KUALA LUMPUR – On the 27th of August 2026, Hiya Mansurah Sdn Bhd (“Hiya Mansurah”) was honoured to participate as a strategic partner of Cambridge Islamic Funds Awards (CIFA) in the WOMANi Symposium & Awards 2026, together with DDCAP and Women in Tech Malaysia as its contributing partner. Held at Hilton Kuala Lumpur under the theme; “Empowering Women at Work and Advancing Women in Leadership”, the WOWANi symposium brought together professionals and industry leaders from the Islamic finance industry and halal sectors to share their experiences and perspectives on women’s career development and progression into leadership.
Panel 1 : Creating Workplaces Where Women Can Thrive
The first panel of the symposium focused on creating supportive and inclusive workplaces. Moderated by Nadiah Tan Abdullah, Chief Human Capital Officer of Malaysia Airports, the first panel brought together panellists from the government and corporate sectors namely, Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus, YB Puan Teo Nie Ching, Dr. Hjh. Yatela Zainal Abidin, Jasmin Peters and Datuk Nik Airina Nik Jaffar. Drawing on their different experiences, they discussed how organisations can create workplaces that accommodate different needs and circumstances for female employees while maintaining a strong focus on professional development and performance. One of the points raised was that workplace support extends beyond having written policies in place. While policies are pivotal, the culture within an organisation also plays a role in determining whether employees feel supported in pursuing their career goals. Women may face different responsibilities and expectations at different stages of their careers. Having a workplace that can accommodate these changes, while ensuring that career progression remains open to them, allows them to continue developing their careers without having to choose between their professional and personal commitments.
Panel 2 : Advancing Women into Leadership and Decision Making Roles
The second panel shifted the discussion on the challenges and opportunities involved in advancing women into senior leadership and decision-making roles. Moderated by Suhaida Mahpot, Chief Executive Officer of Amanie Advisors, the session brought together speakers with experience across the technology, international business and legal sectors: Yuki Aizawa, Kati Ferry, Dr Madiha Fuad, YM Raja Azura Raja Mahayuddin and Apnizan Abdullah. Women are well represented in junior and mid-level positions, but this does not always translate into the same level of participation in senior management and leadership roles. Having women represented at the early and middle stages of a career is only part of the picture. The next question is what happens as they progress. Women may have the qualifications and experience needed for senior positions, but progression can become more challenging as the number of leadership opportunities narrows. Therefore, the focus should also be on ensuring that this representation continues as women progress into more senior positions. This means looking at how leadership potential is recognised, who gets opportunities to develop further and whether women have the support they need when they are ready to move forward in their careers. Thus, the panellists emphasised the importance of mentorship to allow women to gain the experience needed for senior positions. Leadership development is not simply about preparing someone for a particular title. It also involves giving professionals opportunities to contribute to discussions and decision-making, as well as letting them take accountability for decisions they made.
Official Opening Ceremony
The event eventually proceeded with the officiating ceremony by YB Senator Marhamah Rosli, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs). YB Senator highlighted a clear message in her officiating speech on the future of Islamic business and finance as she mentioned: “the future of Islamic business and finance is not a distant vision. It is being consciously constructed today by principled, decisive women. The women, are those who lead with integrity, innovate with courage and balance her professional excellence with unwavering commitment to family and faith”.
Celebrating Contributions at the WOMANi Awards 2026
The peak of the event was concluded with the WOMANi Awards 2026, celebrating individuals and organisations for their contributions to the Islamic economy sphere. The awards covered a range of areas, including financial inclusion, Islamic asset management, Shariah advisory and inclusive financial centre development. The breadth of the categories reflected the different areas in which women are contributing to the industry, from financial services and investment to Shariah and institutional development. Recognition was given to both individuals and organisations. For younger professionals entering the industry, seeing these contributions recognised also offers a useful reminder of the different career paths available within the wider Islamic economy.
The awards recognised contributions across several categories, including WOMANi Pioneer, WOMANi Influencer, WOMANi CEO, WOMANi Significancica, WOMANi Professional and WOMANi Academica. Among the main awards presented were the WOMANi Khadijah Award and WOMANi CEO of the Year, alongside awards recognising leadership in women’s financial inclusion, inclusive financial centre development, Shariah advisory, maritime leadership and Islamic asset management and wealth accumulation. TEKUN Nasional was also awarded with the WOMANi Leadership Award for Women’s Financial Inclusion.
Hiya Mansurah’s Commitment to Women’s Development
As a nascent Shariah advisory firm, Hiya Mansurah was pleased to be part of an event that brought together professionals from different areas of the Islamic finance and halal sectors. Our work in corporate and Shariah advisory has given us a close understanding of the importance of good governance, sound decision-making and responsible business practices. These areas depend not only on technical knowledge, but also on the people involved and the perspectives they bring to the table. Opportunities for networking are therefore important, particularly in sectors where professionals work across different areas and bring different experiences to the same issues. WOMANi provided a space for professionals from the Islamic finance and halal sectors to share those experiences and learn from one another. The discussions throughout the day highlighted that supporting women’s professional development involves more than representation alone. It also involves creating workplaces where people are given opportunities to develop, contribute and progress based on their abilities and aspirations.
Looking Ahead
Hiya Mansurah extends its appreciation to CIFA, the organisers, speakers, other strategic partners and participants who contributed to the event. We look forward to continuing to support initiatives that create opportunities for women to develop and contribute to the Islamic finance and halal sectors.