Meet the Women in GovTech 2018
By Medha Basu
Exclusive special report: 71 incredible people creating the change they want to see.
In our 2018 special report on Women in GovTech, 71 women from across Asia Pacific and beyond share what drives them everyday to make changes to the institutions they serve, and what advice they would give to others who want to use technology to change the world.
Role models like Hopper, who began coding in the 1940s, have paved the way for many women to take up careers in tech. This special report showcases the stories of people who can be role models for many others in this region.
From Cambodia to New Zealand, women from over 20 countries have taken part in the report. They work in roles as diverse as ministers, CEOs, ambassadors, analysts, futurists, UX designers and digital leaders. They have risen to these positions from backgrounds as varied as dancers, educators, urban planners and activists.
Each of them share the most important skills that have helped them throughout the course of their careers - whether that be a few months or decades. While STEM skills have played a crucial role, many share how curiosity, empathy, negotiation, communication, and perseverance have also been critical - in some cases, even more so than degree qualifications.
And for those of us - regardless of gender - looking for courage and motivation for the new year, we hope you find these stories as inspiring as we do.
Meet the Women in GovTech 2018.
Armenia
Marina Mkhitaryan, Lead, Kolba Lab, UNDP Armenia
Australia
Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, Australia
Pia Andrews, Executive Director of Digital Government, Policy and Innovation, New South Wales
Lucy Cameron, Senior Research Consultant, Data61
Danielle Cave, Senior Analyst, International Cyber Policy Centre, Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Cambodia
Serey Chea, Assistant Governor, National Bank of Cambodia
Denmark
Rikke Zeberg, Director-General, Agency for Digitisation, Ministry of Finance
Estonia
Liisa Past, Next Generation Leader at the McCain Institute for International Leadership, Arizona State University
Finland
Anna-Maija Karjalainen, Director General of Public Sector ICT, Ministry of Finance
Anna Korpi, Counsellor, Education and Science, Embassy of Finland in Singapore
Paula Parviainen, Ambassador, Embassy of Finland in Singapore
Georgia
Sesili Verdzadze, Head of Innovations at ServiceLab, Ministry of Justice
Global
Marta Pérez Cusó, Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations ESCAP
Shreya Basu, Lead for Asia Pacific, Open Government Partnership
Anita Hazenberg, Director, INTERPOL Innovation Centre
Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General, United Cities And Local Governments Asia Pacific
Dato’ Maimunah Sharif, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Habitat
Hong Kong
Wendy Kwan, Senior Systems Manager (Digital Identity), Office of the Government Chief Information Officer
India
Radha Chauhan, Chief Executive Officer, Government e-Marketplace
Indonesia
Sofiarti Dyah Anggunia, System Analyst, West Kalimantan Provincial Government
Derina Jayanthi, Citizen Complaint Analyst, Jakarta Smart City
Lianatasha, Staff, Leadership Strategic Support Division, National Cyber and Encryption Agency
Nazria Rahmi, Business Analyst, Jakarta Smart City, Indonesia
Ahyani Raksanagara, Head of ICT Department, Bandung City Government
Industry
Sala Muthukrishnan, Analytics Build Leader, Asia, DXC Technology
Geraldine Kor, Director, Regional Marketing, Asia, DXC Technology
Israel
Shai-Lee Spigelman, CEO, Digital Israel
Malaysia
Dr Suhazimah Binti Dzazali, GCIO, MAMPU
Dr Fazilah Shaik Allaudin, Senior Deputy Director, Ministry of Health
Mastura Ishak, Programme Director, Blockchain, Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology
Datuk Yasmin Mahmood, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation
Dr Yusminar Yunus, Director, Digital Government Division, MAMPU
Mexico
Yolanda Martinez, National Digital Strategy Coordinator, MexicoDigital, Mexico
Philippines
Lilia Guillermo, Chief Information Officer, Department of Budget and Management
Antonette T. Torres, Program Manager, iGovPhil, Department of ICT
Singapore
Cong Rong, Deputy CIO / Deputy Director (Schools, Infrastructure), Information Technology Branch, GovTech
Evangeline Chua, Chief People Officer, GovTech
Peiling Chua, Software Engineer, Applications Infrastructure, GovTech
Dr Alvina Goh, Deputy Director, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, GovTech
Cindy Goh, Head (Digital Systems and Services), National Library Board
Tamsin Greulich-Smith, Chief, Smart Health Leadership Centre
Siti Rabiatul Adawiyah Binte Hairy, Associate Software Engineer, Agile Consulting and Engineering, GovTech
Serene Ho, Director, Networked Trade Platform Office, Singapore Customs, Ministry of Finance
Ho Yin Shan, Head (Operations), SP Services
Nurul Jihadah Hussain, Founder, The Codette Project
Erlina Ke, Deputy Director, Application and Business Management Services, Ministry of Law, GovTech
Chloe Lim, Applications Consultant, Information Technology Branch, GovTech
Jane Lim, Assistant Chief Executive, Sectoral Transformation, IMDA
Juliana Lim, Head of Talent Networking, SGInnovate
May Liew, Vice President, Innovation, SP Group
Lin Zi, Quantitative Analyst, Quantitative Strategy, GovTech
Ming Sien Choong, Senior Manager, Government Digital Services, GovTech
Liyana Muhammad Fauzi, Senior Manager, Strategic Planning and International, GovTech
Mizah Rahman, Co-founder, Participate In Design
Jacqueline Poh, Deputy Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office
See Ning Seah, Product Manager, Digital Design & Development, GovTech
Siew Yim Cheng, Chief Digital Officer, JTC Corporation
Sze Ki Sim, Head of Brand, SGInnovate
Assistant Commissioner Wai Cheng Chui, Deputy Director of Citizen Services Centre, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
Wee Hui Ling, Manager, Data Science Division, JTC Corporation
Wong Hefen, Deputy Director, Co-Lab, Ministry of Manpower
Wu Jiezhen, Executive Director, The Hidden Good
Yu Ling Mah, Director, Procurement, GovTech
Yvonne Chia, UX Designer, Agile Consulting and Engineering, GovTech
South Africa
Ayanda Dlodlo, Minister of Public Service & Administration
Spain
Francesca Bria, Chief Technology and Digital Innovation Officer, Barcelona City Council
Taiwan
Audrey Tang, Digital Minister
Shuyang Lin, Co-Founder, Public Digital Innovation Space
Thailand
Varangtip Satchatippavarn, Head of Global Partnerships, Startup Thailand, National Innovation Agency
United Kingdom
Emma Gawen, Partner, Public Digital
Tanya Filer, Head of the Digital State Project, Bennett Institute of Public Policy