Logistics fame Tania amongst 15 selected for EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific class of 2023

IAS Holdings Ltd., Group Managing Director Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny is among 15 selected for the EY’s Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific class of 2023, whose combined revenue was over $ 200 million last year and employed over 1,5000.

Commenting on her selection Tania said: “I am delighted and very humbled to get this recognition more so for being chosen from the entire Asia Pacific region.”

“This is a recognition for the entire industry, paving the way for young entrepreneurs to see opportunity in the field of logistics. More so, it breaks the perception that the industry is male dominated. This recognition comes at a time when the country is struggling and brings positivity and proves that Sri Lanka can always strive to do better and thrive during tough times,” Tania added.

She also thanked the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce, as it is from being selected as the Prathibhabhisheka ‒ The Most Outstanding Export Oriented Women Entrepreneur -Services which paved the way for this global recognition. 

EY Country Managing Partner of Sri Lanka Manil Jayesinghe said: “EY Sri Lanka takes pride in recognising and helping our women entrepreneurs to grow and scale globally through this excellent program. This is the seventh year we have sent nominations for the program, and it is indeed a credit to our women entrepreneurs that they have secured a nomination each year.” 

“This shows that we have entrepreneurs that have the capacity to be recognised globally. I wish Tania all the best and we will do our best to help her with the next stage of her journey to be a globally recognised entrepreneur,” he said. 

The EY organisation said its Entrepreneurial Winning Women is a bespoke executive education program that identifies and supports savvy, ambitious female entrepreneurs with established, profitable businesses to unlock their full potential and show others what is possible.

This year’s cohort of new entrepreneurs are focused on solving the world’s significant challenges of today. Representing Australia, Greater China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Sri Lanka in the Asia-Pacific Region, they bring an innovative and disruptive mindset, as well as a vision with sustainable development, which has led to their successes in the market and ambition for the global network.

EY Asia-Pacific Risk Management Leader and EY Asia-Pacific Women Fast Forward Executive Sponsor Claire Cardno said: “The program is designed to support women entrepreneurs to break down barriers and become global market leaders. We celebrate women’s achievements not just today, but every day, and we are here to help them realise their ambition and contribute to a better future for the world.”

This year’s participants run high-growth businesses across a wide variety of sectors including health, logistics, IT, education, biopharmaceutical and automotive. According to EY analysis, these companies generated a combined revenue of more than US$200m in 2022 and employed more than 1,500 people.

Asia-Pacific EY Private Leader, and Co-Executive Sponsor, EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific Loletta Chow said: “As the world economy is recovering from the past few years, this group of women entrepreneurs are tackling multiple challenges and turning obstacles into bigger opportunities for their business growth. We are glad to support these unstoppable female entrepreneurs and provide them with the advice and resources they need to scale their businesses.”

EY Global Talent Leader - Strategy and Transactions and EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Global Executive Sponsor Kath Carter said: “This executive leadership program gives women entrepreneurs access to successful role models and to international networks, which is critical for them to accelerate growth. Congratulations to this year’s cohort of Entrepreneurial Winning Women in Asia-Pacific, what a fantastic achievement!”

The Asia-Pacific program is part of a worldwide community of EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women. Launched in 2008, the program now has over 800 women entrepreneurs, building companies in over 49 countries across all industries.

The 2023 members of the Asia-Pacific EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program are:

IAS Holdings Ltd. Group Managing Director Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny (Sri Lanka), 

Setec BMPRO Pty Ltd. CEO and Managing Director Louise Bayliss (Australia), 

Planet Protector Packaging Founder and CEO Joanne Howarth (Australia),  

Kuaikan Comics Founder and CEO Anny Chen (Greater China), 

Julius Industries Ltd and INNOTIER Founder and President Juliana Lam (Greater China), 

HighTide Therapeutics, Inc. Founder and CEO Dr. Liping Liu (Greater China), 

Refine Biology CEO Xiaoyun Wang (Greater China), 

NaaS Technology Inc.Founder and CEO Yang Wang (Greater China), 

Mentor For CEO Masako Ikehara (Japan), 

Miwako Ishido (Japan), AutoPhagyGO Inc. President and CEO

mederi Co., Ltd.Founder and CEO Arisa Sakanashi (Japan), 

SIRC Co., Ltd.CEO Mariko Takahashi (Japan), 

Aba Inc. Founder and CEO Yoshimi Wie (Japan), 

Antipodes Wellness Ltd.Founder and CEO Elizabeth Barbalich (New Zealand) and 

Finda Inc.Co-Founder and Co-CEO Hyemin Lee (South Korea),