Singapore, 13 October 2023 – Making their marks in the male-dominated fields of science and fintech, the newly minted Her World Woman of the Year 2023, Professor Jackie Ying, and Her World Young Woman Achiever 2023, Ms Caecilia Chu, have not only placed our metropolis on the world map, but also inspired a new generation of women practising in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
As the founder of A*STAR’s NanoBio Lab, Co-Founder of Cellbae, and Founding Executive Director of Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), Professor Ying is a renowned and internationally acclaimed scientist who has dedicated herself to improving lives across sectors spanning from biomedical sciences to agricultural technology.
Ms Chu is the Co-Founder and CEO of YouTrip, a mobile financial platform based in Singapore. Apart from a digital multi-currency wallet, she has expanded YouTrip beyond the travel industry, and made a difference for the local small and medium enterprises with the launch of YouBiz, a multi-currency expense management platform in 2022. Details of the winners can be found in Annex A.
Her World recognised the outstanding contributions of the winners at a gala dinner held at JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach and graced by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment.
The annual Her World Woman of the Year and Young Woman Achiever Awards celebrate women whose achievements and influence impact their professional space and inspire the community. After months of public nominations and a rigorous selection process, the winners were chosen by a judging panel chaired by Ms Jennie Chua, entrepreneur and Her World Woman of the Year 1999. More information on the awards and judging panel can be found in Annex B.
Ms Elizabeth Lee, Editor-in-Chief of Her World, said: “It is no coincidence that both our winners are women in STEM. More young Singaporean women are entering science and tech fields and making their mark in these previously male-dominated arenas. Both Professor Ying and Caecilia’s contributions are remarkable and game-changing at home and abroad, and we are proud to call them our 2023 Women of the Year.”
On being crowned the Her World Woman of the Year 2023, Professor Jackie Ying, said: “Having grown up here, it was a dream to be able to return to Singapore and work here. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the building of Biopolis, and the biomedical research enterprise. This award is a great honour that I would like to share with my staff and students at NanoBio Lab, the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, as well as our spinoff companies. This year marks a major milestone for me as I came back to Singapore 20 years ago. I thank the Singapore government for its great support of our research efforts.”
Ms Caecilia Chu, Her World Young Woman Achiever 2023, said: “I am honoured and humbled to be named this year’s Her World Young Woman Achiever among such an inspiring group of women. As a female leader in the traditionally male-dominated tech industry, the award encourages me to continue inspiring more women to pursue their ambitions without letting gender define them. Together with YouTrip, we are committed to fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.”
Both winners are featured in the October issue of Her World, which dons a new masthead and refreshed content focusing on career, money, life and wellness, as well as style and beauty. Online (herworld.com), a fresh look and enhanced navigation and reading experience greets viewers. As the guide for career-focused millennial women, Her World offers practical tips, solutions and advice for the milestones in life, and key sections like ‘POV’ which features women’s stories, profiles and opinion pieces; ‘Independence’ which houses money and career guides and features; and ‘Wellness’ which tackles physical, mental and emotional health, have been spotlighted.
The Her World Women of the Year 2023 awards ceremony is organised by SPH Media, with support from official partners Cle de Peau Beaute and The Hour Glass, as well as supporting partner Qualcomm.
- END -
ANNEX A
Profile of Winner – Her World Woman of the Year 2023
Her World Woman of the Year 2023 – Professor Jackie Ying, Founder, A*STAR NanoBio Lab, Co-Founder, Cellbae, and Founding Executive Director, Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Professor Jackie Ying is a renowned and internationally acclaimed scientist who has successfully established herself in a largely male-dominated field, and is effecting socio-economic change with her research. The founder of A*STAR’s NanoBio Lab and Co-Founder of Cellbae, Prof Ying is in an indefatigable pursuit of ways to improve lives across sectors spanning from biomedical sciences to agricultural technology.
Prof Ying has over 200 primary patents and patent applications under her belt. She is also a pioneer in the use of nanotechnology for human health. Her development of stimuli-responsive polymeric (polymer) nanoparticles led to a technology that autoregulates the release of insulin based on the blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.
Prof Ying was one of Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s youngest full professors (chemical engineering) at the age of 35 (1992-2003). In 2003, she returned to Singapore to help start the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, one of the key research institutions for Singapore’s biomedical sciences ambitions. Prof Ying was awarded the King Faisal Prize 2023, a prestigious international award that recognises “outstanding achievements in service to Islam, Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine and science”, as well as the Mustafa Prize ‘Top Scientific Achievement’ Award in 2017, a prestigious science and technology recognition for scholars of the Islamic world.
Profile of Winner – Her World Young Woman Achiever 2023
Her World Young Woman Achiever of the Year 2023 – Ms Caecilia Chu, Co-Founder and CEO, YouTrip
Ms Caecilia Chu is the Co-Founder and CEO of YouTrip, one of the top digital multi-currency wallets in Singapore, which was established to simplify overseas spending for travellers. Ms Chu has led YouTrip to expand beyond the travel industry, with the diversification of the business in making a difference for the local small and medium enterprises with the launch of YouBiz, a multi-currency expense management platform, in 2022.
Ms Chu is recognised as one of the key leaders in the local fintech landscape. She was appointed by the Singapore FinTech Association as Chair of the Payments Group Committee in 2022. She was also the former Chairperson of the Action Community for Entrepreneurship’s women founders sub-committee. Ms Chu was named the Tech Leader of the Year by the Singapore Computer Society in 2022, and CEO of the Year at the 2022 Women in Finance Asia Awards.
ANNEX B
About Her World Woman of the Year Award
Since 1991, the Her World Woman of the Year Award has recognised and celebrated outstanding women in Singapore, and it has become one of the most established and recognisable awards here with a distinguished list of winners. In 1999, the Her World Young Woman Achiever Award was created to honour remarkable women aged 35 and below – women whose influence impacts their immediate professional space and who inspire the community we live in.
Her World Woman of the Year Award
The Her World Woman of the Year Award honours women who have made outstanding contributions to society in their professions or respective fields.
- The winner must represent and project the best of Singapore, at home and/or abroad. Her accomplishments should leave a lasting impression on others, and she should be an inspiration and a role model to society.
- Her achievements must have had a broad impact on society or benefited a particular industry or field at a high level.
- She should be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident.
Her World Young Woman Achiever Award
The Her World Young Woman Achiever Award celebrates the success of young women who push existing boundaries, inspiring those around them and paving the way for future generations.
- The winner must be seen as an inspiration and role model to society.
- She should have visible achievements and have demonstrated the potential to attain an even higher level of success in her chosen field.
- She is 40 years old or below at the point of nomination.
- She should be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident.
Judging Panel
The winners for this year’s awards were selected by a judging panel, after being shortlisted from a public nomination from December 2022 to January 2023. Chaired by entrepreneur and 1999 Woman of the Year winner Ms Jennie Chua, the judging panel includes:
- Ms Khor Siew Kim, Head, Secretariat & Legal, SPH Media
- Mr Wong Kim Hoh, Deputy Life Editor, SPH Media
- Ms Pat Law, Founder, GOODSTUPH
- Ms Colette Zheng, Consultant, McKinsey & Company; Vice-Chairperson, Young Women’s Leadership Connection
- Ms Olivia Lee, Principal Designer & Founder, Olivia Lee Studio; Winner of Her World Young Woman Achiever Award 2018
- Dr Suhina Singh, Co-Founder & CEO, Jonda Health
- Ms Annabelle Kwok, Director, Head of Data and Analytics (Asia), Prudential Asia; Winner of Her World Young Woman Achiever Award 2019