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THE Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) marked a significant milestone on 2 April 2026 with the graduation of 128 participants from its investED for Returning Women Programme, an initiative designed to reintegrate experienced female professionals into the workforce after career breaks.
SC Chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi, in the keynote address, emphasised the importance of retaining and nurturing a highly skilled female talent pool.
“During conversations with local industry captains, the topic of the limited talent pool often comes up as a major obstacle to growth and business resilience.
“This shrinks even further as experienced and capable women step away from their careers due to family responsibilities and other personal matters,” he said.
The programme provides opportunities for women to refresh their skills and adapt to current workplace demands, aligning closely with the MADANI Economy framework’s objectives of inclusive growth, shared prosperity, and human capital development.
Faiz noted that SC has actively pursued gender inclusivity in Malaysia’s capital market, highlighting that the percentage of women on boards for all public-listed companies (PLCs) reached 29.3% as of January 2026, with the Top 100 PLCs already achieving the 30% target in 2023.
Since its launch last year with support from the Ministry of Finance and partner organisations, the investED for Returning Women Programme has drawn over 800 applications, with three cohorts successfully completing the training.
“Having successfully graduated, all of you have signalled that you are ready to re-enter the workforce. That deserves a round of applause,” Dato’ Faiz said.
He encouraged graduates to seize opportunities with employer partners, noting that about 12% have already secured employment.
“This is a good validation of the value that this programme brings,” he added.
The initiative benefits from cross-sector collaboration, with TalentCorp supporting national workforce participation goals, LeadWomen delivering leadership development and career readiness sessions, the Securities Industry Development Corporation providing Capital Market Essentials Programme certification, and PwC offering industry insights and practical training.
“The collective support from our partners reflects the critical role that industry plays in developing and sustaining Malaysia’s capital market talent ecosystem,” Faiz says.
He extended his congratulations to all graduates today, commending their determination, resilience, and courage, and expressed hope that the programme would inspire further participation of skilled women in the workforce. - April 2, 2026