SILS: Supporting Vulnerable Communities Affected by COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the world’s most vulnerable communities, particularly women and children. In response, social impact organizations around the globe have created and leveraged innovative strategies to ensure that holistic and quick support is delivered to those who need it the most.

On Wednesday, 13 January, join The Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation and the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for the first installment of this year’s Social Impact Leadership Series, “Supporting Vulnerable Communities Affected by COVID-19.”

Featuring prominent nonprofit leaders whose organizations advocate for women in Chicago and Hong Kong, this conversational event will explore how their organizations have changed course in response to the pandemic and offer recommendations for how other organizations can creatively support the women and children who have carried the weight of the pandemic’s repercussions.

Ample time will be left for Q&A at the end of the session. Registrants are invited to submit questions for the speakers in the registration form.

Event Schedule

8:00 a.m.: Opening remarks

8:05 a.m.: Fireside chat with panel

8:45 a.m.: Q&A session

9:00 a.m.: Close of event

About the Speaker

Dorri McWhorter, CEO, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago; Nonprofit Engagement Executive in Residence, Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation

Dorri McWhorter is CEO of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, where since 2013 she has worked to transform the 140-year-old social service agency into a 21st century social enterprise. McWhorter, who has over 20 years of experience in large-scale change management consulting, led the YWCA’s expansion of digital services with the launch of YShop.org (e-commerce platform), womenshealthexchange.org (health insurance and information), and the MPWR, pronounced “empower”, mobile app (community engagement). She also helped develop an exchange traded fund (ETF) for women’s empowerment in partnership with Impact Shares. Previously, McWhorter was a partner at accounting firm Crowe Horwath LLP and has held senior positions with Snap-on Incorporated and Booz Allen Hamilton. She has won numerous innovation awards, including being a 2019 Inductee in the Chicago Innovation Hall of Fame.

Bowie Lam ’20 (AXP-19), Executive Director, Teen’s Key

Bowie Lam is the founder and Executive Director of Teen’s Key – Young Women Development Network.

Bowie was compelled to start Teen’s Key 9 years ago after a serial murderer killed four sex workers in Hong Kong in 2008 and a 16-year-old girl was murdered and dismembered by her drug-addicted client. She realized the enormity of the societal and cultural issues in Hong Kong that made sex workers, especially young women and girls, so vulnerable, isolated, and hopeless.

Bowie and her team have worked tirelessly advocating and campaigning for the safety and well-being of young women and girls in the industry. To date, Teen’s Key has provided support, education, and services to over 10,000 young women and girls in Hong Kong.

Bowie holds a Master of Non-Profit Management from the University of Hong Kong and EMBA program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Georgette Tan, President, United Women Singapore (UWS)

Georgette Tan is president of United Women Singapore (UWS), a nonprofit organisation advocating gender equality and women’s empowerment and focused on building the pipeline of future female leaders.

She is on the board of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) and is chair of BoardAgender, an initiative of SCWO focused on increasing the number of women on boards and senior management positions.

Georgette serves on the Taskforce on Family Violence which is co-chaired by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Georgette was previously Senior Vice President, Communications at Mastercard, where for over 18 years, she was responsible for external and internal communication, and launched Mastercard’s Knowledge Leadership strategy with the establishment of numerous consumer, lifestyle, and gender indexes. She also spearheaded Mastercard’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts which focused on education and development programs to help empower women and children across the Asia Pacific region.

Prior to joining Mastercard, Georgette was Vice President of Communications at CNBC Asia and Dow Jones Asia, and also held senior communications roles at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board.

About the Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation provides resources and programs to help the city’s NGOs, nonprofit leaders, and social entrepreneurs do their best work. Operated by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Programme offers a range of opportunities, including scholarships, social entrepreneurship workshops, and trainings for NGO boards of directors and board members.