Jacqueline Fong

After having practised investment banking for over 18 years in different locations – Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and East Malaysia, Jacqueline Fong retired from her career to focus on social entrepreneurship in her home state of Sarawak.

Better known as Jackie, she founded Tanoti Crafts – an award-winning social enterprise that serves to preserve the heritage and empower artisans in rural communities in 2012. What started as a handful of weavers, Tanoti Crafts now engages with 500 artisans residing in 25 rural and remote communities across Sarawak, working to progress the craft industry through capacity building, design and advocacy. The social enterprise was established to preserve heritage techniques, empower women and build rural communities.

Having gone far in establishing her heritage, the Sarawak State government has acknowledged Tanoti Crafts as an Emerging Craft Community. Aside from recognition, Tanoti Crafts has also received local and international awards, such as the World Crafts Council Award of Excellence in Craft in 2014 and 2016, the British Council- Arthur Guinness Entrepreneur for Good People’s Choice Award 2014, the MaGIC Amplify Award 2015, and the ASEAN Silk Textile Contest 2019.

For more info about Tanoti Crafts, click here.

Making an impact means making right where an injustice has been suffered.