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*Translations are unofficial and provided by Google translate
UN Women 2021 Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards:
Meet the National Winners
THAILAND
We are excited to announce the winners of the first-ever UN Women 2021 Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards!
Big congratulations to all the winners who have committed themselves to advancing gender equality and women's economic empowerment. These gender champions from different countries, sectors, and fields are acknowledged respectively for their outstanding Leadership Commitment, Youth Leadership, Gender-inclusive Workplace, Gender-responsive Marketplace, Community and Industry Engagement, and Transparency & Reporting.
*The UN Women Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards represents recognition of exemplary company efforts for gender equality and is limited to a designated category and a specific location and time period. Awarded organizations, alongside their products and services, receiving awards are not endorsed or affiliated with UN Women or WeEmpowerAsia and being recognized as an Awardee does not constitute a partnership. Claims, statements, or endorsements made by awardees are solely those of the individual or organization and do not represent official policies or positions of UN Women.
Winners
Jittirat Tantasirin
ATTA Autohaus
Jittarat Tantasirin founded Atta Autohaus, a Mercedes-Benz automotive dealer, with a vision to create a platform to incubate leaders who can promote diversity and inclusion and set up diversity responsive policies within her organization. Jittirat has been invited as a guest speaker at several leadership and sustainability conferences and has been appointed as a member of committees on citizen participation and gender responsiveness in business practices. Furthermore, she created an alliance called “Future Leaders” with other organizations to encourage dialogue amongst leaders on gender inclusiveness, Global Citizenship and 21st century skills.
Jittarat Tantasirin founded Atta Autohaus, a Mercedes-Benz automotive dealer, with a vision to create a platform to incubate leaders who can promote diversity and inclusion and set up diversity responsive policies within her organization. Jittirat has been invited as a guest speaker at several leadership and sustainability conferences and has been appointed as a member of committees on citizen participation and gender responsiveness in business practices. Furthermore, she created an alliance called “Future Leaders” with other organizations to encourage dialogue amongst leaders on gender inclusiveness, Global Citizenship and 21st century skills.
Net Supatravanij
Co-Founder, ila
Net Supatravanij is the Co-Founder of ila, a social enterprise focused on bringing diversity and inclusion to the workplace and empowering gender-based violence survivors. She is the creator of ALLY: a mobile application that aims to turn local stores into safe spaces and bystanders into allies against domestic abuse. ila was selected to exhibit at the UN Women Asia Pacific for Beijing 25+ Conference in 2019 and Net was invited to speak by the UN Women's Asia Pacific on the International Women's Day in 2020.
Net Supatravanij is the Co-Founder of ila, a social enterprise focused on bringing diversity and inclusion to the workplace and empowering gender-based violence survivors. She is the creator of ALLY: a mobile application that aims to turn local stores into safe spaces and bystanders into allies against domestic abuse. ila was selected to exhibit at the UN Women Asia Pacific for Beijing 25+ Conference in 2019 and Net was invited to speak by the UN Women's Asia Pacific on the International Women's Day in 2020.
Microsoft Thailand Limited
Microsoft formed a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Community driven by four pillars (Women, Accessibility, LGBTQ+ and Allyship) to enhance employees’ understanding on D&I. The Committee formed a mentorship program mainly to support women but welcomes the participation of other genders as well. Additionally, the company issued a myriad of policies that extend beyond the scope of the local law, such as a 5-month maternity leave, a 2-month paternity leave and a family caregiving leave. Microsoft Thailand’s D&I Index increased by 5 points from last year, reaching 93%.
Connecting Founders Co. Ltd
Since 2018, Connecting Founders has provided investment readiness and capital advisory services to female founders across Southeast Asia to support them in securing capital. They advise companies on advancing gender diversity and inclusion within their organizations and supply chains. As a result of their initiatives, the company has successfully structured and raised over USD 20 million in capital and formed strategic partnerships for women-owned and led companies in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. To date, the company has provided strategic advisory services (e.g. funding plans and structuring commercial partnerships) to 10 women-owned businesses.
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L'Oreal (Thailand) Limited
L'Oreal Thailand has implemented programs that support and empower women to shape their future and make a difference through initiatives such as Women in Science, Beauty for a Better Life and Stand Up. Founded 18 years ago, the Women in Science program provides fellowships and gives recognition to Thai female scientists from about 20 institutions. Additionally, the company launched Beauty for a Better Life to provide free high quality hairdressing training particularly to economically vulnerable women, to help them develop career prospects and earn more income amidst the coronavirus pandemic. L’Oreal Thailand also launched the Stand Up program to provide training to tackle street harassment in collaboration with the Raks Thai Foundation targeting 150,000 participants.
Electricity Generating Public Company Limited
Electricity Generating Public Company Limited (EGCO), a listed Thai energy production company, places a high importance on transparency and reporting that adheres to international standards, including the Global Reporting Initiative Standards. The company also conducts assessments every 5 years and has auditing processes for Pay and Benefits for employees through the Gender Pay Gap Analysis and Equal Pay Analysis. It has sex-disaggregated data on numbers of men and women in management positions and in revenue generating functions, such as in STEM-related positions. EGCO has achieved gender balance in its workforce in STEM with 50.71% in 2020.
SEEDs2 SUSTAIN
SEEDs2SUSTAIN is a network of agricultural producers and consumers of organic products, predominantly represented by women. The company aims to create a marketplace and network that enhances access to markets and funding for women-led agricultural groups. The company also established a learning center on Samui Island for organic agricultural practices, collaborating with academic institutions to launch several capacity building activities, attended by 100 female agriculturalists and local entrepreneurs. The company’s leaders were also invited to share their expertise for global projects, such as the International Girls in ICTs Day.
1st Runners Up
Tibor Pándi
Country Head and Citi Country Officer, Citibank, N.A.
Tibor Pandi, Country Head and Citi Country Officer at Citibank N.A., has shown commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion through various policies and mechanisms. Key actions include promoting gender inclusive recruitment, enhancing women’s representation in leadership roles and encouraging networking and educational activities on gender diversity in the organization. He has also taken the Business Sponsor Role in Citi Thailand Affinity, including the Women Network and PRIDE Network.
Tibor Pandi, Country Head and Citi Country Officer at Citibank N.A., has shown commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion through various policies and mechanisms. Key actions include promoting gender inclusive recruitment, enhancing women’s representation in leadership roles and encouraging networking and educational activities on gender diversity in the organization. He has also taken the Business Sponsor Role in Citi Thailand Affinity, including the Women Network and PRIDE Network.
Perada Suponpun
CEO, Tasted Better (Thailand) Limited
Tasted Better is an innovative food research company. The company has clear policies on promoting gender equality in the workplace which is reinforced by its leaders, including Perada Suponpun (CEO of Tasted Better). Tasted Better’s gender equality principles emphasizes inclusive recruitment, equal treatment and benefits for all employees including training and employees’ promotion. Perada also initiated a community engagement campaign to mobilize funding to support research and development of COVID-19 vaccines by offering some of its profits to the medical institutions, reaching more than 1 million people on social media.
Tasted Better is an innovative food research company. The company has clear policies on promoting gender equality in the workplace which is reinforced by its leaders, including Perada Suponpun (CEO of Tasted Better). Tasted Better’s gender equality principles emphasizes inclusive recruitment, equal treatment and benefits for all employees including training and employees’ promotion. Perada also initiated a community engagement campaign to mobilize funding to support research and development of COVID-19 vaccines by offering some of its profits to the medical institutions, reaching more than 1 million people on social media.
Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited
Bangchak has several policies and programs in place to promote gender equality in the workplace through gender-sensitive welfare schemes, recruitment policies and office facilities (e.g., breastfeeding rooms). Bangchak offers health benefits that correspond to the gender identities of its employees (e.g., breast cancer medical check-up) and has a paternity leave scheme of 15 days that allows male employees to take leave for childcare. The company also supports capacity development and learning for its employees by offering higher education scholarships and training and mentorship programmes which equally benefit employees of all genders.
Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited
In 2019, Bank of Ayudhya became the first private sector entity in the Asia Pacific region to issue more than 6 billion Thai Baht (more than USD 220 million) in gender bonds. This pioneering investment initiative aims to address diverse financial needs of women-owned SMEs, increase their resilience to changing operating environments, and improve their contributions to economic growth. As a result, the Bank’s women micro-SME portfolio grew from 19.0 billion baht (USD 0.63 billion) to 20.8 billion baht by 9.60% compared with 2019 and generated employment for more than 37,000 people.
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HSBC Thailand
HSBC launched the Women Entrepreneur Development Program in partnership with Raks Thai Foundation in 2019 to empower rural women. The program provides capacity-building activities to help women improve their entrepreneurial and professional skills and sharpen their knowledge in product innovation, sustainable consumption and production. The program aims to help women demonstrate their local wisdom and become key agents of change in their communities, and has supported the establishment of up to 75 new small businesses in 6 Thai provinces. As a result, a vast majority of program participants have gained more income and have successfully expanded their businesses online.
Notable Bangkok Co. Limited
Notable Thailand is a PR and communications agency that places a high importance on diversity and inclusion. The company has non-discriminatory practices and policies in place to promote equality and diversity within the organization. Aside from this, Notable has created various communication materials that aim to promote the role of women in leadership and their potential in various areas to raise public awareness and engage with government and public sector organizations to address gender-related issues in society. Notable attended the WeEmpowerAsia WEPs Signing Ceremony in 2020 to seek opportunities for collaboration and gain lessons on how they can further promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
2nd Runners Up
Maj.Gen. Patchara Rattakul
CEO, HaadThip Public Company Limited
HaadThip Public Company is a sparkling beverage manufacturer. Maj. Gen Patchara Rattakul, CEO of HaadThip, has set up employment policies that promote a gender-responsive workplace through recruitment, equal pay, welfare for maternity leave, training and promotion of women to management positions. HaadThip Public Company is listed as one of the companies in the Thailand Sustainable Investment (THSI) and the ESG 100 lists by the Securities and Exchange Commission. It was awarded for being a ‘role model’ for Human Rights 2020, received the “Goodness” Reward for three consecutive years, and is certified under the Thai Labour Standard Certification by Department of Labour Protection.
HaadThip Public Company is a sparkling beverage manufacturer. Maj. Gen Patchara Rattakul, CEO of HaadThip, has set up employment policies that promote a gender-responsive workplace through recruitment, equal pay, welfare for maternity leave, training and promotion of women to management positions. HaadThip Public Company is listed as one of the companies in the Thailand Sustainable Investment (THSI) and the ESG 100 lists by the Securities and Exchange Commission. It was awarded for being a ‘role model’ for Human Rights 2020, received the “Goodness” Reward for three consecutive years, and is certified under the Thai Labour Standard Certification by Department of Labour Protection.
Novartis (Thailand) Limited
At Novartis, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of its culture. Under Norvatis’ initiative, “Inclusion for All”, the company highlights the value that inclusion brings to the workplace and to business results. The initiative emphasizes the need for psychological safety as a prerequisite for creating an inclusive and psychologically safe workplace. Through another one of their initiatives, “Psychological Safety”, Norvatis focuses on creating an environment where all associates can feel safe to speak up and have their voices heard. The ability to listen to and embrace diverse ideas is essential for innovation, growth, and true collaboration.
Unilever Thai Trading Limited
Unilever globally announced a set of ambitious commitments and actions to help build a more equitable and inclusive society in partnership with the Thailand Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP). A pioneering diversity-responsive supply chain program in Thailand, “Inclusive Business Partnership Opportunity with Unilever Thailand”, aims to achieve gender balance across management and beyond operations throughout Unilever’s value chains. The company is supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with more than 51% women-owned, women-managed and women-led SMEs in addition to LGBTQI+ community, people with disabilities and/or under-represented ethnic groups through skill development activities, financial support and networking opportunities.
IRPC Public Company Limited
IRPC College of Technology (IRPCT) is an initiative under IRPC Public Company Limited, a petrochemical company, established under the Institute of Vocational Education. The initiative, “School-Factory”, aims to promote education for young people in Rayong province and inclusive education within the region. This program provides skill and knowledge training needed for high-skilled work requirements in the industry. As a part of the initiative, the company plans to integrate the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in its practices to raise awareness for gender inclusiveness by promoting inclusive education and more opportunities for women.
Atchara Poomee
PAC Corporation (Thailand) Company Limited
As a female entrepreneur, Atchara Poomee understands the challenges in promoting gender diversity in the clean technology industry. As the leader of the organization, she has been proactive advocate for gender equality and has led as a guest lecturer, speaker and panelist at many institutions, including at the APEC - Female Entrepreneurs and Executives' Capacity Building through Incubator, the Women Leading the Climate and Cleantech Business in 2021 in Beijing, China and several other conferences and events.
As a female entrepreneur, Atchara Poomee understands the challenges in promoting gender diversity in the clean technology industry. As the leader of the organization, she has been proactive advocate for gender equality and has led as a guest lecturer, speaker and panelist at many institutions, including at the APEC - Female Entrepreneurs and Executives' Capacity Building through Incubator, the Women Leading the Climate and Cleantech Business in 2021 in Beijing, China and several other conferences and events.
*The UN Women Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards represents recognition of exemplary company efforts for gender equality and is limited to a designated category and a specific location and time period. Awarded organizations, alongside their products and services, receiving awards are not endorsed or affiliated with UN Women or WeEmpowerAsia and being recognized as an Awardee does not constitute a partnership. Claims, statements, or endorsements made by awardees are solely those of the individual or organization and do not represent official policies or positions of UN Women.
What are the WEPs?
2020 Awardees
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