AWARE’s 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Saturday, 28 April 2018 at the AWARE Centre. Fifty-three members attended the AGM, learned about AWARE’s work and achievements in 2017 and gave suggestions and ideas for the year ahead. As this was an election year, the new Board for 2018-2020 was elected.

This AGM was historic as it marked the first time that our male members (Associate Members) could vote, after an amendment to AWARE’s Constitution in 2016.

2017 was truly an outstanding year for AWARE with many historic firsts. The outgoing AWARE President Teh Hooi Ling highlighted some of the major achievements that AWARE had achieved in the past year. She also introduced AWARE’s new Strategic Plan for 2018-2022, which would guide AWARE’s work over the next five years.

Department heads updated about the highlights of their work in 2017. Shailey Hingorani, Head of Advocacy, Research and Communications (ARC) updated on their achievements of their submission of the first-ever joint NGO report to the UN CEDAW Committee, reforms in housing policy for single parents, low-income women, continued work for Gender Equality is our Culture, and launch of the Power Fund.

Susanna Nickalls, Catalyse Consulting Manager,  shared about the successful work and outreach of Catalyse Consulting and the surge in companies’ interest in its trainings in the past few months due to the global #Metoo movement.

Anisha Joseph, Support Services (SS) and the Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) Manager, presented on SS and SACC. 2017 marked 25 years of Support Services, the re-launch of the Women’s Helpline in 4 languages as well as a 50% increase in people reaching out to SACC from 2016.

AWARE Executive Director Corinna Lim announced AWARE’s fundraising results in 2017 – a total of $1.53 million was raised – a $100,000 increase from $1.43 million in 2016. Apart from outlining the main challenges and strategies ahead and introducing new staff, she also unveiled details of this year’s fundraising gala, Revolution Ball, which will be held on 25 August 2018 at the Shangri-la Hotel.

Daughters of Tomorrow Executive Director Carrie Tan shared about the joint AWARE-DOT programmes to support underprivileged and vulnerable women in Singapore in becoming financially independent, and their growth in team strength and outreach.

Detailed department updates in the 2017 Annual Report, along with AWARE’s Financial Statements, were adopted at the AGM.

The AGM concluded with the Election of the President and the new Board for 2018-2020.

Founding member and former journalist Margaret Thomas was elected unopposed as AWARE President for the new term.

Photo: AWARE’s newly-elected Board members 2018-2020 with the outgoing AWARE President Teh Hooi Ling

AWARE members elected the following as members of the AWARE Board 2018-2020:

1. Jasmine Ng
2. Jean Low
3. Kartini Omar
4. Ong Soh Chin
5. Penelope Shone
6. Valerie Gan
7. Wynthia Goh
8. Zubaida Ali

The outgoing AWARE President, Teh Hooi Ling, expressed her gratitude towards members and the Board and invited members to join her in thanking the staff and the outgoing Board, and handed the baton over to incoming AWARE President, Margaret Thomas.

The new Board would be serving a two-year term, taking AWARE to new heights.