Deadline: 14 February 2025
Applications are now open for the Harpswell ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit to advance positive change in Southeast Asia by creating a network of women’s leaders who have a deep understanding of the ASEAN region alongside meaningful, lifelong relationships with peers across borders.
This annual summit brings together a cohort of young women aged 25-35, two from each of the ten countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as Nepal, for a 5-month leadership development and professional networking program culminating in a week-long gathering in Penang, Malaysia.
The only gathering of its kind in the region, the summit is organized in collaboration with the Center for Research on Women and Gender. For participants, the Summit is a unique opportunity to join forces with other young women in the region, building lasting bonds as collaborators and life-long friends.
Benefits
- Harpswell covers all travel, meals and accommodation for participants during the Summit in Penang, Malaysia.
Duration
- May 2025: Virtual:
- The Summit will launch in May with two virtual introductory sessions, each 1.5 hours. Participants will introduce their passions and professional work, as well as meet the Harpswell team.
- June-August 2025: Virtual:
- During these three months, the program will host twice-monthly 3-hour virtual learning sessions, learning about the state of the ASEAN region with diverse experts. Participants will also work in small groups meeting once monthly to collaborate on addressing a relevant, regional challenge.
- Sept. 13-21, 2025: In Person:
- The cohort will gather at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in beautiful Penang for one week of collaboration, exploration and networking. Many of the trainers and facilitators that are part of the 3-month virtual program will also join this face-to-face element of the program.
Eligible Countries
- 10 ASEAN Countries: (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and Nepal.
Eligibility Criteria
- They welcome applications from women, aged 25 to 35, from ASEAN countries and Nepal, who demonstrate:
- A keen interest in social change and women’s leadership
- Leadership potential through academic achievement or professional accomplishment
- Willingness to share, explore and grow in self-identity, cultural diversity and worldview
- A curiosity about the experiences of others in the region
- Strong English language skills.
For more information, visit Harpswell.
