Q&A with Treasurer, Wei Chien Yoong

Hi Wei Chien, welcome to the WOMAG Executive Board as Treasurer!  What encouraged you to apply for this role in particular? 

I applied for a seat on WOMAG’s Board because I wanted to contribute &  support the team in creating a fairer and more equitable food and agriculture sector in Southeast Asia. 

Were you involved with WOMAG in the past? What encouraged you to apply as a Board member as opposed to a volunteer? 

I was involved with WOMAG since 2018. For the last few years, I volunteered at various WOMAG events, including the now flagship “Meal with a Mission” event in 2020. Joining the Board as treasurer would give me an opportunity to be directly involved in the strategic decision-making  process behind how WOMAG prioritizes and deploys resources, hence, making a more tangible contribution to progress and impact. 

What is your "day job", and how do you think it will help you in your role as WOMAG’ Treasurer? 

In my “day job” I’m the audit lead for Cargill. Having strong finance, risk and controls background allows me  to enhance the existing finance and governance processes at WOMAG and further promote effective  stewardship to our members and stakeholders. 

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap 2020 report, at current pace the  average time it will take for the gender gap to close in East Asia and the Pacific is a staggering 163  years. What change do you hope to see in the shorter term - let's say, within 10 years? 

Within the food and agriculture production sector, I’d hope to see significantly more policy and infrastructure  developments that support access to education and healthcare for women farmers and girls from farming  families. As the daughter of a smallholder farmer in Malaysia, I know first-hand how crucial education was  for me to both seize career opportunities and advocate for greater gender balance in our sector. We need  to push for greater gender equality to ensure our farming communities thrive and that we achieve food  security.

Want to learn more about or connect with Wei Chien? You can find her LinkedIn profile here.