Celebrating Women Who Lead, Serve, and Transform Communities
In a world where leadership is often measured in titles and achievements, there are women quietly creating change in ways that transform lives, strengthen communities, and inspire others to follow their path.
The Indoindians Extraordinary Women Awards 2026, held in collaboration with the Embassy of India in Jakarta, celebrated precisely these women — individuals whose work extends beyond personal success and reflects a deeper commitment to service, leadership, and community impact.
Hosted at the Embassy of India Auditorium in Jakarta, the event unfolded as a powerful celebration of women’s leadership and cross-cultural collaboration, reinforcing the enduring people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Opening the event, Poonam Sagar, Founder of Indoindians, reflected on the inspiration behind the awards.
“When we started Indoindians, the vision was to build a bridge between India and Indonesia — a community where culture, ideas, and people could come together. Over time, we realised that many remarkable women within our community were quietly transforming lives and mindsets. These awards were created to shine a light on those stories,” she said.
The gathering was further enriched by keynote addresses from H.E. Sandeep Chakravorty, Ambassador of India to Indonesia, and Ulziisuren Jamsran, Head of UN Women Indonesia and Liaison to ASEAN, who both highlighted the vital role women play in shaping inclusive societies and addressing global challenges.
At the heart of the event were five inspiring women whose journeys demonstrate that leadership is defined not only by professional success, but by the impact one creates in the lives of others.
The Awardees of 2026
Social Impact Award: Ade Damayanti
Ade Damayanti has dedicated her work to empowering communities across Indonesia, particularly in remote and underserved regions. Through years of engagement with grassroots organizations and indigenous communities, she has championed the importance of local participation in development initiatives.
Her approach is rooted in listening, learning, and building solutions alongside the communities she serves. By working closely with local groups, Ade has helped create programs that strengthen livelihoods, improve education access, and encourage sustainable community development.
Her work demonstrates that true social impact begins at the grassroots — where empathy, collaboration, and respect for local wisdom come together to create lasting change.
Writer, advocate, and community voice, Aruna Harjani has long been a champion for women’s empowerment and solidarity.
Through her writing and community engagement, Aruna encourages women to recognize their own value and to support one another in their personal and professional journeys. Her message is simple yet powerful: when women uplift each other, entire communities benefit.
Aruna’s work reminds us that community leadership does not always happen in boardrooms or institutions. Sometimes it happens through conversations, stories, and the courage to speak about issues that matter.
Corporate Impact Award: Cicin Winedar
In the corporate world, Cicin Winedar has been a strong advocate for inclusive leadership and workplace equity.
Her work focuses on creating environments where talent is recognized beyond traditional barriers and where women are empowered to grow into leadership roles. She has consistently championed policies and organizational cultures that value diversity, fairness, and opportunity.
Cicin believes that when organizations create space for different voices and perspectives, they become stronger, more innovative, and more resilient.
Her leadership reflects the growing recognition that the future of business must be both inclusive and responsible.
Leadership Award: Nendra Yelena Sarina
A passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, Nendra Yelena Sarina has been instrumental in supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Indonesia.
Her work focuses on empowering entrepreneurs — particularly women — to develop sustainable businesses and expand economic opportunities within their communities.
By mentoring and supporting small business owners, Nendra has helped many entrepreneurs build confidence, strengthen their business skills, and navigate the challenges of growing an enterprise.
She views this recognition not as a personal achievement, but as a tribute to the many small entrepreneurs whose resilience and determination drive local economies forward.
Health Impact Award: Dr. Varkha Lachman
With decades of dedication to healthcare and patient wellbeing, Dr. Varkha Lachman has built a career defined by compassion, service, and commitment to healing.
Her work reflects a deep belief that medicine is not just a profession, but a calling to care for humanity with empathy and humility.
Guided by the philosophy that service should always be rooted in compassion, Dr. Lachman continues to touch countless lives through her medical practice and mentorship of future healthcare professionals.
Her journey reminds us that healthcare professionals play an essential role not only in treating illness, but in strengthening the wellbeing of communities.
