PROFESSIONAL services company EY has named four women as category award recipients of its 22nd EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) 2023 Singapore awards.
This year’s category winners are:
Phyllis Ong, group chief executive of precision engineering manufacturer Armstrong Industrial, winner in the advanced manufacturing category;
Althea Lim, co-founder and group chief executive of content and commerce company Gushcloud International, winner in the new media and entertainment category;
Yvon Bock, founder and chief executive of baby products company Hegen, winner in the consumer products category; and
Olive Tai, co-founder and managing director of e-commerce solutions provider Synagie Group Asia and Europe.
EY on Tuesday (Oct 17) said the four category award recipients were selected from close to 100 nominations by an independent judging panel, based on the four globally benchmarked criteria of entrepreneurial spirit, growth, purpose and impact.
Among the four, one representative will be selected to represent Singapore at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2024, where she will compete with contenders from over 60 jurisdictions. This representative will be announced at the EY EOY awards gala event on Nov 27.
Liew Nam Soon, EY Asean regional managing partner and Singapore and Brunei managing partner at Ernst & Young Solutions, said the winning entrepreneurs “demonstrate the artful balance of passion, tenacity and courage to continually push the boundaries of status quo in their fields”.
“It is noteworthy that the entire class of EOY award winners this year are women entrepreneurs. Women make up half the world’s population and therefore must – and can be – a vital part of the solutions that address the needs and demands in the marketplace for a better working world.
“As we celebrate their exceptional achievements as entrepreneurs, let us also acknowledge their lifelong roles as daughters, mothers and sisters, and the inspiration they bring to breaking gender barriers and advancing gender equity.”
Two other honorary awards were also conferred for Asean entrepreneurial excellence and family enterprise excellence, respectively.
Sunway Group’s founder and chairman Jeffrey Cheah was named the winner of this year’s EY Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence award, whose recipient does not compete for the EOY Singapore 2023 title.
The honorary award is presented on the EOY platform and recognises successful South-east Asian businesses that contribute to the economy and community in the region.
Separately, Ho Bee Land was named the recipient of the EY Family Enterprise Award of Excellence.
The property developer was jointly selected for this honorary award by EY’s knowledge partners, Business Families Institute @ Singapore Management University, and the Insead Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise.