Welcome message by Datuk Faizah Mohd Tahir
Secretary General, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development 

In Malaysia, there are more girls than boys at institutes of higher learning. Yet, top positions in the corporate world, in government, NGOs, and in academia are still predominantly occupied by men. Somewhere along the line, women are choosing not to aspire to be the boss, or head of department, or Minister, or indeed to assume any position of leadership. Why is this? 

It was to answer this complex question that we launched the Women’s Summit in 2003, in conjunction with the National Women’s Day. We thought, rather than pat ourselves on the back for what we have achieved so far; we should seek to understand the issues confronting women which continue to hold a majority of us back. And which prevent women in Malaysia from achieving even more.

The Women’s Summits are a platform for women to hear from successful women and to be inspired by them. But more than that, it is also a platform for women to voice their concerns and their personal experiences. Their input is crucial to us at the Ministry to formulate and implement policies that are relevant to women in Malaysia. 

After having discussed, in previous summits, issues such as the glass ceiling and other factors in the work environment that hinder the advancement of women, we felt it was time to tackle another very pertinent, and in some ways controversial, point: Are Women Ready for Key Positions? Given this main theme, we hope to explore and appreciate the Choices, Changes and Challenges that face today’s intelligent, educated and socially aware career woman.

We have invited some exceptional women to speak at our Perdana Panel this year. We are honoured to welcome to the Summit, Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of UNIFEM. Noeleen is based in New York, but regularly travels to places of strife and disaster around the world to promote women’s security and rights. We have also invited one of Malaysia’s own rising political star, Dato’ Dr Ng Yen Yen who is not only Wanita MCA chairman, but also Deputy Minister Finance 1 of our government. Dato’ Dr Ng is proof that a woman is capable of being an accomplished medical doctor, and a respected politician, and mother of three successful sons!

Women have been trying to engage in smart partnerships with men to enable them to deliver a higher level of service in the workplace. At this year’s summit, we have a distinguished panel, of mostly men, who will discuss what it takes for women to tread this path to leadership. I have great pleasure in announcing our panel comprising David Fuller, ex-CEO of Malaysian Oxygen; Mohd Ashraf Iqbal, former CEO of Proton Cars UK/ Europe; Datuk Peter Wentworth, CEO of BP Asia Pacific; and Dr Hamidah Marican, BP Asia’s Regional Diversity and Inclusion Manager.

Finally, as part of the Expert Series, we have with us today two speakers who we believe will move women to act in unexpected ways. Elizabeth Carlassare, from the US, will speak about how she became named one of “Net’s 25 movers and shakers in February 2001 by Interactive Week Magazine”. Diana Rose, from Sarawak, will speak about heritage and culture as a source of community and economic empowerment. Their sessions, Jumping Out of Your Comfort Zone and Rowing Upstream, will be personal accounts of how the two women found success by moving into new areas of entrepreneurship.

With such speakers, we can expect very stimulating presentations which will inspire us, motivate us, and perhaps even make us question certain attitudes or belief systems which prevent us from realising our true potential.

We hope you will enjoy the day’s programme and take this opportunity to engage in knowledge sharing sessions.

Thank you.