Penang, Malaysia: Harpswell will convene the in-person component of its seventh annual ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit from September 13th to 21st in Penang. The Summit is a five-month hybrid leadership development program for young women leaders in the region. It is hosted in partnership with the Centre for Research on Women and Gender (KANITA) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
The Summit brings together 33 outstanding young women leaders from across all ten ASEAN countries and Nepal for a five-month program, beginning with four months of virtual sessions and culminating in an intensive week of personal leadership development, cross-cultural exchange and community building in Penang.
Since May, 2025 Summit participants, chosen for their commitment to advancing positive change in their countries, have joined nine engaging virtual sessions spanning themes of ASEAN Society, Politics, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability and Environment. Virtual speakers and facilitators for the Summit have included: Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Political-Security Community H.E. Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, President for Boeing Southeast Asia Penny Burtt, Director and Principal Economist at Asia Decoded Priyanka Krishore, CEO and Founder of Buy1GIVE1 Masami Soto, Senior Director of Innovative Finance at Impact Investment Exchange Natasha Garcha and many more.
In Penang, participants will engage in a series of workshops and dialogues led by regional and global experts in leadership, communication, and social impact. This year’s Summit will explore the framework of the Inner Development Goals, emphasizing on personal growth as a foundation for sustainability and transformation. Speakers and facilitators in Penang include: Transformation PMO Leader at GHD Helena Lo, Founder and CEO of Grow4Growth Consultant Co. Kim Tan, Executive Director of Gender and Development Cambodia Eng Chandy, Founder of Sonia Kohlbacher Advisory Sonia Kohlbacher and many more.
As the Summit returns to Penang for its seventh year, Harpswell will partner with both long-time and new local collaborators, including the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), Women’s Centre for Change (WCC), The Penang Institute and The Habitat at Penang Hill, whose insights and unique perspectives will enrich the program and add a distinctly Penang character to the Summit.
Since its inception in 2016, Harpswell’s ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit has brought together and equipped emerging women leaders from across the region, representing diverse sectors such as law, public health, education, journalism, and social entrepreneurship. Alumnae of the Summit continue to drive progress by advancing gender equality, strengthening inclusion, and fostering growth throughout Southeast Asia.
Harpswell Executive Director Jacyl Shaw shares “At Harpswell we are sincerely committed to supporting the next generation of women leaders across Southeast Asia and Nepal with knowledge and networks to accelerate their progress and catalyse positive change. I look forward to our time together in Penang. This experience will be a “particle accelerator for people with purpose” because we will harness the collective wisdom, diversity of thinking, experiences and perspectives from our participants and partners.”
USM Professor Dato’ Dr. Noraida Endut highlights “Coming to its 6th series, the Harpswell ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit proves that it is a sustainable sphere for young women to come together, to collectively harness their talents and potentials for the greater good of their diverse communities. As project leader for KANITA, USM I look forward again to meeting my young counterparts, to continue to co-learn and re-learn with them with the common aim of achieving gender equality in the world.”
2025 Harpswell ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit Participants:
Brunei:
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Siti Kailene Mohd Jazlan Kashfi, Project Coordinator, Brunei Shell Petroleum
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Nurul Izyan Anver, Deputy President, Brunei Youth Council
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Siti Jaafar, Founder, Kilang ReRoot (KRR)
Cambodia:
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Sokleang Touch, Academic Quality & Development Officer, NTC Group
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Chhun Chakriya, Program Coordinator, Women Peace Makers (WPM)
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Sam Phalleap, Alumnae and Program Support Coordinator, Harpswell
Indonesia:
- Asmi Nur Aisyah, Co-founder and Head of Story Development, Kinovia Creative Studio
- Syafira Khairani, Network & Advocacy Lead, International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID)
- Velia Vanissa, Head of Growth and Community Engagement, Solve Education Foundation
Laos:
- Maynika Phongsa, Senior Community Engagement Officer, JSI Training and Research Institute
- Noudsavanh Pheungsavanh, Facilitator and Communication Officer, Land Learning Initiative for Food Security Enhancement (LIFE) project
- Vanida Souvannavong (Nana), Public Affairs, Communication, and Sustainability Executive (PACS), Lao Coca-Cola Bottling
Malaysia:
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Ashwinii Chelvan, Complaints & Regulatory Reporting Specialist, Cochlear Limited
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Khoo Huiyong, Senior Operations Lead, PichaEats
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Chan Bi Xuan, Strategy Consultant, Ernst & Young Malaysia
Myanmar:
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Theint Theint Thu, former Health Project Officer, Relief International
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Khaing Pwint, Social Worker
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Aye Eaindray Maung, Programme Support Officer, colleXive
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Nan Moe Moe Maing, Founder, Growth Zone Educational Consultancy
Nepal:
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Ashrina Ranjit, Partnerships Manager, BlinkNow Foundation
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Sunika Joshi, Mental Health Counselor and Trainer, Mankaa Kura
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Nerabung Kulung, Indigenous Knowledge and Heritage Preservation
Philippines:
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Josa Badong, Researcher, Women Studies and Resource Center
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Rochelle Astreid Raymundo, Community Development Consultant, ANTHILL Fabric Gallery, Inc
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Denise Dalusong, Programme Manager for Gender and Inclusion, Villgro Philippines
Singapore:
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Nicole Yap, Non-profit Advisor for Technology Inclusion and Gender Equality
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Rachel Kuo, Senior Product Manager, TikTok
Thailand:
- Mai Jansomboon, Senior Legal Officer, International Rescue Committee (IRC)
- Parl Akakul, Trainer, Pratthanadee Foundation
- Phenpiccha Jankomol, Programme Officer for Business & Human Rights, UN Global Compact Network Thailand
Vietnam:
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Bui Ngoc Bao Chau, Teacher, KIPA Private English School
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Pham Ngoc Khanh, Marketing and Communications Professional
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Nguyễn Hữu Quỳnh Hương, Founder, Slowbooks
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About Harpswell:
Harpswell is a US-based 501c3 nonprofit that advances young women leaders in Southeast Asia with education, training and a supportive network. We envision a new generation of women leaders who create and inspire positive social change. Founded in 2005 by Dr. Alan Lightman, Harpswell runs two residential leadership dormitories in Phnom Penh through the Cambodian Women’s Leadership Program. In 2016, Harpswell expanded programming to include the ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit in Penang, Malaysia. Since its founding, Harpswell has graduated over 250 Cambodian Women’s Leadership alumnae and over 100 ASEAN Summit alumnae.
About KANITA:
As a Centre, KANITA is committed to research, advocate and community engagement, utilizing and promoting a gender and social equality framework. It strives to impact academia, the state, women and society at large.
For further information or media interviews please contact: Jacyl Shaw (Executive Director) at [email protected] or Rya Ducusin (Communications Officer) at [email protected]
