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*Translations are unofficial and provided by Google translate
UN Women 2020 Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards:
Meet the Judges
INDIA
Amitabh Kant
Amitabh Kant is currently the CEO of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) and a member of the Indian Administrative Service, IAS (Kerala Cadre: 1980 batch). He is the author of “Branding India: An Incredible Story” and “Incredible India 2.0” and has edited “The Path Ahead- Transformative Ideas for India”. Kant has been a key driver of the Make in India, Startup India, Incredible India and God’s Own Country initiatives. Kant has also been the Chairman & CEO of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC) developed by the Government of India as a global manufacturing and investment destination. In his capacity as Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the Government of India, he vigorously drove the Ease of Doing Business initiative and ranking of States on outcome parameters.
“The private sector is a crucial partner for building an inclusive and equitable workforce and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. How businesses act to ensure, that both men and women can contribute and benefit equally in the workplace, will go a long way in helping further the sustainable development agendas.”
“The private sector is a crucial partner for building an inclusive and equitable workforce and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. How businesses act to ensure, that both men and women can contribute and benefit equally in the workplace, will go a long way in helping further the sustainable development agendas.”
Dagmar Walter
Dagmar Walter, a Swedish-Swiss national, is Director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for South Asia and Country Office for India. Prior to this position, she was Deputy Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean. Officer-in-Charge for extended periods, she fostered office efficiency and team spirit for more integrated technical assistance to constituents at national and CARICOM levels, in collaboration with stakeholders and development partners. Key areas included formalization, knowledge development through data and research, gender equality, inclusive workplace, health promotion for productivity, child labour and youth employment, capacitated social partners, and just transition to environmental sustainability for climate resilience and a greener future of work.
"The WEPs Awards are laudable as the first awards initiative in the Asia Pacific region which highlights exemplary business practice aligned to the seven guiding principles in the UN Women and UN Global Compact’s Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Recognizing business efforts is an important step towards gender-responsive value chains and to inspire others to follow suit."
"The WEPs Awards are laudable as the first awards initiative in the Asia Pacific region which highlights exemplary business practice aligned to the seven guiding principles in the UN Women and UN Global Compact’s Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Recognizing business efforts is an important step towards gender-responsive value chains and to inspire others to follow suit."
Ingrid Srinath
Ingrid Srinath has been a passionate advocate for human rights, social justice and civil society for over 20 years. She is presently the founder Director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP) at Ashoka University. CSIP, founded in 2016, is South Asia’s first academic centre focused on philanthropy and social impact. It has produced path-breaking research on philanthropic flows, the impact of changes in foreign funding, the non-profit ecosystem and regulatory reform, besides providing capacity-building programmes for non-profit leaders and young people starting their careers in the sector. It is housed at Ashoka University, a pioneer in its focus on providing a liberal education at par with the best in the world. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata, Ingrid transitioned from her 12-year career in advertising to the non-profit sector in 1998 with CRY (Child Rights and You), where she was CEO from 2004-08.
“By making gender equality a core part of their everyday practice, the private sector can drive the way forward. Companies stand to benefit too - since achieving gender equality can add $12 trillion to the global economy, and gender diversity at all levels of the organization can increase profitability, productivity, and organizational effectiveness.”
“By making gender equality a core part of their everyday practice, the private sector can drive the way forward. Companies stand to benefit too - since achieving gender equality can add $12 trillion to the global economy, and gender diversity at all levels of the organization can increase profitability, productivity, and organizational effectiveness.”
Mihir Swarup Sharma
Mihir Swarup Sharma is Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation and Head of its Economy and Growth Programme. He was trained as an economist and political scientist in Delhi and in Boston. His book, Restart: The Last Chance for the Indian Economy, which was published in 2015, won the Tata LitLive best Business Book of the Year and was longlisted for the Financial Times–McKinsey Business Book of the Year. In 2019 Mihir co-edited What the Economy Needs Now with Abhijit Banerjee, Gita Gopinath and Raghuram Rajan. He is also the India columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, on the Editorial Board of the Business Standard newspaper in New Delhi, and an Aspen Fellow.
“Businesses play a critical role in encouraging women’s participation in work and ensuring inclusive practices. This will benefit the economy too, since achieving gender equality in India could generate around USD 700 billion of added GDP by 2025.”
“Businesses play a critical role in encouraging women’s participation in work and ensuring inclusive practices. This will benefit the economy too, since achieving gender equality in India could generate around USD 700 billion of added GDP by 2025.”
Sangita Reddy
Dr. Sangita Reddy is a Global Healthcare Leader, Indian Entrepreneur and Humanitarian. She is the Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited - Asia's largest and most trusted healthcare group. Dr. Reddy is also the President of The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Chairman at Apollo Knowledge. Passionately committed to transforming healthcare system through technological advancements, she is accelerating positive transformation for effective healthcare service delivery. She has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by Macquarie University Australia, in recognition of her untiring efforts and resolute commitment to bringing transformative changes in healthcare, development of Health IT and championing manifold initiatives both in India and abroad. One of her initiatives is Apollo Reach, which aims to build a string of secondary care hospitals in rural areas across India.
“We must advance and empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. Businesses which enable women to achieve leadership roles and promote gender equality at all levels will be recognized as proactive forward-thinking businesses. This recognition will also translate into greater business momentum, market share and value.”
“We must advance and empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. Businesses which enable women to achieve leadership roles and promote gender equality at all levels will be recognized as proactive forward-thinking businesses. This recognition will also translate into greater business momentum, market share and value.”
Supriya Paul
Supriya Paul is the Director and Co-founder of Josh Talks, a social tech startup headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. At the young age of 20, Paul co-founded Josh Talks with Shobhit Banga. Owing to the success of her startup, she was recently listed as one of the top “20 Self Made Women” by Forbes India. She was also recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in India and introduced on The Economic Times. In 2018, she was featured in the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list for defining and driving the ever-shifting world of news and contents. She also serves as an advisor and mentor for the Women Economic Forum, Atal Innovation Mission and the Founder Institute.
“It is essential for business to take a leading role in changing corporate culture and enable women to break the glass ceiling. Women offer an enormous potential to positively impact business and society."
“It is essential for business to take a leading role in changing corporate culture and enable women to break the glass ceiling. Women offer an enormous potential to positively impact business and society."
2020 Judges
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