Global stage, local pride: Nishani Fernando represents Sri Lanka at EY Winning Women 2025

From left: EY Sri Lanka and Maldives Partner – Assurance Anoji De Silva, Manisha Exports Managing Director Nishani Fernando, Prime Group Co-Founder and Co-Chair and Prime Lands Residencies Executive Chairperson Sandamini Perera, IronOne Technologies and BoardPAC Co-Founder and CEO Lakmini Wijesundera

EY successfully hosted the 10th EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women (EWW) Asia-Pacific Conference. The event took place from 20 to 22 May, in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Held annually, the program identifies and supports high-potential women entrepreneurs across the region – empowering them to scale and expand globally and become the inspiration for future generations. 

This year’s cohort of 24 exceptional women-leaders collectively generated over $ 1.2 billion in revenue and created more than 11,000 jobs, highlighting the vital role of women-led enterprises in driving inclusive economic growth.

Proudly representing Sri Lanka from the 2025 Class, was Manisha Exports Ltd., Managing Director Nishani Fernando. This selection reflects both her entrepreneurial achievements and the global recognition of Sri Lanka’s business leadership. With a background in law and a passion for sustainability, Nishani transitioned into her family business in 2004 and led its expansion into coconut fibre exports and sustainable agriculture products. In 2017, she founded Manisha Exports, where she now drives innovation and growth as Managing Director and founder, making a mark in international trade and sustainable industries.

The conference was also attended by EY representative EY Sri Lanka and Maldives Partner – Assurance Anoji De Silva as well as the EY Winning Women Alumni from Sri Lanka, IronOne Technologies and BoardPAC Co-Founder and CEO Lakmini Wijesundera (Class of 2017), and Prime Group Co-Founder and Co-Chair and Prime Lands Residencies Executive Chairperson Sandamini Perera (Class of 2024).

EY Indonesia Country Managing Partner Peter Surja highlighted the pivotal role of women entrepreneurs in driving Indonesia’s economic growth, noting that over 64% of MSMEs are led by women. “Their influence is expanding across key sectors such as technology, healthcare, or manufacturing, closely aligned with Indonesia’s broader investment priorities. Events like this remind us that entrepreneurship is not just about capital or strategy. It’s about people,” Surja stated.

The conference was officially opened by EY Asia-Pacific Risk Management Leader and the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific program Co-Executive Sponsor Claire Cardno, who underscored the power of belief, connection, and collective growth. It also explored business growth, leadership, innovation, and regional opportunities, highlighting EY’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs. A standout panel, “The Indonesian Advantage,” featured EY’s Walter Tong and APINDO Chair Shinta W. Kamdani.

The conference also included a key session on the shifting landscape of global trade and tariffs, with a spotlight on US tariff hikes on strategic sectors across industries. The discussion dove deep into how these policies shift and reshape the global value chains and impact businesses that are export-reliant. Participants also shared their perspectives and how they can navigate these evolving geopolitical changes while identifying market opportunities.

In “The Talent Shift” session, moderated by EY’s Lusi Lubis, leaders discussed building resilient, high-performing teams, with panellist Imelda Harsono highlighting the role of innovation and sustainability in talent retention. A fireside chat with Marina Budiman and EY’s Patrick Winter offered insights on scaling tech businesses with discipline and foresight. The program concluded with a call for participants to apply their new insights and connections to future leadership endeavours.

A fireside chat with Marina Budiman and EY’s Patrick Winter showcased agile leadership and Marina’s success in scaling Indonesia’s first international-standard data centre. The conference closed with a networking event featuring a fashion show by the Class of 2025 and a charity auction, which raised IDR 100 million for the Ronald McDonald House Charities Foundation.

As the program concluded, participants were strongly encouraged to carry forward the insights and connections gained, applying them to their leadership journeys ahead.