The Asia Foundation Hosts Annual Leadership Awards Celebration

San Francisco, September 23, 2020 — In 2020 with lives and livelihoods disrupted, leaders are confronting extraordinary challenges in a time of uncertainty. Join us to livestream Leaders on the Frontlines on September 24, 6pm PT, as we recognize exceptional leaders of today and tomorrow. Learn about past honorees.

The Asia Foundation’s leadership awards, including the Visionary Leader Award, Chang-Lin Tien Distinguished Leadership Award, and Lotus Leadership Award, honor prominent individuals from government, business, and philanthropy; extraordinary leaders advancing Asia’s progress; and inspiring changemakers in gender equality. Former head of Tata Group and philanthropist Ratan Tata; Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis; and UN human rights icon and peacemaker Radhika Coomaraswamy will share their powerful vision of what makes a leader.

Leaders on the Frontlines will also celebrate the achievements of The Asia Foundation Development Fellows, transformational young leaders trained and equipped by The Asia Foundation who are changing the idea of what a leader looks like. We will travel from Afghanistan to the Philippines to Bangladesh to Mongolia to meet Development Fellows.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, one of the most environmentally challenged places in the world, journalist Sohara Mehroze is engaging young people to live more sustainable lifestyles and making a business case for the private sector for sustainability. And in the Southern Philippines, Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba is breaking the glass ceiling in Muslim Mindanao, implementing a hard-won a peace agreement as Attorney General.

California’s Golden State Warriors’ CFO Jennifer Cabalquinto, Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, vice chair of the Asia Foundation Board of Trustees, and Sunder Ramaswamy, chair of the Board will present at the event.

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 addresses five overarching goals—strengthen governance, empower women, expand economic opportunity, increase environmental resilience, and promote international cooperation.

Read more about the Foundation’s work.

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Eelynn Sim, Director, Strategy and Programs
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