About Us

Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, catalyses inclusive economic growth through women’s economic empowerment in Southeast Asia.

Who We Are

Investing in Women (IW) is a multi-country Australian Government initiative in Southeast Asia that seeks to accelerate women’s economic empowerment through increased and equitable opportunities in the private sector, contributing to inclusive, sustainable economic recovery and growth in targeted countries.

Our Work 1 Scaled

Our Work

Investing in Women uses innovative approaches to catalyse women’s economic participation and strengthen the enabling environment for women’s economic empowerment, including:

W1 Workplace Gender Equality

Workplace Gender Equality (WGE)

supporting Business Coalitions that work with influential businesses on shifting workplace cultures, practices, and policies to achieve workplace gender equality, reaching more than one million employees.

W2 Enabling Policy Reform

Enabling Policy Reform

working with credible local institutions to strengthen the evidence base and drive collective action needed to influence and inform policy reform that supports women’s equal economic participation, particularly related to the care economy.

W3 Influencing Gender Norms

Campaigns & Communities Of Practice

supporting locally driven campaigns that positively shift gender norms amongst women and men that inhibit women’s economic participation. Working with a communities of advocates, IW will build evidence and networks that support the broader adoption of more gender-equal attitudes and behaviours.

W4 Impact Investing

Gender Lens Investing

working to increase access to capital for women owned and women led small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) by partnering with capital providers on Gender Lens Investing strategies and products.

End-of-Program Outcomes

By advancing women’s economic empowerment, IW works to build the foundation for more inclusive, resilient, and gender-equal societies and economies.

Gender

More workplaces adopt and implement workplace gender equality organisational changes.

Equality2

Policy stakeholders are influenced by private sector perspectives and other evidence related to care economy and/or Women’s economic empowerment

Gender 2

More early adopters of gender equality demonstrate progressive behaviour and advocate for broader change.

Gender 1

Increase in investment available to women-supporting businesses across targeted countries.

Where We Work

The case for women’s economic empowerment is a shared global challenge. To help effect change in Southeast Asia, Investing in Women works in:

How We Work

Everything we do is guided by five key principles

In collaboration with corporations and business leaders, impact investors, entrepreneurs and advocates, we work with those who are driving change for women’s economic equality in our region.

Icon Women

Effect widespread change
that benefits women

Icon Like

Complement, not duplicate,
the work of others

Icon Like 2

Flexibly and responsively adapt
to opportunities

Icon Like 3

Collaborate with the
private sector and leverage
private sector investments

Icon Like 1

Take measured and
managed risks to achieve
our objectives

Our Leadership Team

We believe that intellectual capital is critical to providing innovative solutions and, ultimately, having positive impact. Investing in Women employs people who have strong commitment to our advocacy and upholds a culture of excellence. Our people are our most valuable assets—they are skilled problem solvers that believe challenges can be opportunities.

Resource Library

Hannah Birdsey
CEO
Gregory Brown
Operations Director and Deputy CEO
Philippa Venning
Contractor Representative
Maya Juwita
Workplace Gender Equality Director
Maesy Angelina
Policy and Reforms Director and Head of Indonesia Office
Kim Arveen Patria
Campaigns and Communities of Practice Director
Eleanor Keppelman
Impact Investing Director
Eduardo Ramirez Catari
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Director
Nicole Kee
Senior Program Manager
Binh Dang
Vietnam Technical and Policy Lead
Gerelyn Balneg
Philippine Policy and Reform Lead
Hannah Birdsey
CEO
Gregory Brown
Operations Director and Deputy CEO
Philippa Venning
Contractor Representative
Maya Juwita
Workplace Gender Equality Director
Maesy Angelina
Policy and Reforms Director and Head of Indonesia Office
Kim Arveen Patria
Campaigns and Communities of Practice Director
Eleanor Keppelman
Impact Investing Director
Eduardo Ramirez Catari
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Director
Nicole Kee
Senior Program Manager
Binh Dang
Vietnam Technical and Policy Lead
Gerelyn Balneg
Philippine Policy and Reform Lead
Hannah Birdsey
CEO
Gregory Brown
Operations Director and Deputy CEO
Philippa Venning
Contractor Representative
Maya Juwita
Workplace Gender Equality Director
Maesy Angelina
Policy and Reforms Director and Head of Indonesia Office
Kim Arveen Patria
Campaigns and Communities of Practice Director
Eleanor Keppelman
Impact Investing Director
Eduardo Ramirez Catari
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Director
Nicole Kee
Senior Program Manager
Binh Dang
Vietnam Technical and Policy Lead
Gerelyn Balneg
Philippine Policy and Reform Lead
Hannah Birdsey
CEO
Gregory Brown
Operations Director and Deputy CEO
Philippa Venning
Contractor Representative
Maya Juwita
Workplace Gender Equality Director
Maesy Angelina
Policy and Reforms Director and Head of Indonesia Office
Kim Arveen Patria
Campaigns and Communities of Practice Director
Eleanor Keppelman
Impact Investing Director
Eduardo Ramirez Catari
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Director
Nicole Kee
Senior Program Manager
Binh Dang
Vietnam Technical and Policy Lead
Gerelyn Balneg
Philippine Policy and Reform Lead
Hannah Birdsey
CEO
Gregory Brown
Operations Director and Deputy CEO
Philippa Venning
Contractor Representative
Maya Juwita
Workplace Gender Equality Director
Maesy Angelina
Policy and Reforms Director and Head of Indonesia Office
Kim Arveen Patria
Campaigns and Communities of Practice Director
Eleanor Keppelman
Impact Investing Director
Eduardo Ramirez Catari
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Director
Nicole Kee
Senior Program Manager
Binh Dang
Vietnam Technical and Policy Lead
Gerelyn Balneg
Philippine Policy and Reform Lead
Hannah Birdsey
CEO
Gregory Brown
Operations Director and Deputy CEO
Philippa Venning
Contractor Representative
Maya Juwita
Workplace Gender Equality Director
Maesy Angelina
Policy and Reforms Director and Head of Indonesia Office
Kim Arveen Patria
Campaigns and Communities of Practice Director
Eleanor Keppelman
Impact Investing Director
Eduardo Ramirez Catari
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Director
Nicole Kee
Senior Program Manager
Binh Dang
Vietnam Technical and Policy Lead
Gerelyn Balneg
Philippine Policy and Reform Lead
Hannah Birdsey
CEO
Gregory Brown
Operations Director and Deputy CEO
Philippa Venning
Contractor Representative
Maya Juwita
Workplace Gender Equality Director
Maesy Angelina
Policy and Reforms Director and Head of Indonesia Office
Kim Arveen Patria
Campaigns and Communities of Practice Director
Eleanor Keppelman
Impact Investing Director
Eduardo Ramirez Catari
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Director
Nicole Kee
Senior Program Manager
Binh Dang
Vietnam Technical and Policy Lead
Gerelyn Balneg
Philippine Policy and Reform Lead
Hannah Birdsey
CEO
Gregory Brown
Operations Director and Deputy CEO
Philippa Venning
Contractor Representative
Maya Juwita
Workplace Gender Equality Director
Maesy Angelina
Policy and Reforms Director and Head of Indonesia Office
Kim Arveen Patria
Campaigns and Communities of Practice Director
Eleanor Keppelman
Impact Investing Director
Eduardo Ramirez Catari
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Director
Nicole Kee
Senior Program Manager
Binh Dang
Vietnam Technical and Policy Lead
Gerelyn Balneg
Philippine Policy and Reform Lead