The PAM Social & Community Responsibility Committee (SCR), led by Ar. Rushdina, proudly announces the receipt of a prestigious grant from the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM) under the Perantis Program.
In 2024, SCR is dedicated to empowering women in the built environment. This initiative is aligned with the Urban Agenda set forth by the International Union of Architects (UIA) framework for Architecture for All, embracing the core principle:
“A City for Women: A City is Safe if Women are Safe.”
Adding prestige to the event, En. Rabbani from the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM), the officer in charge of the Perantis Program, graced the event and delivered an inspiring keynote speech. His presence underscored the ministry’s unwavering commitment to uplifting women in professional fields and further solidified the collaboration between PAM and KPWKM.
Program Goals
The program seeks to uplift women architects while cultivating a deeper understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity across all architectural practices. Among 355 applicants, PAM is honored to be one of the top 25 recipients, securing the full grant amount—a first in the program’s history.
Program Overview
To maximize this opportunity, the initiative is structured into three pivotal components:
❤️ Program 1 – Hi-Tea & Networking Event
This event included:
- Roundtable Forum with esteemed leaders and professionals from the construction industry, featuring:
- WIBM: Dato’ Ar. Nafisah Radin (President of WIBM)
- PAM: Datuk Ar. Tan Pei Ing (Past President of PAM)
- CIDB: Ts. Shahreen Ghazali (Senior Manager, CIDB)
- Engineering: Ir. Ts. Bibi Sabrena Sakandar Khan
- ILAM: Lar. Wan Salamatul Juita Wan Hashim (ILAM Member)
- BQS: Sr. Dainna Binti Baharuddin (Board Member)
- WIBM: Sr. Dr. Hjh. Wan Maimunah Wan Abdullah (Past President of WIBM)
- An Exhibition of Women Architects’ Works
- Pop-up Booths showcasing creative products
This event drew over 100 participants, marking a significant milestone with six panelists confirmed—a coordination feat typically requiring months of planning.
The event culminated in an exclusive Hi-Tea Networking Session on the PAM CENTER rooftop, featuring the signing of an MOU between PAM and the Women in Construction Industry Malaysia (WIBM). This MOU solidified their strategic partnership for Programs 2 & 3 and other future initiatives.
As part of the event, PAM SCR proudly recognized its pioneer member, Datin Seri Ar. Dr. Norwina Binti Mohd Nawawi, as the recipient of the PAM Prestige Award 2025 for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity. This honor highlights her invaluable contributions to advancing inclusivity in the architectural profession and her unwavering dedication to empowering women in the built environment.
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Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Strategic Collaboration Between PERTUBUHAN AKITEK MALAYSIA (PPM-008-14-20011967) AND PERTUBUHAN WANITA INDUSTRI BINAAN MALAYSIA
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) confirms that Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) and Pertubuhan Wanita Industri Binaan Malaysia (WIBM) will collaborate to implement activities approved under the Perantis Grant provided by the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM) to the Social & Community Responsibility Committee (SCR) of Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia, for the implementation of the PAM Women Architects Empowerment Program.
The collaboration is as follows:
- Program 1: Hi-Tea Networking (Roundtable Forum Conference, Exhibition of Women Architects’ Firms, Recognition of Key Figures)
- Program 2: Face-to-Face Workshop: Empowering the Women Architects Community
- Program 3: Motivational Webinar and Self-Improvement for the Empowerment of the Women Architects Community in Malaysia
- Programs 2 & 3 will involve professional members from various fields within Pertubuhan Wanita Industri Binaan Malaysia to act as mentors for the Women Architects Community in Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia.
- No professional fees will be provided, except for a token of appreciation as approved by the Perantis grant.
- In the future, this collaboration aims to serve as a partnership in: I. Opening opportunities for knowledge-sharing, ideas, and practices II. Collaborating in related training consultancy III. Working together on improving business methods within the Construction Industry IV. Collaborating on research, publications, innovation, and commercialization V. Providing and facilitating opportunities for the Malaysian Architects community to engage in women’s empowerment programs VI. And VII. Other collaborative programs as mutually agreed upon.
❤️ Program 2 – Mentor-Mentee Workshop (Target: December 2024)
Focused on personal and professional development, this workshop will be led by experienced mentors from WIBM.
❤️ Program 3 – Mentor-Mentee Webinar (Target: January – March 2025)
An online knowledge-sharing session connecting women architects with diverse construction professionals, continuing the momentum from the workshop.
Outcomes and Documentation
The outcomes of these programs, including insights and feedback, will be compiled into a special article to be published on International Women’s Day 2025. Documentation from the forum and event has been meticulously recorded by Prof. Dr. Veronica from Taylor’s University, ensuring a comprehensive resource for future reference.
PAM’s Commitment to Equity
PAM prioritizes equity over equality, recognizing the unique contributions of both men and women. The mission is to empower women architects to thrive and lead in the architectural profession.
In partnership with WIBM, Programs 2 and 3 will feature expert mentorship and emphasize building impactful connections among women architects and other professionals in the construction industry.
Strategic Alliance Between PAM and WIBM
Why WIBM? Architects are pivotal to the success of any development, but their vision cannot be realized without a robust team. WIBM, encompassing professionals across construction-related industries, offers a unique platform for networking, collaboration, and resource-sharing.
This strategic alliance enables PAM to:
- Access WIBM’s extensive network and resources.
- Strengthen initiatives through partnerships aligned with broader government priorities.
- Amplify the voices of women in the built environment, creating pathways for impactful contributions.
Through WIBM’s mission of uniting professionals across diverse sectors, PAM aims to ensure that women architects benefit from these opportunities to advance their careers and redefine their role in the industry.
Conclusion of PAM Women Architect’s Empowerment Program under SCR comittee;
The program also underscores the immense benefits of connecting with organizations like WIBM and collaborating with the government, under Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development that seeking strategic partners for future programs and collaborations for the government. . This also to enabling PAM to strengthen its initiatives and elevate its influence within the architectural and construction industries. Through the leadership of the PAM SCR Committee, these alliances position PAM to achieve new milestones and drive impactful change, taking the organization to the next level of excellence.