Hong Kong – [October 22, 2019] – 100 Women in Finance (“100WF”), a global, practitioner-driven non-profit organisation that serves more than 15,000 professionals in the finance and alternative investment industries, announces that it raised HKD 4.4 million (gross proceeds) in support its Investing in the Next Generation initiative at its 7th Annual Hong Kong Gala. Gala proceeds will also fund local Hong Kong program partner organisations, The Women’s Foundation of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Award for Young People, to support student programs in alignment with 100WF’s Investing in the Next Generation mandate.
The Investing in the Next Generation Initiative is 100WF’s signature philanthropic focus under its Impact pillar. The organisation reaches, inspires, and supports pre-career women, of all backgrounds, who are the finance industry’s leadership pipeline. Initiatives include encouraging female students to look favorably at careers in finance and investments, creating educational opportunities and access points for them to join the industry, and presenting greater visibility of female role models.
The Gala was held at Maxim’s Palace City Hall and was attended by more than 300 leaders from the financial services industry.
(left to right): Natalya Oram, Kimberley Stafford, Amanda Pullinger and Sonia Ponnusamy
View additional images from the 2019 Hong Kong Gala
At the event, Kimberley Stafford, PIMCO’s Head of Asia Pacific, received 100WF’s 2019 APAC Industry Leadership Award. The Award is presented annually in recognition of exemplary professional talent, business ethics, and passion for investing that further define and advance the industry’s standards of excellence. This year, and in keeping with its theme, 100WF additionally prioritised identifying a strong role model for early-career female investment professionals when selecting their honouree.
Past 100WF Industry Leadership Award Honorees, both in APAC and around the world are listed here.
The Gala additionally featured a silent and live auction, directed by Jonathan Crockett, Phillips, and featured a performance by mezzo soprano Moon Jin Kim, More than Musical.
Amanda Pullinger, 100WF’s CEO, remarked, “It is gratifying to see the financial community rally around one of the industry’s most obvious investment opportunities –pre-career young women. As we all know, early-stage investment can produce extraordinary returns. We expect that the teen girls who benefit from this Gala’s success stand the potential to become important contributors to the finance industry’s future.”
Since its formation in 2001, 100WF has raised, globally, more than USD $50 million (gross) for external organisations and for its Investing in the Next Generation initiatives.
Previous 100WF Hong Kong beneficiaries have been the Changing Young Lives Foundation (2018), the Karen Leung Foundation (2017), The Women’s Foundation of Hong Kong (2016), 100WF Hong Kong Foundation Limited’s Investing in the Next Generation Initiative (2015), the Hong Kong Cancer Fund (2014) and the Hong Kong Award for Young People (2013).
100WF expresses appreciation to its 2019 Hong Kong Gala Committee and its co-chairs Sonia Ponnusamy and Natalya Oram, its table and prize sponsors, its honouree, its Gala guests, its program partners, and the broad Hong Kong financial community for supporting the Investing in the Next Generation efforts and for creating lasting impact in the finance industry.
To make a donation to 100WF’s Investing in the Next Generation initiative, or to one of 100WF’s local program partners, please contact 100WF.
100WF will host its New York Gala on November 13, its Toronto Gala Breakfast on November 15, and its London Gala on February 12, 2020.
Inquiries about 100WF’s 2020 Hong Kong Gala may be directed to the Hong Kong Gala Committee.
About 100 Women in Finance
100 Women in Finance’s more than 15,000 members strengthen the global finance industry by empowering women to achieve their professional potential at each career stage. Its members inspire, equip and advocate for a new generation of industry leadership, in which women and men serve as investment professionals and executives, equal in achievement and impact. Through Education, Peer Engagement and Impact, the organization furthers the progress of women who have chosen finance as a career, and enables their positive influence over pre-career young women.
Media contact: media@10women.org