ASEAN Summit

Harpswell ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit

Many Countries. One Sisterhood.

This annual summit brings together a cohort of young women aged 25-35, two from each of the ten countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as Nepal, for a 5-month leadership development and professional networking program culminating in a week-long gathering in Penang, Malaysia.

The only gathering of its kind in the region, the summit is organized in collaboration with the Center for Research on Women and Gender. For participants, the Summit is a unique opportunity to join forces with other young women in the region, building lasting bonds as collaborators and life-long friends.

We are excited to announce that the sixth Harpswell ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit will take place from May-September 2025! Application are open - see below for instructions.

Summit Structure

For the first time, the Summit will take a new hybrid form, expanding the program’s depth and impact over the course of five months.

Leadership Beyond Borders

The 2025 Summit is designed to advance positive change in Southeast Asia by creating a network of women’s leaders who have a deep understanding of the ASEAN region alongside meaningful, lifelong relationships with peers across borders. 

An extension of Harpswell’s Cambodian higher education leadership curriculum, the Summit is structured as a mix of lectures, workshops, site visits and group activities. Summit trainers represent leading experts from academia, industry and community development throughout Southeast Asia and beyond.

  • Dr. Alan Lightman, Professor of the Practice of Humanities, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Founder and Board Chair at Harpswell

  • Penny Burtt, Head of Public Policy and Government Relations at Stripe. Formerly held leadership positions with global multinationals Visa Inc. and McKinsey and Co. Most recently led AsiaLink at the University of Melbourne

  • Professor Dr. Noraida Endut, Unit for Research on Women and Gender, KANITA, School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

  • Professor Dr. Rashidah Shuib, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, USM. Former director of KANITA

    Dr. Vannarith Chheang, President at Asian Vision Institute. Previously Southeast Asia Analyst at the Nippon Foundation

  • Alison Pavia, Executive Director of Harpswell. Previously Executive Director at Peter C Alderman Foundation and REServe and former attorney

Past Trainers & Topics Include:

May 2025 ❋ Virtual

The Summit will launch in May with two virtual introductory sessions, each 1.5 hours. Participants will introduce their passions and professional work, as well as meet the Harpswell team.

*Note: All virtual activities will take place outside of regular business hours.

June-August 2025 ❋ Virtual

During these three months, the program will host twice-monthly 3-hour virtual learning sessions, learning about the state of the ASEAN region with diverse experts. Participants will also work in small groups meeting once monthly to collaborate on addressing a relevant, regional challenge. 

Sept. 13-21, 2025 ❋ In Person

The cohort will gather at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in beautiful Penang for one week of collaboration, exploration and networking. Many of the trainers and facilitators that are part of the 3-month virtual program will also join this face-to-face element of the program.

Harpswell covers all travel, meals and accommodation for participants. Following the Summit, the women leaders are also eligible to apply for Social Impact Grants.

Who should apply?

We welcome applications from women, aged 25 to 35, from ASEAN countries and Nepal, who demonstrate:

  • A keen interest in social change and women’s leadership

  • Leadership potential through academic achievement or professional accomplishment

  • Willingness to share, explore and grow in self-identity, cultural diversity and worldview

  • A curiosity about the experiences of others in the region

  • Strong English language skills

Harpswell is committed to gathering a diverse and inclusive cohort. We welcome applicants from any race, ethnicity, social background, religion, disability and sexual orientation. We know that learning from those with experiences different from our own makes us more compassionate and effective leaders. We look forward to the broad range of perspectives our participants will bring the the 2025 Summit. 

Applications for 2025 are now open!

Interested applicants are welcome to apply through this link - applications will close on February 14, 2025.

Want to learn more or ask questions about the Summit application? Join us for a virtual informational meeting on Wednesday, January 15 at 8:00pm MYT. Register here.

Please reach out with any questions to Summit Senior Administrator Dr. Leila Mojaher at leila@harpswell.org.

How to Apply

“The summit experience inspired me to do research and establish a social media platform about sexual violence against women in Indonesia. It’s been life-changing for me.”

— Zenny Rezania Dewantary, Lecturer of Law at President University, Harpswell ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit: Indonesia