Phnom Penh is to host the first Australia Awards Cambodia Regional Women’s Leadership Initiative – the first step towards the establishment of a regional forum connecting women from across Asean – with the official launch by Australian Ambassador Angela Corcoran on Thursday.

“Across our Indo-Pacific region, women are playing an essential role in government, the private sector, development and civil society."

“The Australian government is committed to supporting these women, and to strengthening women’s empowerment, professional participation and leadership,” Corcoran said.

More than 70 Australia Awards alumni women from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam will participate in the initiative from Thursday to Saturday.

"I am delighted to see so many highly educated and experienced women taking time out from their busy schedules to share their own experiences and learn from each other,” she said.

The initiative is funded by the Australian government’s Australia Awards programme.