3 M'sian Women Celebrated For Their Accomplishments In Forbes' 2024 50 Over 50 List
Age is LITERALLY just a number.
Meet the three inspirational Malaysian women who prove that success has no expiration date!
Forbes' 50 over 50 list: 2024 Asia List shines a spotlight on 50 inspirational women across the Asia-Pacific region, all above the age of 50, to celebrate their myriad of achievements in fields such as fashion, film, law, politics, finance, and more.
This year's list includes three Malaysian women, so let's take a look at their amazing accomplishments.
1. Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, 67 | Attorney & Human Rights Advocate
Image via Choo Choy May/Malay Mail
Image via Mark Cheong/The Straits Times
Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan is no stranger to this list, as she previously snagged a spot on last year's list.
A prominent figure for women's rights and judicial reform in Malaysia, Ambiga served as the second female president of the Malaysian Bar Council, where she played a pivotal role in organising the influential "March for Justice" and chairing Bersih 2.0, a movement advocating for free and fair elections.
As a founding member of the Women's Aid Organisation, Ambiga is actively involved in promoting women's rights. Her advocacy for women's testimonies to hold equal weight in the syariah courts earned her the 2009 US International Women of Courage Award from then first lady Michelle Obama and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
She currently serves as the President of the Pure Life Society, a charitable home which provides support for orphans and the underprivileged. Ambiga's dedication to human rights and her influential leadership roles have earned her recognition and accolades, including the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal of Honor and the Gandhi Memorial Trust Public Service Award.
2. Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, 65 | Executive Director, APEC Secretariat
Image via Muhd Zaaba Zakeria/New Straits Times
Image via Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Recognised for her contributions to shaping trade and economic policies in Malaysia, Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria is currently the executive director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat. She is the first woman to lead the 21-member inter-governmental economic advisory body.
Rebecca spent a decade shaping Malaysia's contributions to the global economy, holding positions such as deputy secretary-general and later, secretary-general, and lead trade negotiator at the International Trade and Industry Ministry.
In addition to her regional engagements, Rebecca has represented the Asia-Pacific region at the prestigious World Economic Forum. Her expertise extends beyond the public sector, as evidenced by her prior role as a non-executive director for RHB Bank.
3. Tunku Mona Riza Tunku Khalid, 57 | Film Director-Founder, Current Pictures
Image via Current Pictures
Image via Current Pictures
Tunku Mona Riza Tunku Khalid is a film director who received the Most Promising Director award for the film Redha at the Malaysia Film Festival in 2017. Inspired by a true story, the film highlights the struggles of raising an autistic child and was selected as Malaysia's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.
Tunku Mona Riza established her own production house, Current Pictures, in 1999. Her latest film, Rain Town, marks a significant milestone as Malaysia's first Chinese-language film directed by a Malay woman. Premiering in February 2024, the movie was screened at last year’s Vancouver Asian Film Festival and the International Film Festival of India in Goa.
Our warmest congratulations to these three amazing individuals on their well-deserved recognition! Here's hoping for more accomplished Malaysian women to be featured in the future!
Image via Digital Media Team
You can check out the full list here.
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