The Women of Labuan IBFC: A Journey of Inclusion and Diversity - Upcoming Events

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The Women of Labuan IBFC: A Journey of Inclusion and Diversity

International Women’s Day (IWD) takes place on 8 March every year and celebrates women’s contributions to society and raises awareness about the fight for inclusion, specifically gender parity.

This year’s IWD theme is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” and marks the efforts from women in creating a more equal and inclusive future during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

The pandemic, and with it, the quarantine restrictions, have placed an unequal burden on women and men. During lockdown, women had the additional burden of juggling childcare, housework and working remotely. Highlighting globally the importance of women in the workforce and the disproportionate burden women carry at home.

Whilst we fight this pandemic together, more attention therefore needs to be given to shaping a more equal future for women around the world as well as in Malaysia. Join us to hear about how women shape and contribute to Labuan IBFC, the challenges COVID-19 has brought to them, and their hopes for an even more inclusive future.

Register now to secure an opportunity to learn and seek advice from our distinguished panel of speakers on Monday, 8 March at 4.00PM (GMT +8).

Speakers

Anne Abraham
Anne Abraham was a corporate leader from the technology industry for more than 20 years before she founded LeadWomen Sdn Bhd, an MSC status consultancy company in 2011. Recognised as a thought leader in diversity and inclusion, both locally and regionally, a frequent speaker, facilitator and moderator in leadership events. She is the co-founder of the Malaysian Chapter of the 30% Club, a global business campaign lobbying for increased women representation on the boards, a board director on 2 Malaysian PLCs and a strong advocate for gender balanced leadership.
Ariel Kou
Ariel joined Marsh in April 2016 and is currently overseeing the operations of Marsh Management Services Labuan Limited, which provides captive advisory services and delivers captive management services.

She is responsible for Marsh's portfolio of clients domiciled in Labuan including 3 captive insurance companies, a life reinsurer and a protected cell captive. Her primary duties include acting as the client contact, underwriting and claims functions.

Before her secondment to Labuan in 2019, her main focus was on captive-related business development in China. She has been involved in conducting feasibility studies and risk tolerance analysis for Chinese state owned enterprises as well as private corporates.
Farah Jaafar
Farah is the Chief Executive Officer of Labuan IBFC Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Labuan Financial Services Authority, the statutory Regulatory Authority for Labuan International Business and Financial Centre, operating under the purview of Ministry of Finance, Malaysia. Labuan IBFC Incorporated serves as the jurisdiction’s official market development agency.

A seasoned strategic communication, market development and financial services professional, she brings with her experience spanning more than 25 years in wholesale financial services, putting her in good stead to develop Labuan IBFC as Asia’s go-to mid-shore wholesale financial intermediation centre.

Formerly attached to the Asian Institute of Finance and Bursa Malaysia (Malaysia’s national stock exchange), Farah has served in numerous senior market development and strategic communications roles.

She has also represented the Association of Stock Broking Companies Malaysia, a nationwide industry led lobby group representing Malaysian stockbrokers during the demutualisation exercise of the national exchange, allowing her a unique hands-on experience surrounding high strategic level issues relating to multiple stakeholder management, eco-system curation and long-term strategic business strategy.

Passionate about equality, financial inclusion and win-win partnerships, she strongly believes that “a rising tide lifts all boats”. Farah has an LLB (Hons) from Sheffield University, United Kingdom.
Goh Ka Im
Ms. Goh was a partner and the Head of the Tax and Revenue Practice Group as well as the Head of the Private Wealth and Family Business Practice Group of Shearn Delamore & Co until her retirement at the end of 2020.

Ms. Goh was also previously the Jurisdiction Editor of Malaysia (Labuan) for the International Tax Planning Association (ITPA) and the Chair of the Tax Committee of the Inter Pacific Bar Association (IPBA)

Ms. Goh who became a partner of Shearn Delamore & Co in 1997, has an LL.B (Hons) degree from the University of Bristol, UK and was called to the Bar of England and Wales as a member of Gray’s Inn. She was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1988 and the Supreme Court of Singapore in 1994.
Norlela Omar
Norlela is the general manager/principal officer of CIMB Bank (L) Ltd and CIMB Bank Berhad Labuan Offshore Branch.

Her background in banking span over a period of 25 years covering credit, sales and operations. Her current portfolio covers the whole Labuan Midshore Banking Operations, Treasury, Compliance, Finance and Admin.

She is also an exco member of Financial Park Labuan and a committee member of the Association of Labuan Offshore Banks.

Norlela has an LLB (Hons) in Business Law from Coventry University, UK.

A firm believer in women as a significant contributor to the global development, she hopes to see more women being recognized in the roles they play.
Yon Zahimah Ibrahim
Madam Yon's current portfolios include managing the communications for Labuan FSA which comprises stakeholders engagements and external relations, managing collection and analysis of comprehensive data through statistical management system and providing analysis on issues impacting Labuan IBFC. She also handles secretarial work for the organisation.

Other portfolios previously covered by her include managing the business development team in promoting Labuan IBFC's products and services and thereafter, managing the business operations team in licencing of financial institutions as well as handling operational matters relating to the industry players in Labuan IBFC.

Before joining Labuan FSA, Madam Yon had the opportunity to work with domestic and international banks in Labuan IBFC.