Year: 2024

AWARE elects 2024-2026 board at 39th Annual General Meeting, with Aarathi Arumugam announced as President

Press release for immediate release

3 May 2024 On Saturday, 27 April 2024, gender-equality group AWARE held its 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elected a new board for the 2024-2026 term. There were 80 AWARE members present at the AGM, held at the AWARE Centre, and this year also marked the first board election since the pandemic. 

During the board election, Ms. Aarathi Arumugam ran for her first term as AWARE President against Ms. Nicole Tan. 

Ms. Arumugam was previously the AWARE Board Treasurer (2022–2024) and has been a member since 2009. She is an entrepreneur and currently serves as the COO at EveryChild.SG. 

“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. Arumugam 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.” 

Members of the new Board are: Lihui Zeng, Anju Patwardhan, Filzah Sumartono, Ijin Tan, Joanne Theseira, Kanak Muchhal, Penelope Shone, and Stacey Choe.

Corinna Lim, AWARE Executive Director, 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.”

She added that many of the elected Board are not only long-time members of AWARE, but also change makers and leaders in both civil society and the private sector, who she believes will bring diverse perspectives and experiences.

“During my tenure as President, it has been inspiring to witness AWARE’s unwavering commitment to gender equality,” said Ms. Ong Soh Chin, the Board’s immediate past president.

“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.”


AWARE Board 2024-2022: Positions and Biographies

President: Aarathi Arumugam

Aarathi Arumugam is an accountant and an entrepreneur. She has honed her skills in business, team management, and organisational strategy through her career trajectory, which has included corporations, start-ups, non-profits and raising a family. Since becoming a member in 2009, Aarathi has volunteered with AWARE as a trainer, educating and raising awareness about workplace sexual harassment and comprehensive sexuality education and as a Board member. Aarathi currently serves as COO for EveryChild.SG.

Treasurer: Lihui Zeng

With over 15 years of experience in the financial sector, Lihui Zeng brings a wealth of knowledge in audit, financial management, compliance, and operational risk management within banking institutions. 

During her tenure as an external auditor specialising in financial institutions, she honed her skills in assessing financial systems, interpretation of accounting standards, risk management practices, and regulatory compliance, ensuring the integrity and transparency of financial operations. 

Her subsequent transition into the banking sector has equipped her with in-depth knowledge of the complex banking regulatory framework and the ability to spearhead initiatives to ensure the implementation of robust controls that adhere to industry standards and regulatory requirements. Her other experiences include system implementation for handling new financial reporting standards, budget management, and financial analysis.

Assistant Treasurer: Anju Patwardhan

Anju Patwardhan is a globally experienced Fintech Venture Investor, board director, and former banking executive. She has lived and worked in Singapore, San Francisco, and India, in senior leadership roles at Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, and at NUS/NUHS Singapore. 

She currently serves on the board of companies in the US, Europe, and Saudi Arabia, and is on the global advisory group of DCI at Stanford University. She is passionate about longevity and financial well-being of seniors, and mentoring women leaders. 

She has lived in Singapore since 1998 with her family. She loves reading, travelling, and spending time with her two dogs! 

Board member: Filzah Sumartono

Filzah Sumartono (she/her) is the co-editor of Growing Up Perempuan and Perempuan: Muslim Women in Singapore Speak Out. These anthologies are a collection of essays and poems about the intricacies, contradictions, and duality of growing up as a woman in the Muslim community. Filzah is also involved in Beyond the Hijab and End FGC Singapore, which are community-led organisations that focus on minority women.

Board member: Ijin Tan

Ijin Tan has been a volunteer with AWARE’s SACC legal clinic since its early days in 2017. In her professional life, Ijin was called to the Singapore Bar as an advocate and solicitor in 2007. She was a litigator in the dispute resolution department at leading law firms for eight years, before moving in-house to various MNCs focusing on compliance-related matters including data privacy, anti-bribery, and internal code of conduct investigations.

She has been actively involved in pro bono work since qualifying as a lawyer. While in practice, she represented clients under the criminal legal aid scheme (CLAS) in court. Even after leaving practice, she continued to volunteer her evenings at the pro bono legal clinic with the Law Society. Her experience working with vulnerable communities sparked a desire in her to help individuals and effect systemic change.

Board member: Joanne Theseira

Joanne Theseira is a highly regarded business leader in the advertising industry. She is known for her ability to drive sustainable commercial growth and implement rapid transformation in the creative services sector. She serves as CEO of Publicis Groupe’s creative agencies and Chief Growth Officer for Southeast Asia, focused on driving innovation and strategic growth initiatives to fuel the region’s tremendous potential.

Jo has been recognised as an outstanding female leader in the industry. In 2022, she was awarded Campaign’s Women Leading Change Asia Pacific Business Leader Award, and the following year, she was named Southeast Asia’s Agency Head of the Year.

An out lesbian business leader, Jo launched Égalité in her organisation, a resource group for LGBTQ+ employees and their allies, and also volunteered for Red Dot for Pink Dot 2023 to raise funds for the event.

Board member: Kanak Muchhal

Kanak Muchhal has passionately worked to support and empower women and vulnerable families for the last 10 years. Kanak currently manages The Inclusive Fund (TIF) at South Central Community Family Service Centre (SCC), a local charity that supports low-income and vulnerable families. In her current role, she is responsible for supporting transnational families who are not able to access sufficient formal forms of assistance due to eligibility issues. Her hope is to promote equality, inclusivity and social justice for these members in our community.

While working at Daughters of Tomorrow, she oversaw the delivery of all programmes and services to increase job readiness by curating workshops and new initiatives with volunteers and partners, impacting more than 1000 women. She believes holistic improvement in

quality of life, not just income, is needed for social mobility and aspires for every woman to harness their strength, experiences, and voice to create positive changes for themselves and their families. She is a fun-loving mother of three children, a hiking enthusiast, and a Sudoku whiz.

Board member: Penelope Shone

Penelope Shone was born in New Zealand. She has been a resident of Singapore since 1985, and has been an AWARE member for 20 years. Her career has unfolded in both the public and private sectors. Most recently, she led international public affairs and communications for General Electric across 150 countries. Prior to that, she was a managing director at Citigroup for 12 years, leading the company’s public affairs, communications, and citizenship strategies across Asia Pacific. This included the supervision of 20,000 volunteers and $18 million in annual grants to NGOs.

Board member: Stacey Choe

Stacey Choe, with over 12 years in philanthropy, specialises in Southeast Asia and China. Co-founding Real Impact Advisors in 2023, she addresses Asia’s philanthropic needs. Formerly COO at Asia Philanthropy Circle, she led initiatives like the Asia Community Foundation. Expertise spans education, eldercare, gender, and more, securing over USD22 million for causes. 

A skilled convener, she orchestrates events like the ASEAN Philanthropy Dialogue. As an adjunct lecturer at SUSS, she fosters social engagement. A 2019 Asia Foundation Development Fellow, Stanford alum in Non-Profit Management, she began in marketing before earning a Masters in Social Anthropology of Development from SOAS, University of London.

Immediate Past President: Ong Soh Chin is an editorial and PR consultant. Previously, she was Southeast Asia PR Director at Netflix, overseeing Publicity and Communications for Southeast Asia. Soh Chin has also served as Deputy Director, External Relations and Strategic Planning at the Institute of Policy Studies, as well as Asia-Pacific Editor and Speechwriter with the global editorial team at Shell. 

A veteran journalist and editor who has covered the arts, entertainment, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, politics and current affairs in her career, she worked on different desks at The Straits Times, where she wrote regularly about women’s rights and gender equality. She recently obtained a postgraduate diploma in Counselling Psychology and intends to pursue a new vocation in the mental health space.

Rowena Chiu on the power of speaking up

Trigger warning: Sexual assault

Seeing the headlines about Weinstein’s overturned conviction is a punch in the gut. It’s hard not to feel angry and frustrated. You may be feeling triggered or reliving your own experiences right now. This is a difficult period for survivors.

Last year, Rowena Chiu, a courageous survivor of Weinstein’s abuse, shared her experience with us. Her strength is inspiring; Rowena discussed the trauma of sexual assault, and her empowering road to recovery and fighting for justice.

In 2017, when the sharing of #MeToo stories surged, our Sexual Assault Care Centre experienced an 80% increase in calls—not just a temporary spike, but a new baseline for our call volume. This increase may indicate survivors’ greater hope that their accounts will be believed, as well as a better understanding of their own experiences, prompted by hearing from others with similar stories. This is the power of speaking out.

If you or someone you know needs support, our confidential services are here for you: https://sacc.aware.org.sg/

Let us keep raising our voices together.

AWARE submits shadow report for the 88th CEDAW session

AWARE’s latest shadow report for the 88th session of CEDAW (the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) seeks to highlight issues of concern and make recommendations that will strengthen Singapore’s compliance with its obligations under CEDAW.

We continue to push for the explicit protection against gender discrimination in Singapore’s constitution, the passage of anti-discrimination legislation that encompasses all forms of discrimination, and for comprehensive sexual education to address the core causes of gender violence and injustice. 

We also make recommendations to address the needs of various vulnerable groups, such as family caregivers, victim-survivors of domestic violence, and non-standard workers in the economy.

We renew our call for the removal of all remaining reservations by Singapore to the Convention, and the development of an independent national human rights organisation.

The fight for gender equality is complex and layered, and our report aims to reflect that fact. From broadening the definition of domestic abuse to pushing for migrant spouses’ rights, we continue our pursuit of a more just and equal society. And we will be walking our talk: our team will be attending the next CEDAW session in Geneva in May 2024, to pursue these issues with the CEDAW Committee in person. 

Do you want to go further into our recommendations? To view all our CEDAW shadow reports, click here.

From Advocacy to Achievement: AWARE’s WHDA Service Winds Down as New Workplace Protections Introduced

We launched our Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Advisory (WHDA) services five years ago at AWARE to support individuals facing workplace harassment and discrimination. Our goal was not only to support affected parties but also to understand the barriers they encountered in seeking justice and to advocate for stronger legal protections.

We are proud that our research and advocacy efforts, informed by our experiences with WHDA, have contributed to the introduction of the Workplace Fairness legislation and the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Workplace Arrangement Requests.

In light of these significant developments, AWARE has decided to discontinue the WHDA services. The last day of service will be May 31, 2024. However, our commitment to fostering progressive workplaces continues. We will keep monitoring the impact and efficacy of the new laws and policies.

For women experiencing distress and/or violence in the workplace, you can reach out to AWARE’s Women’s Care Centre for information and support. Additionally, our Sexual Assault Care Centre serves individuals of all genders and is also available for support. For further guidance and assistance, you can contact TAFEP.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our clients, donors, and all supporters who have contributed to WHDA’s success and impact.

AWARE’s Submission To The Public Consultation On The Definitions Of Platform Operator And Platform Worker, Treatment Of A Subcontracting Scenario, And Platform Operators’ Duties Towards Platform Workers’ Safety And Health

AWARE made a submission to the Ministry of Manpower’s Public Consultation on the definitions of Platform Operator and Platform Worker, treatment of a subcontracting scenario, and Platform Operators’ duties towards Platform Workers’ safety and health. Our recommendations addressing these issues: Expanding the definition of Platform Operators and Platform Workers to include a wider range of digital platforms, protection against discrimination and harassment, and transparent and fair payment systems.

Platform workers are among the most vulnerable groups of workers in Singapore and other countries due to the lack of basic employment protection. According to the Ministry of Manpower’s 2022 Labour Force Survey, resident regular platform workers are most concerned about the lack of healthcare benefits and retirement security2.

Platform work can be an attractive option due to the relatively low barriers to entry, more control over their work schedules, and the opportunity to earn extra income. However, the landscape of platform work is constantly changing, resulting in new types of employment and business models that challenge current norms.

It is crucial to ensure that those who perform platform work are protected, regardless of their employment status, and that such safeguards extend to protection against discrimination and harassment. It is also important to note that platform work blurs the lines between traditional employment and self-employment, which can complicate the responsibilities of employers and workers. Classifying platform workers as self-employed can limit their access to health and safety rights, which can have severe consequences for them.

Read the full submission here.

Response to youth arrests for sexual crimes

As Ms Gopalakrishnan rightly pointed out in this article published by The Straits Times (Over 470 youth arrested for sexual crimes in 2023; offenders’ exposure to porn cited as a reason, 16 April 2024), teens are turning to the internet as a source of information on sexual health and relationships, which potentially exposes them to sexually explicit materials that encourage distorted views of sex and misogynistic attitudes. The normalisation of violence against women depicted in such content can influence viewers’ behaviour, as seen in the rise in youth sexual offending.

While concerning, teens turning to alternative information sources suggests gaps in our existing sexuality education in terms of teaching them about issues that they are interested in learning and/or are facing in their day-to-day lives.

To bolster the upcoming early intervention measures, like training counsellors to recognise early signs of harmful sexual behaviours, our sex ed curriculum needs to take a more preventative approach by cultivating porn literacy. This will help adolescents develop essential critical thinking skills to unpack the sexual scripts, norms and practices depicted in porn.

More broadly, such a curriculum should cover a wide range of topics, including healthy (and unhealthy) relationships, gender-based violence and the debunking of sexist beliefs. Providing a safe space for children to learn about these issues ultimately promotes gender equality, delays the onset of sexual activity, reduces risky sexual behaviours, lowers rates of domestic and intimate partner violence and improves contraceptive use, amongst many other benefits.

Read our 2021 op-ed on pornography and sexuality education here: https://www.aware.org.sg/2021/09/dont-let-pornography-become-your-childs-default-sex-educator/

AWARE’s Annual Report 2023

In this year’s annual report, we embrace the flora theme, symbolising growth, vitality, and interconnectedness inherent in our mission. Just as a flower thrives in a nourishing garden, our progress in gender justice is fuelled by community involvement and collective action.

Some of the wins celebrated this year have been years in the making; for example, we’ve been advocating for improved parenting leave since 2011 and have been providing support and speaking up for those struggling with workplace harassment and discrimination through our advisory service since 2019.

This theme embodies the cyclical journey of advocacy: from the seeds of awareness sown through our work to the blooming of individual actions, collective voices, and ultimately, policy changes that drive positive societal shifts.

Beyond the vibrant petals lies the recognition that our efforts create fertile ground for future generations of activists and advocates, ensuring that the seeds of change continue to be planted and nurtured.

Click below to read our 2023 Annual Report:

You can also find our Impact Report 2024 here.

Some services unavailable from 22-26 April 2024

Services from the Women’s Care Centre (WCC) and the Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) will be unavailable from 22 Apr 2024 to 26 Apr 2024. 

During the closure, all helplines and office lines (except WCC office line) are on hold.

On 23 and 24 April, the WCC office line will be closed, and there will be no counselling sessions taking place on those two days.

Normal services will fully resume on Monday, 29 April 2024.


If you have experienced sexual assault within the last 72 hours, you may refer to this page for suggested actions.

If you require support, you may reach out to these alternatives:

  • National Anti-Violence Helpline (24-hour, for reporting of domestic and sexual violence): 1800 777 0000
  • Samaritans of Singapore (24-hour, for coping with self-harm or suicidal ideation):
  • IMH Helpline (24-hour, for mental health crisis): 6389 2222
  • ComCare Helpline (7am-12am, to locate your nearest Family Service Centre): 1800 222 0000
  • Care Corner Helpline (10am-10pm, for emotional support for Mandarin speakers): 1800 3535 800
  • Community Justice Centre (Mon-Fri, 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-4pm, 20 minutes free legal information, walk ins only, first-come-first-serve basis)
  • Law Society Pro Bono Legal Clinic Services (Free legal information, appointments needed)
  • Police 999, Medical assistance 995 (If you or someone you know is in danger or has an emergency)

We seek your kind understanding and patience. Thank you.