Speaker

About the speaker: 

Dewi is a sustainability advocate with expertise in creative product development and strategic business management. With seven years of experience in China, she has helped entrepreneurs and businesses enhance wellbeing and implement sustainable practices.

As the lead of Yunus Thailand’s Seaweed Social Business, she drives community-based seaweed initiatives, supporting coastal women entrepreneurs, promoting biodiversity conservation, and advancing sustainable livelihoods. Passionate about innovation, she is

dedicated to creating solutions that improve quality of life.

Company info:

Yunus Thailand is a foundation and social business co-founded by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, pioneer of microfinance and the social business movement, to build a social business economy in Thailand. They provide global best-practice social business expertise to deliver innovative, financially sustainable, and scalable solutions to the most pressing social and environmental challenges in a Thai context. Their Thai and international team applies specialized methodologies to achieve localized impact that can be replicated nationally and globally, while ensuring their expertise remains relevant across sectors through multidisciplinary partnership approaches.

Presentation:

Women play a vital role in coastal economies and local food production, yet face barriers in markets, training, and resources. In Satun province, women-led seaweed initiatives are creating sustainable livelihoods, building community resilience, and protecting the oceans. By supporting policies, access to finance and training, and strong seaweed standards, they can empower these community

innovators to expand their impact and lead the way in ocean innovation.

Women in Coastal Communities

● The role of women in coastal economies: seaweed farming, fisheries, and local food production.

● Challenges women face: access to markets, training, capital, and recognition.

Success Stories (Seaweed as Tools for Innovation)

● Highlight Bor Ched Luk community: Women leading seaweed businesses, how seaweed cultivation can support sustainable livelihoods and community resilience

o Community-based tourism

o Conservation initiatives like Sea Guardians and Thai Sea Watch

Policy advocacy and creating enabling environments for women innovators.

● Creating frameworks that improve access to finance and training for women

● Promoting GAP standards for seaweed to ensure quality and enable broader access to markets