Gloria Steinem, Google.org, and Aceh Women Forest Defenders to be Honored at 2023 Lotus Leadership Awards

New York, April 24, 2023 — The Asia Foundation will host the 2023 Lotus Leadership Awards on April 26 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. The eleventh Lotus Leadership Awards will honor Gloria Steinem, Google.org, HAkA, and the Aceh Women Forest Defenders Movement from Indonesia. The gala will feature special guest Seth Meyers, photographer Nigel Barker and singer-songwriter Katini Yamaoka.  

The Asia Foundation and Lotus Circle expand women’s and girls’ opportunities and advance gender equality. This year’s honorees have exhibited an enormous amount of bravery and innovation to create lasting changes in society. Gloria Steinem for inspiring global advocacy to advance women’s rights and climate justice; Google.org for their groundbreaking investments to support women’s economic empowerment; and HAkA and the Women Forest Defenders for their visionary leadership in environmental stewardship.   

“Our premise is really simple: when you change the lives of women, you can affect an entire society. That’s the power of the multiplier effect,” said Lotus Leadership Awards co-chairs Sydnie Kohara and Elizabeth Keatinge Scheideler.  

“We are particularly inspired by our work to strengthen the role and capacity of women environmental defenders to address the devastating environmental impact of extractive practices and loss in livelihoods. This year’s Lotus Leadership honorees are making lasting change, improving lives, and helping societies flourish. These are the very characteristics that define The Asia Foundation, and The Lotus Circle is thrilled to honor and collaborate with them.” 

Funding from the Lotus Circle—a community of philanthropists committed to advancing women’s rights and opportunities in Asia and the Pacific—allows The Asia Foundation to seed and sustain innovative projects designed to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality in the region, including the Lotus Leadership Rapid Response Fund to address urgent needs. Proceeds from this evening will support work that makes a lasting impact on women’s and girls’ lives in the Asia-Pacific.   

The Asia Foundation thanks our generous supporters: Visionary sponsor Regeneron and Champion sponsor Kirkland & Ellis. Register for the 2023 Lotus Leadership Awards and learn more about the Lotus Circle. 

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Informed by six decades of experience and deep local expertise, our work across the region focuses on good governance, women’s empowerment and gender equality, inclusive economic growth, environment and climate action, and regional and international relations.   

Read more about the Foundation’s work. 

For media inquiries, please visit our News Room. Engage with us and follow the #LotusAwards2023  on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

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