When?: December 2, 2022

Where?:  Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong’s Atrium and Library

Who?: Siobhán Haughey, Teresa Lee, Jennifer Yu Cheng, Fiona Nott, Kristine Li, Sabrina Fung-Lam, Michelle Ong

Here's what you missed:

Hosted by Rachel Duffell, regional content director of Front & Female, the awards ceremony saw 85 inspiring women file into the venue for an afternoon of camaraderie. The guests included 20 women nominated for the awards for their work in championing the progress of women in Hong Kong. The event was sponsored by the Bank of Singapore, who has been steadfast in its initiatives in driving diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and in growing its pool of women in leadership positions globally.

Before the awards were presented, two-time Olympian and the event’s guest of honour Siobhán Haughey joined Duffell on stage for a fireside chat. The two discussed Haughey’s gruelling training schedule, how to win with grace, the importance of female friendships and how crucial sport is for the next generation.

Haughey, Duffell and Teresa Lee, alternative chief executive, managing director and head of Greater China at Bank of Singapore in Hong Kong, then presented the awards to six winners: Bowie Lam, founder of Teen’s Key, an organisation that helps young women trapped in the sex trade and promotes gender equality in Hong Kong; Alicia Lui, founder of Women in Sport Empowered Hong Kong (WISE HK), which uses sport as a tool to empower women; Kay McArdle, founder of Equal Justice, an organisation that seeks to reduce hardship and poverty by providing legal support to some of Hong Kong’s most disadvantaged people; Fiona Nott, CEO of The Women’s Foundation, which advances gender equality in Hong Kong; Manisha Wijesinghe, executive director of Help for Domestic Workers, which ensures migrant domestic workers have access to justice and receive fair and equal treatment in Hong Kong; and finally, Jennifer Yu Cheng, founder of the Jennifer Yu Cheng Girls Impact Foundation, an organisation that educates girls to be leaders of the future.

The nominees, who were selected for their achievements in the last 18 months—they had either launched or grown an initiative with significant impact in Hong Kong—were selected with the help of a voting committee, comprised of some of the most influential female leaders in Hong Kong. These included Daisy Ho, Claire Hsu, Norma Chu, Winnie Chiu and Ronna Chao.

“It’s such a pleasure to have you all here with us today,” said Duffell on stage. “When I took on Front & Female in May, the award was just a few slides on a PowerPoint presentation. When we opened nominations for the inaugural awards in August, we had the most phenomenal response, not only from our expert voting committee, but also from the general public. We were overwhelmed by all the inspiring individuals who were brought to our attention.”

Front & Female founder Tamara Lamunière echoed Duffell’s sentiments. “We have come such a long way from our first event. From day one, the idea of Front & Female has always been part of a larger vision my husband [Tatler chairman and CEO Michel Lamunière] and I have had for the Tatler brand. It was to use our privilege, our access and our reach as both a media company and legacy brand to affect a larger purpose. Front & Female was always meant for women that I wanted to be around, the kind of women that I look up to, and the kind of women that are at the forefront of things—breaking barriers and paving the way for other women,” she said to applause.

With deafening cheers and not a dry eye in the house, all six winners took to the stage for photos. The event was a true catalyst for collaboration and a celebration of women supporting women. Front & Female has become a resource for women to become their best selves in business, at home and in society, and the December event was a firm reminder that, together, women can be an unstoppable force of positive change.