SINDA’s ‘Let Her Shine!’ ShineSpire Conference Advances Empowerment Efforts for Singaporean Indian Women

The inaugural conference served as a platform for Indian female thought leaders and fellow women to come together and build upon each other’s strengths through open dialogues

1. 22 June 2024 – SINDA held its inaugural ‘Let Her Shine!’ ShineSpire Conference on Saturday, 22 June 2024. This conference brought together a diverse community of Indian women to celebrate their achievements, share their experiences, and inspire future generations.

2. With the theme “Empowered as One!”, the conference highlighted the strength and resilience of Indian women, unifying them through shared experiences. This conference also raised community awareness on important contemporary themes and brought these topics to the forefront.

3. Organised entirely by Indian women for fellow women, this pioneering conference was graced by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for National Development and President, who engaged with the speakers and participants.

4. The conference brought together speakers from diverse backgrounds and professions, who delved into key topics and significant challenges women encounter in society.

5. The event featured 15 dynamic talks delivered by 25 speakers, who shared their expertise and personal journeys. The conference was open to participants of every age and gender, with the goal of building inclusivity by encouraging individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage in open dialogue sessions.

6. One of the esteemed speakers from the event Ms Pavithra Venkatesan, Engineer at Tech Onshore MEP Prefabricators, added that, “The Shinespire Conference is yet another step towards building a strong sisterhood amongst the Singaporean female youth. It offers a glimpse into the lives of women who have navigated tough situations and conversations at work and in their personal lives. It’s an opportunity for our youth to watch, listen, learn, network and grow”.

7. The conference concentrated on three primary areas: Holistic Wellness, Personal Growth and Mastery, and Professional Pathway Exploration. In the Professional Pathway Exploration segment, there was an added emphasis on the STEM fields, with relevant professionals gathered to discuss their experiences in this often-underrepresented field for women.

8. According to the 2024 Progress On Singapore Women’s Development Report, Singapore has seen notable progress in women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated sectors like STEM and women have achieved significant advancements, holding leadership roles in both private and public sectors. However, the journey towards full participation and equal opportunities across various fields is a work in progress.

9. The conference also emphasised on women’s health, featuring valuable insights from female health professionals to address gaps in women’s health and well-being in our society. Open dialogue sessions covered health topics seldom discussed at home, aiming to cultivate meaningful conversations between parents and children. This approach helped to strengthen family bonds by promoting understanding and sharing of important knowledge and skills.

10. This conference is part of SINDA’s ‘Let Her Shine!’ programme, an umbrella initiative launched in 2022 to help equip Indian women from ages 7 to 35, with necessary tools and knowledge for development and cultivate a healthy lifestyle and mindset. It also supports their aspirations and ambitions through education and proactive measures. ‘Let Her Shine!’ initiatives also include other facets such as mentoring, skill development programmes, and well-being workshops.

11. The conference was organised in collaboration with 22 leading private and public organisations from diverse industries to ensure participants have a highly enriching experience. The partners come from a variety of sectors, including government services, media, healthcare, engineering, and finance.

12. SINDA is deeply committed to promoting equal opportunities for women and has been actively involved in organising women empowerment programmes. Other initiatives curated for women include Project Athena, a series of empowerment initiatives and workshops for single mothers.

13. The ‘Let Her Shine!’ ShineSpire Conference was held over five hours at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre and hosted more than 250 attendees.

Annex:

Speakers