EY announces 15 women founders selected for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ Asia-Pacific class of 2023

• The 2023 class generated a combined revenue of more than US$200m in 2022
• Employed more than 1,500 people in 2022
• The associated businesses represent six diverse sectors 

The EY organization today announces the details of 15 female founders selected for Asia-Pacific class of 2023 EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ ⁠— a bespoke executive education program that identifies and supports savvy, ambitious female entrepreneurs with established, profitable businesses to unlock their full potential and show others what is possible.

This year’s cohort of new entrepreneurs are focused on solving the world’s significant challenges of today. Representing Australia, Greater China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Sri Lanka in the Asia-Pacific Region, they bring an innovative and disruptive mindset, as well as a vision with sustainable development, which has led to their successes in the market and ambition for the global network.

Claire Cardno, EY Asia-Pacific Risk Management Leader and EY Asia-Pacific Women. Fast Forward Executive Sponsor, says:

“The program is designed to support women entrepreneurs to break down barriers and become global market leaders. We celebrate women’s achievements not just today, but every day, and we are here to help them realize their ambition and contribute to a better future for the world.”

This year’s participants run high-growth businesses across a wide variety of sectors including health, logistics, IT, education, biopharmaceutical and automotive. According to EY analysis, these companies generated a combined revenue of more than US$200m in 2022 and employed more than 1,500 people.

Loletta Chow, Asia-Pacific EY Private Leader, and Co-Executive Sponsor, EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific, says:

“As the world economy is recovering from the past few years, this group of women entrepreneurs are tackling multiple challenges and turning obstacles into bigger opportunities for their business growth. We are glad to support these unstoppable female entrepreneurs and provide them with the advice and resources they need to scale their businesses.”

Kath Carter, EY Global Talent Leader - Strategy and Transactions and EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Global Executive Sponsor, says:

“This executive leadership program gives women entrepreneurs access to successful role models and to international networks, which is critical for them to accelerate growth. Congratulations to this year’s cohort of Entrepreneurial Winning Women in Asia-Pacific, what a fantastic achievement!”

The Asia-Pacific program is part of a worldwide community of EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women. Launched in 2008, the program now has more than 800 women entrepreneurs, building companies in more than 49 countries across all industries.

The 2023 members of the Asia-Pacific EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program are:

• Louise Bayliss (Australia), CEO and Managing Director of Setec BMPRO Pty Ltd.
• Joanne Howarth (Australia), Founder and CEO of Planet Protector Packaging
• Anny Chen (Greater China), Founder and CEO of Kuaikan Comics
• Juliana Lam (Greater China), Founder and President of Julius Industries Limited and INNOTIER
• Dr. Liping Liu (Greater China), Founder and CEO of HighTide Therapeutics, Inc.
• Xiaoyun Wang (Greater China), CEO of Refine Biology
• Yang Wang (Greater China), Founder and CEO of NaaS Technology Inc.
• Masako Ikehara (Japan), CEO of Mentor For
• Miwako Ishido (Japan), President and CEO of AutoPhagyGO Inc.
• Arisa Sakanashi (Japan), Founder and CEO of mederi Co., Ltd.
• Mariko Takahashi (Japan), CEO of SIRC Co., Ltd.
• Yoshimi Wie (Japan), Founder and CEO of Aba Inc.
• Elizabeth Barbalich (New Zealand), Founder and CEO of Antipodes Wellness Ltd.
• Hyemin Lee (South Korea), Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Finda Inc.
• Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny (Sri Lanka), Group Managing Director of IAS Holdings (Private) Limited

For more information on the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific program, visit ey.com/en_gl/entrepreneurial-winning-women-asia-pacific.

For more information on the global program, visit ey.com/winningwomen.

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Notes to editors

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About EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™

The EY organization is committed to seeing women lead. EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women is a global program for successful women entrepreneurs whose businesses show more potential to scale. Through access to EY professionals and global EY networks throughout the entrepreneurial ecosystem, pioneering women founders on every continent secure the resources, advice, operational know-how, contacts and community they need to unleash their ambitions, expand their companies to full potential and become the role models they never had. Visit ey.com/winningwomen