» Address by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development, and President, SINDA, at the Let Her Shine! ShineSpire Conference 2025, on Saturday, 31 May 2025 at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre

Opening

Hello everyone, and good afternoon. I’m very glad to join all of you at today’s ‘Let Her Shine!’ ShineSpire Conference. Everytime that I am here, I see that the audience has grown, with different faces which means greater outreach.

For those of you who attended last year’s Conference, I’m sure it would have left a deep and lasting impression on you. It was a truly uplifting one, surrounded by a powerful and supportive community of women – each one motivating and empowering the other. I look forward to today being an equally uplifting Conference, filled with stories of inspiration and strength.

Let Her Shine!

‘Let Her Shine!’, or LHS, is a women-led effort and this reflects SINDA’s positive action in empowering women and helping them navigate their personal and professional journeys. In fact, we want to be able to help all women, across all ages and starting points in life. This is important, because everyone needs access to the right opportunities to succeed in life. Every woman and girl should have the chance to become all that she is capable of; to achieve anything that she puts her mind to; to pursue her aspirations and life goals; and ultimately, realise every dream and achieve her fullest potential.

This also matters at the national level. As women, we bring distinct perspectives and strengths to help our nation progress. We have roles to play at every level of society, to shape our shared future together.

We have long recognised that gender equality is a societal imperative. When women thrive, families are stronger, communities are more resilient, society is more inclusive, and economies grow more robust – creating a lasting multiplier effect. From expanding flexible work arrangements and parental leave, to constantly enhancing the Women’s Charter to be relevant to changing times – our nation’s policies continue to reflect a deep, sustained commitment to create a safe and nurturing environment for all women in Singapore.

From the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s White Paper on Singapore Women’s Development, it is heartening that more women are taking on bigger roles in Singapore, having greater representation in PMET roles and STEM fields, and that the gender gap continues to be narrowed.

LHS! ShineSpire Conference & SG60

However, there is still work to be done, and that is why, it is important that women continue to come together and have conversations on these themes.

Today’s Conference seeks to build on this momentum, by offering a meaningful platform for Indian women to come together, build greater solidarity, and draw strength from one another. It is a space where voices can be heard, stories are valued, and experiences are shared – helping all of us realise that while our journeys may differ, our hopes and aspirations are often similar.

This Conference will also be meaningful against the backdrop of SG60 this year, giving us the opportunity to reflect on SG60’s theme “Building Our Singapore Together”. This milestone goes beyond just commemorating our nation’s founding; it is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility and each one’s unique efforts towards strengthening the fabric of our society.

Today’s talks and panels reaffirm these efforts and are also inspired by the three key pillars of SG60 – Care, Connect, and Contribute. From conversations on redefining self-worth and having healthy relationships, to building inclusive communities and driving change, each session is designed to inspire both inner growth and outward impact.

As we look at women empowerment, it is also important to acknowledge the many men who play an encouraging role, advocating for equality, who are allies, and who provide shared responsibility. By supporting women’s voices at home, work, and in leadership, they contribute towards a balanced, more inclusive society. In fact, true empowerment comes when both genders work together to uplift and respect one another’s respective aspirations and potential.

Conclusion

So, I hope that today’s conversations inspire everyone, regardless of gender, and importantly, also create a strong sense of community and action; one that will help us move forward with purpose and clarity, as we journey together.

I urge all of us to seize the moment. Know that your aspirations are reachable, that your voice matters, and that your contributions are meaningful.

Let us continue to build pathways of opportunities, not only for ourselves, but for every girl and woman out there, to help her shine.

I also want to say a special thank you to Ms. Praveen Randhawa who helped set up LHS! and put so much time and effort to get the platform to where it is today.