SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) reinforced its push for climate resilience at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s Women International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Excellence Awards held in Bangkok on Nov. 25.
In her speech before regional policymakers and development leaders, SM Prime Vice President for Design, Innovation, and Strategy Jessica Bianca Sy said the honorees demonstrate how timely data, early warning systems, and community-focused solutions can significantly reduce disaster impacts and build long-term resilience. “It’s an initiative we deeply believe in,” Sy said as she highlighted SM Prime’s continuing support for WIN DRR.
Indonesia’s Nashin Mahtani, who leads the Disaster Map Foundation (Yayasan Peta Bencana), received the Rising Star Award for expanding real-time risk-mapping systems used by millions across Southeast Asia.
Kiribati’s Takena Redfern, acting director of the country’s Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Division, won the Excellence Award for leading the development of the nation’s “Early Warnings for All” roadmap.
This year’s awards drew more than 200 nominations, with the panel recognizing seven Rising Stars and seven Excellence Award finalists.
SM Prime, known for its ESG+R sustainability framework, has supported the WIN DRR program since 2021 through a partnership with the Australian government. The program highlights women across the Asia-Pacific region who are working to reduce disaster risk and strengthen community preparedness amid increasingly frequent climate-related events.
A panel discussion on women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction followed the ceremony, featuring Asia Pacific College President Maria Teresita Pastor Medado.
The event concluded with a consultation on WIN DRR’s future direction, with SM Prime represented by Pearly Joan Jayagan Turley, senior assistant vice president for Corporate Compliance and program director of SM Cares for Women.
