Meet the Women in GovTech 2021
By Yun Xuan Poon Sean Nolan Ming En Liew
78 stories of resilience and ingenuity on how tech is transforming the public sector.
We have profiled directors, ministers, cyber chiefs, product managers, and strategists. All of them have tirelessly tested out new tech and approaches to make public services simpler and more accessible.
These projects span everything from vaccine operations to food and climate tech. Some have even pioneered new ways to make room for innovation, including a startup accelerator reality TV show and the world’s first virtual ministry.
One thing that stands out from our interviewees this year is the importance of mentorship. They each shared the role models who have led them to where they are today. And no doubt, they will themselves go on to inspire the next wave of leaders and dreamers.
We also asked them what gets them up and going in the morning. There was a lot of sunshine, alarm clocks and coffee - even a couple of overly affectionate cats. But it was mostly a keen sense of hope and determination to leave the world in a better place than they found it yesterday.
We hope you are as inspired by these stories of resilience and ingenuity as we are. Meet the Women in GovTech 2021.
Australia
Leeanne Chau, Assistant Commissioner – Smarter Data, Visual Analytics and Transformation, Australian Taxation Office, Australia
England
Basma Albanna, Doctoral Researcher, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester, England
Estonia
Liisa Past, Chief Information Security Officer, IT and Development Centre, Ministry of the Interior, Estonia
Global
Aafreen Siddiqui, Regional Engagement Lead, Government Innovation, UNDP Asia-Pacific
Barbara Ubaldi, Head of Digital Government and Data Unit, OECD
Piret Tõnurist, Senior Project Manager, Observatory of Public Sector Innovation, OECD
India
Barnali Mukherjee, Additional Director, National e-Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India
Dr Seema Khanna, Deputy Director General, National Informatics Centre, India
Indonesia
Aisha Marzuki, Head of Exploration, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Indonesia
Ashri Nooraida Permana, UX Researcher, Jabar Digital Service, West Java, Indonesia
Aulia Zahrina Qashri, Product Manager at Digital Transformation Office, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Indah Dwianti, Head of Digital Services and Information, Jabar Digital Service, West Java, Indonesia
Dr Ir Irawati T Priyanti, Head of Centre of Data and Informatics Facility, KOMINFO, Indonesia
Nisrina Rohadatul Aisy, Data Quality, Jabar Digital Service, West Java, Indonesia
Japan
Karen Makishima, Minister for Digital, Japan
Lithuania
Arune Matelyte, Co-Founder & Manager, GovTech Lab Lithuania, Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology, Lithuania
Malaysia
Dr Maslina Daud, Senior Vice President, Cyber Security Proactive Services Division, CyberSecurity Malaysia, Malaysia
Ida Semurni Abdullah, Vice President, Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology, Malaysia
Ts Dr Siti Istianah Mahdzur, Digital Service Design Architect, ICT Strategic and Architecture Development Division, MAMPU, Malaysia
Mexico
Gabriela Rios Landa, Head of Exploration, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Mexico
Nepal
Purnima Shakya Bajracharya, Head of Exploration, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Nepal
New Zealand
Diane Turner, Director of the Office for Seniors, New Zealand
Eleisha Hawkins, General Manager, Data System Capability, Stats New Zealand, New Zealand
Nadia Webster, Manager Data & Insights, Wellington City Council, New Zealand
Philippines
Irina Velasco, Head of Exploration, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Philippines
Rosa Maria M. Clemente, Director, Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, Philippines
Rowena Candice M. Ruiz, Executive Director, Government Procurement Policy Board, Technical Support Office, Philippines
Peru
Gissele Gallardo Gonzales, Chief Information Security Officer of the Americas Region at NTT DATA EMEAL, Peru
Poland
Justyna Orłowska, Prime Minister’s High Representative for Government Technology and Head of the GovTech Center at the Prime Minister’s Office, Poland
Russia
Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor, Moscow City Government, Moscow
Singapore
Alice Tang, Deputy Director, Information Management and Analytics & Quality and Patient Safety, National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, Singapore
Anna Lee, Director, Network & Operational Technology Systems, SP Group, Singapore
Dr Candice Leong, Consultant, Department of Radiology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Caroline Tan, Senior Deputy Director, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore
Dr Chen Xixian, Research Scientist, Research and Biotransformation, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation, A*STAR, Singapore
Chok Wen Li, Consultant, Cybersecurity Certification Centre, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, Singapore
Clara Sin, Chief Operating Officer, Group Service Transformation & Medical Records, National University Health System, Singapore
Daphne Koh, Chief Information Officer, National Council of Social Service, Singapore
Elizabeth Tan, Deputy Director, International Cyber Policy Office, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, Singapore
Eng Huiling, Director (Technology Development), Simulation & Training Systems Hub, Defence Science and Technology Agency, Singapore
Dr Ho Ying Swan, Principal Scientist, Analytical Science & Technology (Metabolomics), Bioprocessing Technology Institute, A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Hoi Shu Yin, Chief Nurse, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Kam Yoke May, Deputy Director, Engineering Productivity, GovTech, Singapore
Lee Chen Ee, Group Director, Innovation and Transformation, SingHealth, Singapore
Lee Wan Sie, Director, Trusted AI and Data, IMDA, Singapore
Lim Hong Yee, Director and Senior Principal Pharmacist, Division of Pharmacy, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Lim Voon Hooi, Chief Nurse, National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, Singapore
Liu Jinyue, GIS Fellow, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore
Loke Hui Yi, Senior Cybersecurity Specialist, Advanced Cyber Attack Simulation, GovTech, Singapore
Lorraine Ong, Assistant Director, Advanced Cybersecurity Capabilities, GovTech, Singapore
Prof Malini Olivo, Deputy Executive Director, Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging, A*STAR, Singapore
Meharun Nisha, Systems Engineer, SingCERT (NCIRC), Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, Singapore
Melanie Kam, Director, Innovation and Grants, Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Singapore
Dr Neerja Karnani, Senior Principal Investigator, Head of Clinical Data Engagement, Data Hub Division, Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Ng Siew Bee, Senior Principal Investigator, Discovery, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation, A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Ong Chen Hui, Cluster Director, Biztech Group & Chairman, SG Women in Tech, IMDA, Singapore
Ow Siew Ngim, Director of Streetscape, NParks, Singapore
Patricia Zhao, Deputy Director, Agile Consulting and Engineering, GovTech, Singapore
Shara Wong, Digital Business Analyst, Parents/Students Digital Services, Information Technology Division, Ministry of Education, Singapore
Sharon Chen, Director, Operations, National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, Singapore
Shermaine Sim, Head, Guided Weapon Systems, Weapons & Armament Systems, Land Systems Centre of Expertise, HTX, Singapore
Sherry Du Xiaoyu, Assistant Director, IHiS, Singapore
Sonjia Yan, Product Manager, Open Government Products, Singapore
Tabitha Quake, Assistant Head and Senior Prosthetist/Orthotist, Foot Care & Limb Design Centre, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Associate Professor Tan Ern Yu, Senior Consultant, General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Tang Hwee Suan, Director, MOHH Entities Technology Services (METS), IHiS, Singapore
Dr Valerie Teo, Family Physician, Consultant & Head, Kallang Polyclinic, National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, Singapore
Wong Soo Min, Group Chief Financial Officer, National University Health System, Singapore
Taiwan
Audrey Tang, Digital Minister, Taiwan
Hao-Ting Chang, Design Lead,Public Digital Innovation Space, Taiwan
Thailand
Karndee Leopairote, Supervisory Committee, Electronic Transaction Development Agency (ETDA), Thailand
Dr Krithpaka Boonfueng, Deputy Executive Director, National Innovation Agency, Thailand
Theresa Mathawaphan, Chief Strategy Officer, National Innovation Agency, Thailand
Tunisia
Nadia Ben Ammar, Head of Exploration, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Tunisia
Turkey
Gokce Tuna, Head of Exploration, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Turkey
United Arab Emirates
HE Huda AlHashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom, United States of America
Dr Mary Aiken, Professor of Cyberpsychology, Capitol Technology University USA & Professor of Forensic Cyberpsychology, University of East London UK
Vietnam
Phan Hoang Lan, Head of Exploration, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Vietnam