Fact Sheet EVENT INFORMATION Her World Woman of the Year Gala Dinner Date: 6 March 2008 Time: 7pm to 10pm Venue: The Fullerton Hotel Guest-of-Honour: Dr Lee Boon Yang , Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Expected Turnout: 250pax Sponsors: Lancôme and Carl F Bucherer HER WORLD WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD An annual award presented since 1991. It honours a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to society, whether in her profession, the arts, business, politics, community service or sports. Judging Criteria The award is presented to a woman who: • Has achieved largely due to her efforts, and whose achievements have brought her to the public notice in 2008. • Has projected the best image of Singapore at home or abroad, and her accomplishments will leave a lasting impression. • Is an inspiration and a role model for other women. Our past winners include: Her World Women of the Year 1991 Professor Chan Heng Chee 1992 Dr Kanwaljit Soin 1993 Mrs Hedwig Anuar 1994 Mrs Leaena Tambyah 1995 Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon 1996 Mrs Fang Ai Lian 1997 Mrs Elizabeth Sam 1998 Ms Claire Chiang 1999 Ms Jennie Chua 2000 Dr Jennifer Lee 2001 Ms Chng Seok Tin 2002 Ms Olivia Lum 2003 Mdm Halimah Yacob 2004 Ms Annabel Pennefather 2005 Ms Euleen Goh 2006 Ms Lim Soo Hoon 2007 Dr Noeleen Heyzer Her World Woman of the Year Special Award 1999 Teresa Hsu HER WORLD YOUNG WOMAN ACHIEVER AWARD First presented in 1999, this award recognises and rewards young women who aim higher and reach further to achieve more. They come from all spheres of life. They push back existing boundaries, inspiring those around them and paving the way for future generations. This award celebrates the success of these young women who prove just how much can be achieved by individuals. Judging Criteria Specifically, the award is presented to a young woman who: • Is 35 years old or below as at 31 December 2008 • Has been recognised for her work, and has demonstrated the potential for attaining a higher level of success in her chosen field. • Is an inspiration to other women. Our past winners include: Her World Young Woman Achiever 1999 Kit Chan 2000 Jing Junhong 2001 Stephanie Sun 2002 Elim Chew 2003 Dr Wong Ting Hway 2004 Li Jia Wei 2005 Theresa Goh 2006 Esther Tan Cheng Yin 2007 Melissa Aratani Kwee Her World Woman of the Year 2008 – Award Recipient Winner: GOH SOO KHIM CO-FOUNDER, SINGAPORE DANCE THEATRE (SDT) Biodata Age: 64 Marital status: Married Children: 4 Why Her Known as the doyenne of dance in Singapore, Goh held the post of Artistic Director at the Singapore Dance Theatre for 20 years. She has groomed many top dancers, soloists and choreographers under her tutelage. The role will be passed on to Janek Schergen, Assistant Artistic Director in the SDT since 1988. He will take over in January 2009. Education / Awards / Scholarships 2002 : Awarded a fellowship at LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts 1989 : Awarded the National Day Public Service Medal for her contributions to dance 1981 : Received the Cultural Medallion Award for Dance 1964 : First Asian dancer to be admitted to the Australian Ballet School Professional Experience 2003: Goh became the first Asian invited to sit on the international jury for the Benois de la Danse Prix in Moscow, the ballet world's version of the Oscars. 1995: Goh launched the Ballet Under the Stars programme, an outdoor ballet performance that is still going on strong today. 1995: She helped to merge the Singapore Dance Theatre with the Singapore Ballet Academy, and the entire body is known as the Singapore Dance Theatre today. 1992 : Goh led the Singapore Dance Theatre to produce its first full-length ballet, The Nutcracker , at the Kallang Theatre. The two-hour, two-act production had a cast of 160 ranging from 20 professional dancers to teachers and students from 40 ballet groups and schools. It marked the acknowledgement of ballet as an art form in Singapore. 1988 : Started the Singapore Dance Theatre with the late Anthony Then. 1984 : Founded the National Ballet Group with artistic director Anthony Then. 1971 : She took up the post of Director and Principal Dancer at the Singapore Ballet Academy. Her sister, Goh Soo Nee, is the co-founder of the Singapore Ballet Academy. Community Contribution She created awareness for the arts in Singapore, particularly in the area of dance, when the arts was just a fledgling scene. Goh helped to groom many top-notch ballet dancers such as Jamaludin Jalil, now the Deputy Head at the Department of Dance at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts; and well-known choreographers in the field, Kuik Swee Boon, Jeffrey Tan and Mohamed Noor Sarman. Extras / Quotes “She was such a huge inspiration to me as a young girl. She has given me this gift - the wonderful world of dance - it is in my blood now. Of course, my journey came with sacrifices but it has been worth it.” Principal dancer at SDT, Cheah Mei Sing, on her mentor, Goh, in an article published in The Straits Times “She is almost like a mother to me in this company. But I understand she has dedicated her life to this company and it is time she takes some time for herself.” – Xia Hai Ying, a dancer at SDT on her mentor Goh, in the same article in The Straits Times published on July 23, 2008. Her World Young Woman Achiever 2008– Award Recipients Winners: YIP PIN XIU PARALYMPIC CHAMPION, GOLD MEDALIST AT RECENT PARALYMPICS Biodata Age: 16 Marital status: Single Children: None Why Her She suffers from muscular dystrophy, and despite her getting weaker everyday, she fought on to win the first gold medal for Singapore at the Paralympics. She has been in knee-to-foot braces since age two, and became wheelchair-bound at 11. Despite her physical disabilities, she remains cheery and positive and takes things in her stride. Education / Awards / Scholarships September 2008 : She became the first Singaporean to win a gold medal at the Paralympics in the women’s 50m backstroke event. She also won a silver medal in the 50m freestyle. Both her timings set new world records. Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has announced that she will be conferred the Meritorious Service Medal. This is the third time the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal has been conferred on athletes – previous recipients included Tan Howe Liang, an Olympic weightlifting champion and swimmer Joscelin Yeo. 2005 – Current : Student at Bendemeer Secondary School Professional Experience 2004 – Current : Started training competitively with the Singapore Paralympics swimming team 1997 : Started swimming at age five Community Contribution Despite being affected by muscular dystrophy, she trained hard and even won a gold medal for Singapore at the Paralympics. She has even said that she wants to train even harder to retain her title at the 2012 Paralympics, showing her grit and determination. Extras / Quotes “I like the way I am now. I enjoy being me. If I could kick, I might not be the world-record holder in three events now,” – in an interview in the Straits Times, published September 19, 2008. LAURENTIA TAN EQUESTRAIN RIDER BRONZE MEDALIST AT PARALYMPICS Biodata Age: 29 Marital status: Single Children: None Why Her Laurentia was born with cerebral palsy and profound deafness, yet it did not prevent her from training hard to become Asia’s first medallist for equestrian riding. Laurentia moved to the United Kingdom with her parents at the age of three. She took up horse riding at age of five years as a form of physiotherapy. She subsequently completed her A-levels at the Mary Hare Grammar School, a residential special school for the deaf, and graduated with an honours degree from Oxford Brookes University in hospitality management and tourism. Education / Awards / Scholarships September 2008 : Won two bronzes at the Paralympics. Conferred the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) by the President of Singapore at a ceremony at the Istana Singapore on 20 September 2008. 1997: Completed her A levels at Mary Hare Grammar school, UK, a boarding school for the deaf. Did her honours degree in Hospitality Management and Tourism. Professional Experience June 2008: Quit her job as a mental health worker to train for the Paralympics full time. Community Contribution As a mental health worker, she worked with mentally ill patients in her community, despite having an honours degree in Hospitality Management and tourism. Extras / Quotes 'I've always found a way round to do things,' she said. For example, she insists on talking to people directly, rather than relying solely on her mother to interpret for her. And she is adamant about eating with chopsticks, even though holding them with her awkward hands is a struggle. As a child, she played football and cricket with her brother Ephraim, now 33 and an aerospace engineer, and even swam competitively. 'I have a perfectionist trait and can be quite determined, always persevering towards my goals,' she said. Singapore Disability Sports Council staff Kelly Fan noted: 'Laurentia is a very optimistic girl, and when you speak to her, you can tell that her passion is in horse riding.' PRIZES FOR THE AWARD RECIPIENTS Prizes for Her World Woman of the Year and Young Woman Achiever 2008 - a Carl F Bucherer watch and a Tiffany prism trophy each. .