IWDA WELCOMES DR KAR MEI TANG AS BOARD CO-CHAIR
IWDA is proud to announce the appointment of Dr Kar Mei Tang as Co-Chair of IWDA’s Board.
Kar Mei joined the IWDA Board earlier in 2024, and now joins Co-Chair Kristen Wallwork in this co-leadership position.
Kar Mei brings a depth of experience to her role as Co-Chair, drawing from her expertise as an economist and policy consultant. She is Head of Oceania for the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the world’s leading international network of investors supporting responsible investment.
Prior to this she was the Chief Circular Economist with the State Government-backed NSW Circular, and held senior executive roles in the New South Wales Government. She is currently Deputy Chair (Industry & Policy) of the Women in Economics National Committee, and sits on a number of advisory boards and committees including for the Gateway Bank, Deakin University and the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute. Kar Mei began her career as a financial services regulator in Malaysia.
Kar Mei has a PhD in Economics (University of Sydney), Masters in Applied Statistics (ANU) and Bachelor of Commerce (Honours, University of Melbourne).
She looks forward to contributing her knowledge and experience to IWDA’s leadership.
“My Board colleagues, including Co-Chair Kristen Wallwork, all bring deep expertise and knowledge to IWDA. I’m looking forward to working alongside them, as well as IWDA’s executive leadership team, to strengthen the organisation’s impact and realise our vision of a fairer, gender-equal society for all,” she said.
The year ahead promises to be a period of renewed energy for IWDA, as the Board and staff prepare to develop a new Strategic Plan for the organisation. IWDA will also mark its 40th Anniversary in 2025, providing an opportunity to commemorate our herstory and define our future.
“I feel privileged to step into the Co-Chair role at such an exciting time for IWDA,” Kar Mei said. “The organisation has strong foundations and this is an exciting opportunity to build on these to achieve our goals: to build women’s capacity, agency and human rights in all areas of development.”
IWDA transitioned to a Co-Chair model in 2021, reflecting a commitment to a feminist approach to leadership that values diverse skills and lived experiences.
