Details
May 19 2026 (Tuesday)
09:30 a.m.
Inaugural Session: Bridging the Gender Gap: Work, Wealth, Welfare & Well-being for Women
Emcee:
- Ina Wadhwa, Program Director, TalentNomics India
- Disha Tripathy, Program Manager, TalentNomics India
Welcome Remark:
- Paul Linnarz - Country Representative Japan, Director Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS, KAS)
- Ipsita Kathuria, Founder and CEO, Talentnomics India
09:45 a.m.
Keynote: The Economic Imperative of Gender Equity in Asia:
- Kanta Singh, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women, India
10:05 a.m.
Presentation of the 4Ws Report
- Rosanna M. Vetticad, Team Lead, Thought Arbitrage Institute, India
- Kshama Kausik, Director, Thought Arbitrage Research Institute
10:30 a.m.
Panel 1 – The Future of Work and Women’s Economic Participation
Analyzing the formal sector, this panel addressed the "glass ceiling" and the 176-year parity forecast. Discussions focused on merit-based corporate governance, digital tools for flexible work, and eliminating unconscious bias to ensure women transition from entry-level roles into decisive management and leadership positions. (followed by Q & A)
Speakers:
- Ratnesh Jha, Executive Director, UN Global Compact India
- Boonwara Sumano Chenphuengpawn, Senior Fellow, Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Thailand
- Sachini Hulugalle, Senior Manager, MillenniumIT ESP, Sri Lanka
- Eylla Laire M. Gutierrez, OIC-Executive Director, AIM, The Philippines
Moderation:
- Lata Singh, Independent Consultant and Advisor
12:00 p.m.
Panel 2 – Women, Wealth & Financial Independence
Economic independence requires more than a salary; it requires assets. This session explores closing the credit gap for female entrepreneurs, securing property inheritance rights, and enhancing financial literacy. The goal is to move women from economic participation to true financial sovereignty and long-term capital accumulation. (followed by Q & A)
Speakers:
- Mandakini Kaul, South Asian Regional Coordinator, World Bank, India
- Sriyani Hulugalle, Former Senior Economist, World Bank, Sri Lanka
- Anuradha Das Mathur, Founder and Dean, Vedica Scholar's Programme for Women
- Catherine Setiawan, Country Coordinator, Global Index for Responsible AI, Indonesia
Moderation:
- Usha Lakshmi Raman, Chief Compliance Officer, Quant Mutual Fund, India
02:15 p.m.
Panel 3 – Welfare & Well-being: Building Inclusive Social Systems
Women’s agency depends on both health equity and resilient welfare systems. This session explored how the double burden of paid and unpaid work affects women’s physical and mental well-being, and how smart, gender-responsive policies—from maternal health investment to social protection—can strengthen economic participation and societal resilience. (followed by Q & A)
Speakers:
- Durrah Sharifah Ahmad Azlan, Assistant Manager, Research, IDEAS Malaysia
- Eliza Vu, Gender Advisor, Equal Asia Foundation, Vietnam
- Julia Novrita, Director of Programs and Development, The Habibie Center, Indonesia
Moderation:
- Suhela Khan, Country Programme Manager, Women's Economic Empowerment, UN Women, India
04:00 p.m.
Roundtable Discussion – The Role of Business and Policy in Implementation
This roundtable explored how business and public policy can jointly transform the 4Ws—Work, Wealth, Welfare, and Well-Being—into practical reforms. By aligning market incentives with social responsibility, stakeholders can convert the persistent gender gap into a gender bridge for inclusive growth and shared prosperity.
Table Leads:
- Ira Martina Drupady, PhD Researcher, Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Catherine Setiawan, Country Coordinator, Global Index for Responsible AI, Indonesia
- Durrah Sharifah Ahmad Azlan, Assistant Manager, Research, IDEAS Malaysia
05:00 p.m.
Closing of Seminar Day 1
May 20 2026 (Wednesday)
10:00 a.m.
Regional Workshop – Implementing the 4Ws Framework
This interactive workshop translates the 4Ws—Work, Wealth, Welfare, and Well-Being—into concrete action. Participants co-designed pilot initiatives, defined measurable outcomes, and mapped implementation pathways tailored to regional contexts. The goal is to produce practical roadmaps that advance women’s agency and inclusive, sustainable economic growth.
Facilitated by:
- Rosanna M. Vetticad, Team Lead, Thought Arbitrage Research Institute
- Kshama Kausik, Director, Thought Arbitrage Research Institute
- Lavang Khare, Strategic Communications Advisor, AdFactors PR
- Binoo Wadhwa, Culture, Inclusion and Business Purpose Advisor, India
12:15 p.m.
Closing Session
Speakers:
- Anita George, CEO & Co-Founder, ProsperETE, India
12:30 p.m.
Vote of Thanks
- Megha Chabbra, Outreach Manager, TalentNomics India
- Tanika Marwah, Program Coordinator, TalentNomics India
