International Women’s Day 2025

7 March 2025

The Women of ACTAsia 

March 8^th marks International Women’s Day: a commemoration and celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments and struggles of women globally in the continuous fight for gender equality

The 2025 International Women’s Day campaign theme is #AccelerateAction, emphasising the crucial importance of taking prompt and decisive measures to address the systemic barriers and biases that women face in personal and professional realms to achieve gender equality. On this day of worldwide feminist recognition and urgent call for continued momentum in efforts, ACTAsia is proud to spotlight some of our own inspirational women and their ongoing commitment to justice. 

KAREN BRANAGH is the Director of Partnerships and Outreach and has been working at ACTAsia for 4 years, but has been a fundraiser specialising in animal welfare, vegan advocacy, and conservation for over 25 years. She was born in Belfast, grew up in Worcestershire and currently lives by the sea in Hove, UK. 

‘My passion for animals comes from a deep love from them,’ she says. ‘Of course, you don’t have to love animals to respect them, but I do. It’s their innocence, their ability to feel, and their beauty. They bring me so much joy. I’m fortunate to work for them because supporting animals is not just a responsibility; it’s a privilege and an honour’.

PEI SU is ACTAsia’s fearless Founder and CEO. She been at the leading edge of social change in Asia for over three decades, tirelessly advocating for animal rights and a world infused with empathy. She is an expert in the fields of human well-being, animal welfare, veterinary education, wildlife legislation and environmental science. Her 30 plus years of championing societal change have been saturated by courage and resilience: indispensable attributes for navigating the difficulties and barriers associated with the realities of gender inequality. Last year was particularly significant for Pei. 

‘I am extremely proud of beating and recovering from cancer, which was a very frightening and harrowing experience not only for myself but for my family. I was also equally proud of the launch of my book, The Life of Pei: The Battle for Compassion. This was the story of my learning journey regarding the relationship between humans, animals and the environment and how developing an understanding of cultures is key to successful and sustainable change in behaviour.’

DAWN KOTUWAGE is our passionate Director of Programmes. She grew up in Hull, East Yorkshire and knew she wanted to work in animal welfare since she was 15 years old. She has been with ACTAsia for five years, and when asked about her favorite part of her job, she responds, ‘Easy question… My team!’ 

‘I adore my team, the projects they work on, ideas they bring and sense of achievement when things work and the learnings we all share when things don’t go as planned,’ Dawn says. ‘The team really makes things happen in Asia and they work in two languages regularly. I really take my hat off to them and hope they realise how amazing they are.’ 

ECHO LIU is ACTAsia’s Head of Programmes for China. Echo lives and grew up in the southern Chinese province Guangdong. She has been working at ACTAsia for an incredible eight years, though she has been part of the organisation since 2012. ‘I started out with ACTAsia when I was still in college,’ Echo reflects. ‘I volunteered for Caring for Life Education for children.’ 

‘I am motivated by the team’s inclusive, trusting and simple atmosphere, as well as the ability to grow. ACTAsia’s multinational team allows me to learn about cultural diversity.’

In her spare time, Echo can be found engaging with all things outdoors. ‘I love being in the sun, travelling, going for walks and growing plants,’ she says.  

MONICA HUANG was born in Shantou, a coastal city in Guangdong. Monica is the China Communication Officer who is approaching two years at ACTAsia. ‘I have always been passionate about philanthropy, particularly in the fields of animal and humanitarianism.’ says Monica. ‘ACTAsia stands out due to its forward-thinking, root-cause-focused solutions and unwavering mission.’

‘Despite challenges posed by remote work and cross-border collaboration, I believe that through our efforts we can address issues such as global inequality and environmental crises. The most significant aspect of working at ACTAsia has been learning to apply compassion and critical thinking not only in my work but in my daily communication.’

YVONNE hails from Shanghai and has been an ACTAsia China Programme Officer for nearly one year. Prior to joining ACTAsia, she worked in Timor-Leste for one and a half years. ‘It changed my attitude toward my life,’ Yvonne says. ‘I started to really understand the importance of education, which is why I looked for opportunities to join NGOs in the education sector when I came back to China.’ 

‘I think Caring for Life Education for Children is a fantastic way for children to build self-confidence and self-esteem while changing the world,’ Yvonne says. ‘Through CFL courses and activities, children can self-conceptualise responsibility and capability.’ 

It is through our incredible team that ACTAsia can continue to champion gender equality in Asia through education, celebrating achievements and greater gender inclusivity awareness. Happy International Women’s Day and thank you to the women of ACTAsia for your profound, inspirational work!

If you are inspired by the individuals behind ACTAsia’s vision and wish to contribute to positive, sustainable change, please consider donating to ACTAsia. Your contribution ensures our ability to continue spreading our message for a kinder future and doing groundbreaking educational work across Asia. 

Join us in supporting ACTAsia’s Caring for Life Programme and be a part of the compassionate movement!