MMU through its Sustainability Development Commitee organised an international webinar titled, “Women Empowerment: From Potential to Reality” on 27 November 2025. The webinar drew participation from students, academics, professionals, and others across Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and beyond, affirming the university’s commitment to “diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Prominent speakers from across borders shared their insights, experiences, and strategies to advance women’s empowerment, spanning social, economic, and professional spheres. Ms. Fiona Tan, the Founder and the Administrative Director of Heartworks Solution, Malaysia, and an advocate of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) commenced the session with the topic, ‘My Road to Resilience.’ She shared her personal journey of overcoming barriers, building resilience, striving for equitable access to education, and transforming challenges into opportunities, which collectively offer a powerful testament to the agency and strength women possess when supported and empowered.
The second speaker, Dr. Venus Dennen Claver, the Communications and Leadership Trainer, Lecturer, and Operations Director-International Affairs at the Faculty of Management, Shinawatra University, Thailand, presented on ‘Transform Your Potential Into Progress.’ She discussed the essential strategies for women’s empowerment, which include defining core values, auditing language and strategic networks, and sustaining oneself through sustainable learning.
The third speaker, Mr. Zulikhwan Ayub, the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Organisation at Women of Will (WOW), Malaysia, addressed ‘Invisible Burdens, Unseen Potential: The Grassroots Realities of Women’s Empowerment.’ He shed light on the systemic barriers faced by women at the community level and the importance of advocating gender-sensitive development strategies.
The fourth and final speaker, Dr. Rozy Dhanta, the Associate Director of International Affairs and Associate Professor of Economics at Shoolini University, India, presented on ‘Woman of Tomorrow: Redefining Power in the Age of AI.’ Drawing from her personal narrative, she shared how emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, can reshape opportunities and power dynamics for women in the current and future era.
A lively Q&A session, facilitated by Ms. Nadia binti Mahmud, the Dean of the Faculty of Creative Multimedia (FCM) enabled participants to engage directly with speakers, raising questions on topics, such as social wellbeing, gender equality, resilience, social inclusion, and lifelong learning.
This webinar reinforces MMU’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 5 (Gender equality), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals). Through this international webinar, organised by MMU’s Sustainability Development Committee, the university aims to promote social equity and inclusivity, which are key elements that complement the university’s broader sustainability agenda.
