Village Connect
SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) strengthened its commitment to climate resilience as it joined women leaders from across the region in celebrating groundbreaking achievements in disaster risk reduction at the 2025 WIN DRR Excellence Awards in Bangkok. Represented by Vice President for Design, Innovation and Strategy Jessica Sy, SM Prime reaffirmed its dedication to supporting female leadership in crisis preparedness—an advocacy it has championed since partnering with the Australian government for the WIN DRR program in 2021.
The awards, organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, spotlight women who are transforming how communities anticipate and respond to climate-related hazards. This year, more than 200 nominations poured in from the Asia-Pacific region, each one demonstrating innovative, data-driven solutions to reduce disaster impacts. Among the standout honorees was Indonesia’s Nashin Mahtani, Executive Director of the Disaster Map Foundation, whose work has advanced real-time risk-mapping used by millions across Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Kiribati’s Takena Redfern earned the top Excellence Award for spearheading her nation’s “Early Warnings for All” strategy—an effort critical for one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable island states.
For Sy, the event was a powerful reminder of how women’s leadership is shaping the future of disaster resilience. She emphasized that early warning systems, accessible data, and community-centered solutions are essential in protecting lives and livelihoods amid escalating climate extremes. “These women are redefining what effective preparedness looks like,” she said.
The program also included a thought-provoking panel on women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction, featuring Asia Pacific College President Maria Teresita Pastor Medado, who highlighted the role of education and innovation in building adaptive communities.
In the event’s final session, delegates participated in a consultation shaping the next steps for WIN DRR’s long-term strategy. Atty. Pearly Joan Jayagan Turley, SM Prime’s Senior Assistant Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Program Director for SM Cares Women, represented the company in charting future directions for regional collaboration.
Through its continued support of WIN DRR, SM Prime reinforces its belief that empowering women leaders is key to building a safer, more resilient Asia-Pacific.
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