2024 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World Honored in Sydney, Australia

12 Trailblazing Women Celebrated for Shattering Barriers and Transforming Industries Worldwide

SAN FRANCISCO, November 21, 2024 – Twelve extraordinary Filipina women were honored with the prestigious 2024 Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World Award at the 20th Filipina Leadership Global Summit, hosted by the Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) in Sydney, Australia. These women, representing diverse fields and industries, have not only shattered barriers but redefined leadership, inspiring global transformation and setting new standards of excellence.

Guided by FWN’s bold vision of placing Filipina women leaders in every sector of the economy, the awards recognized leaders from around the globe whose accomplishments transcend borders. From healthcare and technology to government and real estate, these honorees exemplify resilience, ingenuity, and the enduring spirit of Filipina women who disrupt norms and lead with purpose.

A Celebration of Filipina Excellence

The awards gala, held against the backdrop of Sydney’s iconic landmarks, served as the pinnacle of the summit. It brought together Filipina leaders from seven countries, uniting in dialogue around the summit’s theme, “Femtech Futures: AI and Tech.”

In her keynote address, Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega praised the honorees, emphasizing their impact not only within their industries but on global narratives about leadership and innovation. 

“We stand at this remarkable juncture in history,” proclaimed Marily Mondejar, FWN Founder and CEO. “Filipina women are not just participants in global change—they are architects of it. This year’s awardees have redefined what it means to lead, shattering ceilings and amplifying voices.”

“Each nominee goes through a rigorous multi-stage vetting process by the Global FWN100™ Awards Selection Committee composed of global awardees,” explained Award Selection Committee Member, Global FWN100™ 2019 Awardee and Commissioner Teresita Batayola, appointed by U.S. President Joe Biden to the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI). "The awardees are selected based on the size and scope of their influence in their industries, communities, board affiliations, and other leadership roles.”  

The evening’s keynote awardee speaker, Mary Massina, CEO of Mary Ann’s Island Pty Ltd, echoed these sentiments:
“You have continued to disrupt and lead—proud and loud. You’ve redefined leadership, shattered barriers, and risen to new heights. Tonight, we celebrate you as change-makers and catalysts for the future.”

Meet the 2024 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World

Builders

Visionaries driving innovation and excellence in their organizations:

• Jacqueline Cezar Dela Cruz – COO, Innovention Food Resources Inc., PHILIPPINES (Restaurants, Food & Beverage)

• Michelle Baltazar – Executive Director, ISS MI (PART OF ISS STOXX), AUSTRALIA (Media, Journalism)

• Nadia Bint Rafael, CPA – Director, Nadia Bint Rafael Personal Real Estate Corporation, CANADA (Real Estate, Construction)

• Sheilani Cruz Alix – Owner, Sandigan Consulting, UNITED STATES (Healthcare, Consulting Services)

• Tina Bailon Lindres – CEO, 7225378 Manitoba LTD The Green Apron, CANADA (Production)

Founders & Pioneers

Trailblazers who have built transformative ventures:

• Evangeline Rivera Powell – CEO, Rockwell Healthcare LLC, UNITED STATES (Healthcare)

• Maria Corazon Mendoza Akol – President and Founder, Philippine National IT Standards (PhilNITS), PHILIPPINES (Technology, Nonprofit)

Innovators & Thought Leaders

Groundbreaking thinkers shaping the future:

• Dr. April Joy Guiriba Damian – Vice President, Moses/Weitzman Health System, UNITED STATES (Healthcare, Research & Development)

• Mary Lizabeth Robillo Lu – CEO, Leveret Pte Ltd, PHILIPPINES (Entertainment, Gaming, Media)

• Marylou Ngo Ang – President, MAGNA CMGN Solutions, PHILIPPINES (Engineering and Wholesale)

Policymakers & Visionaries

Leaders creating lasting impact through policy and foresight:

• Jeannie Ng Sandoval – Mayor, City of Malabon, PHILIPPINES (Government)

• Mary Massina – CEO, Mary Ann’s Island Pty Ltd, AUSTRALIA (Real Estate, Construction)

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About the Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network (FWN)

The Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network is a San Francisco-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering Filipina women worldwide to lead in all sectors of the economy. Through its awards, programs, and advocacy, FWN celebrates Filipina disruptors who challenge norms, break barriers, and create enduring legacies of excellence. Learn more at www.filipinawomensnetwork.org.

About the Filipina Leadership Global Summit

The Filipina Leadership Global Summit is an annual gathering of influential Filipina leaders, fostering collaboration, dialogue, and innovation to amplify Filipina voices in shaping the future.

Awardees are available for interviews.

Media Contact:

Isabelle Santiago

Senior Fellow, Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network

Phone: +1 415.610.6637

Email: filipina@ffwn.org

Ninez Ponce receives 2024 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award for trailblazing work in health and data equity

The Director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research was honored by the CDC Foundation and the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation.

“Without data equity, we will not achieve health equity.”

Whether leading the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, teaching graduate students at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, or speaking with lawmakers in Sacramento or Washington, D.C., Ninez A. Ponce, PhD, MPP, is widely esteemed for her decades-long dedication to turning this ideal into reality.

In her work, Ponce has helped ensure public health data collection goes beyond just including historically underrepresented communities; she has centered these communities to understand their unique needs and developed health programs and policies to address them. In recognition of this commitment, Ponce today received the 2024 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award from the CDC Foundation and the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation.

“Helping make sure health policies live up to their promises and truly benefit everyone has been my life’s work. Receiving an honor like this wouldn’t have been possible without colleagues, mentors, and collaborators,” said Ponce, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) and holder of the Fred W. and Pamela K. Wasserman Chair in Health Policy and Management at the Fielding School. “As a professor at UCLA, being able to share my passion for this work with the next generation of health policy scholars is a humbling honor.”

The Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award was established in 1992 in memory of James and Sarah Fries’ late daughter, a professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and co-director of the Cancer Outreach Program, which uses behavioral and educational approaches to reduce cancer incidence. The $50,000 prize is awarded annually to an individual who has made substantial contributions to their area of health education.

“We’re thrilled to honor Ninez Ponce for her scholarship and policy advocacy for data equity and representativeness that has generated new and crucial understandings of racial and ethnic health disparities, particularly for Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations,” said Dr. Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. “The public health data infrastructure she and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research have built in California has provided comprehensive findings that have informed state and federal policy, and enabled communities to identify key health needs, tailor interventions, and advocate for resources to address health disparities.”

As one of the founders of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) nearly 25 years ago, Ponce helped pioneer ways to democratize data and put it into the hands of the public in ways that inform, educate, and result in grassroots-driven policy change. The center’s data and research have been cited in bills and cases on health care reform in California, the impact of the federal “public charge” rule, food assistance for undocumented immigrants, and much more.

“Working at a place like UCLA — a public research university largely funded by taxpayers — we have a responsibility to create knowledge and sharpen expertise that’s shared to benefit the public good,” Ponce said.

CHIS, led by Ponce, is the largest population-based state health survey in the nation and a leading source of credible and comprehensive data on the health and health care needs of California’s large and diverse population. CHIS is committed to making its data available to the public through free and accessible online tools and trainings.

Last year, users ran more than 107,000 queries in CHIS databases — AskCHIS™ and AskCHIS™ Neighborhood Edition — totaling more than 1.8 million queries since inception.

“It’s so gratifying to see how many organizations and people use California Health Interview Survey data,” Ponce said. “It’s a powerful reminder about how putting information into the hands of the public exemplifies what we set out to do in creating the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.”

An elected member of the National Academy of Social Insurance, Ponce currently serves on the Data Disaggregation workgroup for the White House Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Commission. She is also an associate editor for diversity, equity, and inclusion at JAMA Health Forum, on the editorial boards of Milbank Quarterly, Health Services Research and Health Affairs Scholar, and has served on the board of scientific counselors for the National Center for Health Statistics.

In 2021, Ponce served as a commissioner for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Transforming Public Health Data Initiative. In 2019, she and her team received the AcademyHealth Impact award for their contributions to population health measurement to inform public policies.

As a recognized leader in using data to advance health equity, in December the CHPR scaled its work nationally by launching the UCLA Data Equity Center. This initiative will team UCLA researchers and other experts in data science with organizations, scholars, and agencies across the country to help ensure that historically marginalized populations are more accurately represented in information used by government, business and philanthropy to make crucial decisions.

“In all of Dr. Ponce’s work, she brings a steady, calm, and inspiring voice to her education efforts, bringing along policymakers and program leaders to understand the distributional impacts of the choices they make and the importance of making the ‘invisible, visible’ by ensuring data disaggregation,” said Dr. Lisa Simpson, AcademyHealth president and CEO, who nominated Ponce for the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award.

Ponce was presented with the 2024 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award at today’s annual meeting of the Society for Public Health Education.

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Media Contact:
Mike Fricano
310-794-5553

About the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) is one of the nation’s leading health policy research centers and the premier source of health policy information for California. UCLA CHPR improves the public’s health through high quality, objective, and evidence-based research and data that informs effective policymaking. UCLA CHPR is the home of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and is part of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health​.

ePahayagan #302 - Curated News from Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network

Have you ever asked yourself: How do I express love?

One of my favorite authors, Erich Fromm, says that “love is the active concern for the life and the growth of that which we love.” This implies that love is not a bystander. It steps forward. It listens and speaks. It gives continuous efforts to spark change. Love revolutionizes. 

Love month goes beyond February. Yet, this can be the perfect time to start evaluating your expressions of love—not only to your family and friends, but to your community and the society at large. How does your love help make the world a more loving place to live in?

Here are some news that might stir inspiration in you.

Your ePahayagan editor,

Isabelle

FWN In The News

• Still in the news: Pamela Gotangco’s (Global FWN100™ 2022) Philippine avant-garde brand to take part in London Fashion Week

• Christine Amour-Levar (Global FWN100™ 2016) together with actress Cindy Bishop set a world record for the longest women’s rope team with 78 others

• New Americans Museum showcased visual poem “Legacy” by Filipina Filmmaker Giovannie Espritu (Global FWN100™ 2021)

• Lita M. Abele (Global FWN100™ 2017) initiated the first University of the Philippines educational partnership with Rowan University

• OFW representative Marissa Magsino speaks: Let there be no more cases like Jullebee Ranara’s 

Important Events For Women

• 16 February 2023: NCPG Member Exclusive: Ask An Expert with Hon. Cheryl Moss (US FWN100™ 2011) - Gambling Treatment Diversion Courts 

• 16 February 2023: DISRUPTing Philippines @ The Manila Marriott. RSVP before 14 February 2023

• 17-19 February 2023: Art Fair Philippines Returns to The Link for its 10th Anniversary

• 08 March 2023: DISRUPTing San Francisco @ The Philippine Center. Registrations now open.

• 08 March 2023: International Women’s Day!

• 15 March 2023 (Entry Deadline): CALLING ALL CREATIVES!! Growing Up Asian In America (GUAA) 2023 is Open!

• 30 April 2023 SAVE THE DATE: DISRUPTing Dubai

• 06 May 2023 SAVE THE DATE: DISRUPTing Southern California

• 02 May 2023 SAVE THE DATE: DISRUPTing Chicago

Did You Know?

• What is ChatGPT, the viral social media AI?

• ‘Vegan,’ ‘sustainable’: How to spot misleading fashion claims

• Good leaders are good listeners. Here’s how to be one of them

• Goodbye Passport Stamps, Hello Biometrics: Customs Is Getting Faster

• The Best Ways to Reuse Your Most Common Kitchen Leftovers

Mahiwagang Pinay

• Let’s Cook: Miso and Bagoong Fried Rice

By the way,

Are you still on the lookout for a lasting Valentine's or anytime gift to motivate and inspire a young Filipina in your life? Or a Filipina woman returning to the global workplace? Order your DISRUPT books here.

Consider giving her the FWN DISRUPT Leadership Book Series — 4 books published since 2014. "DISRUPT 4.0. Filipina Women: BEING" just got released.

We think you should start with "DISRUPT: Filipina Women. Proud. Loud. Leading without a Doubt." — FWN’s first book on Filipina women's leadership stories to kickstart that ambitious and driven Filipina woman you know. Order one book (print or Kindle) or the entire series from Amazon!

ePahayagan #301 | Curated News from Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network

We have come a long way!

It has been two decades since the Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network has come forward and supported Filipina women’s capacities. We redefine leadership. We break and march through the barriers. With Most Influential Filipina Women in the World Awardees, since 2007 selected from 34 countries across the globe, we stand strong as one. 

In 2023, how do you want to transform yourself — and transform others in the process? What seed are you planting? It is the best time of the year to ask ourselves: What else do we want to see? 

We have curated a list of topics this week that will inspire you:

FWN In The news

• Maria Ressa (Global FWN100™ 2014) is the Energizer Bunny of Nobel Laureates

• Pamela Gotangco (Global FWN100™ 2022) showcases PamPinay in House of iKons London Fashion Week February 2023

• Toronto's top doc (Global FWN100™ 2022 Dr. Eileen de Villa) was among the world's most powerful at WEF in Davos

• Jennifer Luebke (Global FWN100™ 2022) Wants “A Level Playing Field” For Employees with Disabilities

• Jennifer Luebke’s Pride Industries' Youth Employment Services program aims to bring 2,000 people into the workforce

• Myra Colis’ (Global FWN100™ 2022) Igorot Network in Europe Celebrates 17 years of existence and 10th Conference in Amsterdam

Events To Check Out

• Cymbeline Tangcongco Culiat (Global FWN100™ 2022) will present at The Joseph Company Breakfast #6: Healthcare in the Community

• Yay! Filipino Films (3 women directors) at The 2023 Sundance Film Festival (2023 Jan 19-29)

• Dr. Eileen de Villa (Global FWN100™ 2022) joins The Morning Zoom with Sam & Jane to discuss 3 years of COVID in Toronto

Did You Know?

• Skip the Plastic Surgery. Age ‘Intentionally’ With These Kinder Treatments

• The Food Expiration Dates You Should Actually Follow

• 4 Trends All Small Business Owners Should Be Aware of in 2023

• Why Apple's AirTags Are a Must for Frequent Fliers

Ask A Filipina

• Words Matter: Quotes From 2021's Most Influential Filipina Women

Mahiwagang Pinay

• Yummy Ube Pie Recipe by Daniela Galarza

By the way,

Are you looking for a lasting Valentine's or anytime gift to motivate and inspire a young Filipina in your life? Or a Filipina woman returning to the global workplace?

FWN has a DISRUPT Leadership Book Series - 4 books published since 2014. "DISRUPT 4.0. Filipina Women: BEING" just got released. We think you should start with "DISRUPT: Filipina Women. Proud. Loud. Leading without a Doubt." - FWN’s first book on Filipina women's leadership stories to kickstart that ambitious and driven Filipina woman you know. Order one book (print or Kindle) or the entire series from Amazon!