In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Taylor’s University shines a spotlight on three remarkable women whose work is shaping more inclusive, resilient, and compassionate communities. From climate-responsive design and dementia care to sustainable food innovation, their leadership reflects a powerful truth: transformative change begins with steadfast voices grounded in purpose, empathy, and evidence.
At the forefront of climate and sustainability advocacy is Dr Praveena Nair Sivasankaran, Director of the Clean Technology Impact Lab. With over a decade of experience in clean technology, she founded ‘Cooling the Heat, Healing the Mind’ (CHHM) to examine how extreme heat affects mental health while exploring practical cooling strategies. Her conviction was strengthened after engaging with frontline personnel who described the psychological toll of working under prolonged heat stress. For Dr Praveena, climate resilience must go beyond infrastructure — it must account for the human nervous system. Collaborating with students from The Design School, she has proposed wearable cooling concepts and monitoring ideas informed by direct engagement with outdoor vendors. Her approach to sustainability is deeply human-centred, emphasising dignity, behavioural awareness, and inclusive participation, particularly ensuring women’s voices are meaningfully integrated into environmental decision-making.
Championing cognitive health and dignified ageing, Professor Dr Rozainee Khairudin, Director of the Mental Health and Well-being Impact Lab, brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work. Inspired by witnessing her late mother’s journey through stroke-related cognitive decline, she leads ‘ArtsProud: An Intervention Study Using Artistic Methods to Reduce Cognitive Decline in Normal Elderly and Individuals with Dementia’ in Malaysia. Building on the original ArtsProud social enterprise initiative, her research strengthens the evidence base for arts-based interventions, demonstrating that structured engagement in music, storytelling, movement, and art can activate neural networks and reduce cognitive decline. In a field often dominated by biomedical models, Professor Rozainee advocates for integrating behavioural science, empathy, and creativity into dementia care. She believes compassion is not a weakness in academia but a strength — one that deepens impact and builds trust across communities.
In the realm of food innovation and nutrition security, Professor Ts. Dr. Chong Li Choo has earned international recognition, including the President’s Award from The Research Chefs Association and the Food Innovation Educator Award 2025. Yet for her, accolades affirm relevance rather than personal achievement. Through initiatives such as Nourish-U, she works with schools, meal providers, and community partners to design balanced, affordable meals while transferring practical nutritional knowledge to caregivers and educators. Her research journey, which began with developing high-fibre noodles from underutilised plantain and agricultural by-products, reflects her belief that small, thoughtful innovations can collectively address complex issues like the coexistence of obesity and malnutrition. As a mentor, she is especially committed to nurturing young female talents, encouraging confidence and resilience among students who may underestimate their own capabilities.
Together, these three leaders embody a model of women’s leadership that is steady rather than loud, evidence-driven yet compassionate. Whether confronting climate stress, cognitive decline, or food insecurity, their work demonstrates that sustainable solutions must integrate technical expertise with human wellbeing. This International Women’s Day, their stories serve as a reminder that meaningful progress is not only about innovation — it is about inclusion, dignity, and the courage to lead with clarity and care.
