Meet AWARE’s new board of leaders

On April 27, 2024, the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), elected a new board for the 2024 – 2026 term. This election happened at the 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM), and was the first board election since the pandemic. 

The non-profit organisation AWARE is Singapore’s leading women’s rights and gender equality advocacy group. Through research and advocacy, and education and training, AWARE aims to identify and dismantle gender-based barriers to foster equality for all individuals. Notably, AWARE has helped strengthen laws addressing domestic violence locally. 

Their work also stretches across the borders — in 2020, AWARE worked with other civil society organisations to submit a joint report to the Human Rights Council in October 2020. They then made an oral presentation at the 38th Universal Periodic Review Pre-session. This pre-session provides a platform for civil society groups to advocate to state delegates, and for state delegations to ask clarifying questions prior to the Universal Periodic Review. 

Introducing the new board

The newly elected President, Ms Aarathi Arumugam ran for her first term as President against Ms Nicole Tan and was elected. Ms Arumugam has been an AWARE member since 2009, and was a volunteer trainer for workplace sexual harassment and comprehensive sexuality education. She was also the AWARE Board Treasurer for the previous two terms. 

“The opportunity that I have been given to lead AWARE is both humbling and exciting as AWARE continues to make a significant impact on society,” Ms Armugam said. 

“The next two years will see AWARE’s 40th anniversary of advocacy and will further drive shifts in our communities. I am excited to be part of this journey and look forward to working with the formidable team at AWARE, my fellow board members, our volunteers, partners, and supporters.”

Ms Arumugam is an accountant and entrepreneur. She currently serves is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for EveryChild.SG, and was previously the financial controller of Daughters of Tomorrow. EveryChild.SG is a group of parents who compile recommendations for Singapore’s education system based on conversations with other stakeholders, while Daughters of Tomorrow supports women from low income families toward finding employment.

The other new board members are just as accomplished. These include Lihui Zeng as Treasurer and Anju Patwardhan as Assistant Treasurer, both of whom ran unopposed. 

Treasurer Zeng takes over the position from newly elected Ms Arumugam. She was previously the honorary treasurer of AWARE for the 2012 – 2014 term. With more than fifteen years of experience in the financial sector, where she first worked as an external auditor, before transitioning to the banking sector, giving her a wealth of experience for the role.

Assistant Treasurer Patwardhan takes over the position from Kathy Park, and is a globally experienced Fintech Venture Investor, board director, and former banking executive. She previously served as Assistant Treasurer for the 2016 – 2018 term. She is passionate about longevity and financial well-being of seniors, and mentoring women leaders. 

The remaining six positions were contested. Elected board members include Filzah Sumartono, Ijin Tan, Joanne Theseira, Kanak Muchhal, Penelope Shone, and Stacey Choe. 

Filzah Sumartono has been with AWARE since 2014. She co-edits two anthologies themed around growing up as muslim woman, and supports community-led organisations focussing on minority women.

Ijin Tan has volunteered at AWARE’s SACC legal clinic since 2017. She initially worked as a lawyer at a number of law firms, before shifting in-house to various MNCs focusing on compliance-related matters.

Joanne Theseira is a strong advocate for equality, and has contributed largely to AWARE’s fundraising efforts in the last three years. Outside of AWARE, she launched an LGBTQ+ resource group in her organisation, volunteered for Pink Dot 2023.

Kanak Muchhal is an advocate who has worked with a number of charities around the world, and presently manages a local charity supporting low-income and vulnerable families. She has also worked at Daughters of Tomorrow with Ms Arumugam.

Penelope Shone has been an AWARE member for 20 years. Most recently, she led international public affairs and communications for General Electric across 150 countries. 

Stacey Choe has over 12 years of experience in philanthropy. She co-founded Real Impact Advisors in 2023, and was formerly COO at Asia Philanthropy Circle. Her expertise spans education, eldercare, gender, and more, securing over USD22 million for causes.

Read more about the board members here.

Looking Forward

Executive Director of AWARE, Corianna Lim, said: “As we move forward, AWARE remains committed to fostering inclusivity and dynamism within our organisation. I am heartened by the board's diversity, with members ranging in age from 34 to 62 and backgrounds in law, advertising, finance, philanthropy, and various corporate environments.”

Ms. Ong Soh Chin, the immediate past President, likewise expressed her support for the new board. “As we pass the torch to the new board, I am confident in their ability to carry forward our mission with vigour and compassion. Together, we have achieved remarkable strides in building a more just society, and I am excited to see AWARE flourish under their leadership.”