Manufacturing is entering a new era, and the shift is not just about technology—it is about redesigning jobs, skills, and pathways into the industry. The question is whether people will be equipped—and invited—to participate in this transition. To this end, GWA hosted a roundtable discussion in DC, sponsored by Foxconn, that convened business representatives and policy experts to discuss the future of new manufacturing innovation and the social impacts it will have.

Global Women Asia is proud to announce Renu Bhatia and Jonathan Friedland as the newest members of its Board of Directors. Renu, Co-Founder of Opharmic Technology and former Chair of the Listing Committee for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, brings over 25 years of expertise across healthcare, finance, and technology. Jonathan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former Chief Communications Officer at Netflix, contributes deep experience in global media and corporate communications across Asia and Latin America. GWA is honored to have both Renu and Jonathan on our team to help strengthen GWA’s mission and values.

On May 1, Global Women Asia’s Singapore-based fellows and advisors gathered for a luncheon with founder @WenchiYu and two distinguished former U.S. ambassadors, @PhilVerveer and @MelanneVerveer, for a wide-ranging conversation on the geopolitical shifts, technological disruptions, and economic forces reshaping our world. The discussion focused on some of today’s most pressing challenges and bright spots, and on sharing views between Southeast Asia and the United States.

Manufacturing is entering a transformative phase known as New Manufacturing, where technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, advanced materials, and digital design are reshaping how industries create value.

Asia has emerged as the central driver of this transformation. An often overlooked advantage behind this momentum is Asia’s strong female talent pipeline in STEM fields, with several economies reporting high shares of female researchers and science graduates.

While women are well represented in universities and research roles, they are still underrepresented in executive positions across the technology and manufacturing sectors. Global Women Asia (GWA) works to bridge this gap by supporting female innovators and connecting them to leadership opportunities shaping the future of New Manufacturing.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Global Women Asia hosted its first ever online reunion of fellows. Bringing together leaders across fields of Sustainability, STEM, and Health Innovation, GWA continues to foster a global network of leaders working to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Nominate a fellow to help invest in the next generation of leaders.

Global Women Asia co-hosted a roundtable with Stanford University’s Taiwan Hub, convening tech leaders, investors, and researchers to discuss New Manufacturing Innovation in Asia. As we continue exploring the relationship between humans and technology during the fourth industrial revolution, we invite you to nominate women for the New Manufacturing Innovation Fellowship.

As GWA introduces our 2026 focus theme of New Manufacturing Innovation, we kicked off January with a series of roundtable discussions in Singapore, Shenzhen, and Taipei.