6 - 8 November, 2026 · Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Connect. Grow. Inspire.
IKAT is a bi-annual conference for women leaders working in and for Southeast Asia to connect, learn from one another, and be inspired in their unique leadership journeys. Hosted by Harpswell in cities across the region, IKAT weaves together a diverse community of women and allies who share a commitment to leading positive change in Southeast Asia.
Join us this November in Phnom Penh for IKAT!
IKAT is inspired by the rich weaving traditions of Southeast Asia. It is designed to bring together 150+ women leaders and allies from across the region and the world, each one a distinct thread woven into a stronger, more connected whole.
Together, they form a vibrant network of changemakers, united by a shared commitment to leadership, collaboration, and impact in Southeast Asia.
The
Experience
The inaugural IKAT gathering will be hosted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s vibrant capital. Known for its rich history and dynamic culture, Phnom Penh offers the perfect backdrop for women leaders to connect, reflect, and imagine new possibilities for the region alongside their own leadership path.
IKAT will primarily take place at Factory, a modern mixed-use creative hub that cultivates the next generation of entrepreneurs, makers, and creative professionals. This innovative space reflects the spirit of collaboration and creativity that defines IKAT.
IKAT is intentionally designed to prioritize community. The substance of the gathering, using the foundation of the Inner Development Goal framework, is guided by three core themes:
Women and Gender: Exploring the powerful role of women’s leadership and regional progress toward gender equity.
Southeast Asia: Understanding the region’s rich diversity, shared challenges, and boundless opportunity.
Leadership Development: Reflecting on the personal and collective journeys of women leaders, whatever their unique path.
Keynote Speakers
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Vanessa Chan is author of the novel, The Storm We Made. An international bestseller, Good Morning America Book Club Pick, BBC Book Club pick, and New York Times Editor’s Choice, the novel is about the unlikeliest of spies; a discontent mother and wife in 1930s British Malaya who, in becoming a spy for the Japanese, unwittingly ushers in the most violent war her country has ever seen. The Storm We Made has been published in more than 20 languages worldwide and has been named a best book of the year by NPR, People, Elle, Amazon, and more.
Called “a weather system of epic proportions,” (New York Times), and “a wartime story you’ve never read before” (People), the novel, her first, caused a bidding war among publishers, resulting major deals in the US and the UK, before becoming a worldwide sensation.
Vanessa grew up in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. She often jokes that she comes from a lineage of exaggerating storytellers – her family is made up of smugglers, ad men, and many gossips. She arrived in the US at age 19 to attend university, with a single suitcase and $50 in her pocket. After an expansive career as a communications and technology executive, she pivoted to a life in the literary arts, where she completed and sold her first two books in two years. Chan is now based in KL and NYC, where she has the great fortune to be writing full-time.
In her session, Vanessa will share the power of storytelling through her own journey from corporate tech executive to acclaimed novelist.
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Kalina Silverman is a U.S. Fulbright Ambassador, the author of Big Talk, and the creator of @makebigtalk.
From Santa Monica, California, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School, Kalina is passionate about fostering community belonging, building empathetic bridges through storytelling, and fighting modern-day loneliness. In 2017, she was selected as a Fulbright scholar in Singapore and has since delivered big talk workshops to 2,000 master's and PhD students from over 75 countries.
Today, Big Talk is a global movement that includes events worldwide, video interviews, educational workshops, a question card game and app, and a book. Harvard Medical School, employees at Fortune 500 Companies, government bodies, mental health professionals, and even a jail education program have adopted Big Talk programs. In 2025, Kalina's viral videos raised $3 million for survivors of the LA Fires, Hurricane Helene, and the Texas Floods, winning a Shorty Impact award in Emergency Relief Storytelling.
Big Talk has appeared on CNN, PBS Newshour, People, Time, Good Morning America, USA Today, The Washington Post, NBC, and more. Kalina’s TEDx talk has over 6.5 million views on YouTube, and her Instagram account @makebigtalk has moved millions of people.
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Pat is an executive mentor to leaders in transition and an adviser to many organisations navigating the intersection of purpose and sustainability leadership. She is the Founder of The Purpose Business (TPB), Asia’s leading advisory network who guide leaders to evolve business as a force for good.
Pat serves as Senior Associate at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and sits on the Global Steering Committee of the Prince of Wales’s Business & Sustainability Programme. She serves as faculty and tutor across various Executive Education programmes as well as online courses such as High Impact leadership and Governance for a Sustainable Future. She is chairs the the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) at Travalyst, a global independent not-for-profit dedicated to making sustainability information more mainstream, so that it is easier for people to make informed and responsible travel choices.
Pat also holds several advisory roles - to Sowen, a social impact consultancy who accelerate measurable social impact through data and technology solutions; to Ignite Impact PH, an early-stage venture capital fund that invests in Filipino grassroots solutions to social and environmental challenges, among others. Her earlier career held pioneering Chief Sustainability Officer roles in the region including Ayala Land, the Philippines’ most esteemed land developer and in 2008 she was named Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts’ first Global Head of CSR & Sustainability. Pat was the force behind the shark’s fin ban from service in in 2012, working alongside other hotel chains, airlines and tourism boards to drive industry change in sustainable food sourcing.
Pat is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and remains a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She is an AVPN Gender Ambassador championing the rights of migrant domestic workers. She holds an MA in Globalisation & Governance, certificates in Transformational Leadership from the University of Oxford and Global Leadership & Public Policy for the 21st Century from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Who should join IKAT?
IKAT is designed to weave together women and allies of all nationalities, professions, ages, and interests, united by a shared commitment to fostering women’s leadership and collaboration across Southeast Asia.
IKAT is for you if:
✷ You believe in the power of women’s leadership in transforming systems and structures for good
✷ You’re invested in the future of Southeast Asia
✷ You’re seeking to join and contribute to a network and friendships that last beyond the conference
✷ You’re open and excited to grow as a leader
✷ You’re eager to share your own experiences, insights and wisdom
IKAT is a ticketed gathering open to all. Participants arrange their own travel, accommodation and transport in Phnom Penh. Included in each ticket purchase is:
✷ Access to all IKAT sessions, activities, and workshops throughout the weekend
✷ One cocktail hour, two lunches and one dinner, alongside delicious coffee & tea breaks
✷ Access to the Harpswell alumnae sisterhood, including ongoing professional development opportunities
✷ A digital certificate of completion post-IKAT
Join IKAT today
Two Tickets, One Reason: At Harpswell, we believe in the power of collective action to uplift women leaders.
In order to ensure IKAT is accessible to one and all, our base ticket, Lotus, has been heavily discounted.
We invite those who are able to purchase the “true cost” ticket, Jasmine, to do so, investing in the diversity and sustainability of IKAT.
Why is it called IKAT?
IKAT’s name was inspired by the beautiful, traditional weaving found through-out Southeast Asia of the same name. Derived from the Malay word meaning “to tie” or “to bind,” ikat weaving is a time-honored tradition preserved by women artisans throughout the region.
IKAT aims to weave together women leaders, binding together their stories and wisdom across borders.
About Harpswell
Harpswell advances young women leaders in Southeast Asia with education, training and a supportive network. We envision a new generation of women leaders who create and inspire positive social change. We believe a community of educated women leaders constitutes the most powerful force for social and economic advances in Southeast Asia and beyond.