Leading Penang Companies Form Employers Network To Promote Greater Participation Of Women In The Workforce

PULAU PINANG, 26 JUNE 2014 – The Women’s Summit 2014 (Northern Region) brought together for the first time a network of leading employers in the northern region to focus on issues impacting the advancement of women in the workforce.

Organised by Agilent Technologies, AMD, Dell and Intel in collaboration with Talent Corporation Malaysia (TalentCorp), the inaugural event saw career women and employers coming together to discuss how they can optimise work-life integration and improve talent retention by encouraging flexible work arrangements and sharing of best practices such as parent-friendly work environment.

TalentCorp‘s Diversity Advocates who are Human Resources (HR) leaders in the northern region were at the event to facilitate discussion groups and foster partnerships with employers, focusing on encouraging women to advance in their careers.

TalentCorp Diversity Advocates leading the Northern Region employers network are Jenny Ooi, Senior Human Resources Director, Agilent Technologies; Shankar Nagalingam, Human Resources Director, South Asia and ANZ, Dell; Dr. Florance Sinniah, Human Resources Director, AMD Malaysia; and Vimaleswari Ramasamy, HR Shared Services Centre Director, Intel Malaysia.

“We are pleased to welcome private sector partnerships in advocating gender diversity and work-life practices. We are optimistic that more can be achieved with employers coming together to collaborate on various initiatives to retain women in the workforce,” said Johan Mahmood Merican, Chief Executive Officer of TalentCorp, who was present together with keynote speaker Low Ngai Yuen, Head of Kakiseni.

The Summit also provided an avenue for career women and managers who advocate workplace diversity to network, engage, share and deliberate ideas and best practices to help them progress in their career through panel discussion and breakout sessions with top HR leaders in the country.

The Panel Discussion entitled “You’re in the driver’s seat: Charting a course for a successful career” took a broader look into the concept of women “leaning in” for their professional progression, by also asking if this is solely a women’s choice.

It was moderated by TalentCorp Diversity Advocate Pun Tian Pouw, Principal, Korn/Ferry International and featured panellists Azlin Arshad, Group CEO, ECM Libra Financial Group; Boonsiri Somchit-Ong, Corporate Vice President, AMD Global Services Malaysia; and Sugunah Verumandy, Human Resources Director, GE Malaysia.

For further information on diversity in the workplace and best practices, please visit www.flexWorkLife.my