Bengawan Solo founder Anastasia Tjendri-Liew named Her World’s Woman of the Year 2025

SINGAPORE – For turning a home-based baking business into a bakery empire with more than 40 outlets across Singapore, Bengawan Solo founder and managing director Anastasia Tjendri-Liew, 78, was named Her World Woman of the Year 2025.

Pro bono lawyer Sadhana Rai, 38, known for her unwavering commitment to social justice and equitable access to legal support, received the Her World Young Woman Achiever 2025 award.

Both women were presented with the awards at local magazine Her World Singapore’s annual gala event at the Equarius Hotel Ballroom, Resorts World Sentosa, on Oct 30. 

Credited for introducing pandan chiffon cake, traditional Indonesian kueh and pillow-shaped pineapple tarts to Singapore, Ms Tjendri-Liew was the first woman to receive the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises’ Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1998. She was also a recipient of the Public Service Medal in 2008 and the Public Service Star in 2013.

A strong believer in giving back to the community, Ms Tjendri-Liew established the Anastasia Liew Study Award at Singapore Management University in 2023, supporting full-time first-year Singaporean undergraduates facing financial hardships.

On being named Her World’s Woman of the Year, she said in a press statement: “I am very honoured and humbled to be considered among women who are making such powerful contributions to our communities and beyond.”

Ms Rai, the chief representation officer at law charity Pro Bono SG, extends legal aid to overlooked communities and is an advocate for Singapore’s most vulnerable communities.

The first full-time pro bono lawyer in Singapore also champions animal welfare, serving as honorary secretary of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) since 2022. 

Ms Rai also played a key role in launching the Migrant Workers’ Law Centre (MWLC) – Singapore’s first dedicated free legal clinic for migrant workers – in April. 

“I’m grateful to my colleagues at Pro Bono SG, MWLC and the SPCA; my mentors who have shaped my journey; and to the clients who remind me every day why this work matters,” said Ms Rai.

“This recognition is a powerful reminder that progress is never the work of one person alone. It belongs to everyone who believes in the power of access to justice.”

She added: “This award strengthens my resolve to ensure that access to justice remains not only an enduring principle, but also a lived reality for all.”

Ms Elizabeth Lee, editor-in-chief of Her World, said: “Anastasia Tjendri-Liew and Sadhana Rai embody the resilience and heart of the Singapore spirit – one built on perseverance, purpose and compassion. Both women remind us that true strength lies in service, integrity and an indomitable will to make a difference.”

Her World’s annual awards honour outstanding women in Singapore for the impact they have made in their fields and community. 

The publication also celebrated its 65th anniversary with a special retrospective exhibition titled Defining Eras, Inspiring Change at the event. It showcased past iconic Her World covers and how the magazine has captured the evolving role of women in Singapore via editorial stories and initiatives over the years.

The gala event was attended by former president Halimah Yacob, who is also the chancellor of the Singapore University of Social Sciences.