On May 8, PhilWEN and PBCWE had the honor of hosting a Farewell Luncheon for Her Excellency HK Yu PSM, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, at Makati City, Philippines.

We were privileged to be joined by Ambassador Yu, along with our valued partners from the Australian Embassy and Investing in Women, led by Workplace Gender Equality (WGE) Director Maya Juwita. Also in attendance were PhilWEN Founding Chairperson & President and PBCWE Governing Council Chairperson, Ma. Aurora “Boots” Geotina-Garcia, PhilWEN Chairperson, Cristina Concepcion, and our esteemed PhilWEN Trustees: Pacita Juan and Imelda Nicolas.

A heartfelt thank you to our PBCWE member companies who attended: Aboitiz Infracapital, Acciona Infrastructure, AXA Philippines, Carelon Global Solutions, Concentrix Philippines, FactSet Philippines, InLife, A. Magsaysay Inc., Meralco, PLDT, SGV & Co., South Asialink Finance Corporation, and Teleperformance Philippines. It was a privilege to recognize Ambassador Yu’s impactful work in advancing women’s empowerment throughout her tenure in the Philippines. In her remarks, Ms. Boots highlighted Ambassador Yu’s steadfast support for WGE, Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE), and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

While expressing her gratitude, Ambassador Yu emphasized the crucial role of DEI in today’s rapidly evolving world. She underscored that adopting a DEI perspective is not only the right thing to do—it is also a strategic business imperative that fosters innovation, resilience, and long-term success.

Maraming salamat, Ambassador HK Yu. You are a true champion and an inspiring figure for women leaders in public service. We wish you all the best in your next endeavor!