past 2023 winners. 

Her World’s 2023 Women of the Year award was awarded to Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying, the founder of A*STAR’s Nanobio Lab, who is a luminary in the field of nanobiotechnology. Her groundbreaking research has revolutionised the field, paving the way for numerous medical and technological advancements.

With an impressive portfolio of 200 primary patents and patent applications, Prof Ying has solidified her position as a leading expert in nanobiotechnology. Her work has been recognized internationally, earning her numerous prestigious awards, including the King Faisal Prize, an award that honours outstanding individuals in service to Islam, the Arabic language and literature, science, and medicine

With over 391 publications and more than 48,820 citations, Prof Ying’s work has garnered widespread recognition and respect. Her dedication to research and her ability to push the boundaries of scientific exploration have made her a true inspiration to aspiring scientists and innovators.

The Her World Young Woman Achiever award for 2023 was bestowed upon Caecilia Chu, the innovative founder of YouTrip. In 2018, Caecilia launched the groundbreaking fintech platform that revolutionised the foreign exchange payment landscape. YouTrip introduced a prepaid Mastercard card enabling users to seamlessly transact in over 150 currencies, eliminating the need for costly currency conversion fees and markups. 

This innovative solution disrupted the previously opaque foreign exchange market, providing consumers with a transparent and affordable way to make payments while travelling or shopping online. As a pioneer in the industry, YouTrip was among the first globally to introduce a wallet feature and remains the leading homegrown multi-currency mobile payment platform in Singapore.

See the whole list of winners from 1991 here.