Expanded program to include entrepreneurs, not-for-profits and social enterprises
Friday, 21 April 2017 – Telstra is calling for nominations in Indonesia for the second annual Telstra Business Woman in Asia Award, in conjunction with Kartini Day. This year, the Award is expanded to include female entrepreneurs and women from not-for-profit and social enterprises operating in Asia.
“The Telstra Business Woman in Asia Award is a great opportunity for women in Indonesia to celebrate their professional achievements and innovations on the global stage,” said Erik Meijer, Country Managing Director, Indonesia, Telstra. “This is in line with the purpose of Kartini Day, reminding women in Indonesia to achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.”
Last year, Shinta Dhanuwardoyo, CEO and Founder of Bubu.com, was selected as one of the award finalists, representing Indonesia, having reached the final stage of the awards selection process, ahead of hundreds of other women business leaders from throughout Asia Pacific. The Award recognized her success as the leader of one of the first internet companies in Indonesia during the program.
“I am so proud to have been selected as one of the award finalists in 2016. This program had encouraged me to reflect on our business innovations and allow us to showcase our achievements in the past 21 years in the technology industry,” said Shinta Dhanuwardoyo, CEO and Founder of Bubu.com.
“The experience has helped me expand my business network and provide me with the opportunity to share my experience in overcoming barriers in the industry as a female leader. I strongly encourage other female business leaders to participate in the program to represent us and our achievements on the global stage.”
Cynthia Whelan, Telstra’s Group Executive New Businesses and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Alumni, said the inaugural Award in Asia in 2016 had been a great success in celebrating brilliant women in the region and the Award in 2017 was going to be even bigger and better.
“We were thrilled to receive hundreds of nominations of inspiring female business leaders from across Asia for last year’s Award. Profiling and building networks of successful women is critical to overcoming barriers to equality in the workplace and we are very pleased to have welcomed last year’s cohort into the Telstra Business Women’s Award Alumni network,” said Ms Whelan.
The recent Women in Business report by Grant Thornton revealed that, although there is a slight increase in the proportion of senior roles held by women, it was still only at 25% globally and in many Asian countries it was even lower. For example, only 7% and 17% of senior roles were held by women in Japan and India respectively.
“It is clear we still have a long way to go when it comes to achieving equality among business leadership in Asia, and we hope the Award can play a role in achieving this goal,” said Ms Whelan.
This year, female entrepreneurs and women from not-for-profit and social enterprises residing in Asia are also eligible to be nominees of the Telstra Business Woman in Asia Award, a category of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, alongside women from corporate or private sectors.
“As a champion of innovation through our start-up accelerator program muru-D and our investments in emerging technology businesses through Telstra Ventures, we are excited about the opportunity for female entrepreneurs in Asia to be recognised as part of the Awards,” said Ms Whelan.
Entries for the 2017 Telstra Business Women’s Awards open Wednesday 26 April 2017 and close on Thursday 15 June 2017.
Nominations for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards are open all year round and can be made on https://www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com/nominate/
ENDS
Media contact:
Charlene Leung
Communications Manager, North Asia
Email: Charlene.leung@team.telstra.com
Rita Soetikno:
Senior Manager Marketing
Email: rita.soetikno@telkomtelstra.co.id
About Telstra
Telstra is a leading telecommunications and technology company. We offer a full range of services and compete in all telecommunications markets in Australia, operating the largest mobile and Wi-Fi networks. Globally, we provide end-to-end solutions including managed network services, global connectivity, cloud, voice, colocation, conferencing and satellite solutions. We have licenses in Asia, Europe and the United States and offer access to more than 2,000 points of presence across the globe. For more information visit www.telstra.com