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Congratulations to Nallini Pathmanathan!
The International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), the premier international, networking and professional growth organization for women in the restructuring and insolvency industries, is pleased to announce the recipient of the 9th edition of the IWIRC Woman of the Year in Restructuring Award (Asia) ("WOYR Asia). The Asian IWIRC networks are delighted to announce that Nallini Pathmanathan is the 2026 winner of the WOYR Asia.
About the WOYR Asia
The WOYR Asia is open to any female professional in the restructuring and insolvency industry based in Asia. Nominees could be actively engaged in or recently retired from the restructuring industry. The criteria for the WOYR Asia require nominees to have inspired and/or skilfully led a restructuring or insolvency team, displayed exceptional leadership, made an extraordinary contribution to insolvency/restructuring, including the growth of women in the industry, and shown evidence of "going above and beyond" so as to have made a difference, including through mentoring, training and publications.
The WOYR Asia complements IWIRC International's longstanding Woman of the Year in Restructuring Award, a global award program established in 2006.
Presentation ceremony IWIRC Asia Regional Conference in Kuala Lumpur
The WOYR Asia 2026 Winner was announced on September 11, 2026 at the IWIRC Asia Regional Conference in Kuala Lumpur.
Eloise Matsui, Chair of IWIRC, was present in Kuala Lumpur to present the trophy to Nallini Pathmanathan and congratulate her in person.
During her acceptance speech, Nallini reflected on the growing role and visibility of women in the restructuring and insolvency profession, and the important contribution of IWIRC in advancing women into positions of leadership:
"Women didn't just join the insolvency profession - they're restructuring what leadership in it looks like. Every woman who has quietly carried a restructuring to completion, only to watch someone else get credit for it, knows this industry has a recognition problem. IWIRC is the engine behind that shift - turning capability into visible leadership, so the next generation doesn't have to prove itself twice.”
Nallini Pathmanathan: A Trailblazing Leader who has shaped the Restructuring and Insolvency landscape and opened doors for others
Nallini Pathmanathan has been a leader by example in the field of restructuring and insolvency, combining judicial excellence, commercial insight, thought leadership, and a sustained commitment to advancing women in the profession. Her career has been particularly significant because she reached the highest level of the Malaysian judiciary while contributing meaningfully to the development of insolvency, restructuring, bankruptcy, schemes of arrangement and related commercial jurisprudence.
Through her judgments, Nallini has provided practical guidance to practitioners, creditors, companies, liquidators and other stakeholders navigating complex R&I matters. Her decision in Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad v Mohd Afrizan bin Husain demonstrated her ability to reconcile insolvency principles with capital markets regulation, investor protection and commercial realities. Her participation in Abdul Rashid Mohamad Isa v PTT International Trading Pte Ltd reinforced the importance of substantive justice and the courts’ supervisory role in bankruptcy proceedings, while Transmile Group Berhad & Anor v Malaysian Trustees Berhad & Ors contributed to the jurisprudence surrounding schemes of arrangement.
Her leadership extends beyond the courtroom. Her involvement with the Cross-Border Insolvency Law Reform Committee contributed to the development of Malaysia’s Cross-Border Insolvency Act 2025, based on the UNCITRAL Model Law. Her participation in international judicial and insolvency forums, legal publications and judicial education initiatives has further enabled the sharing of knowledge and best practices across jurisdictions.
Most importantly, Nallini has paved the way for women who aspire to leadership in R&I and the wider legal profession. As the first Malaysian Indian woman to serve as a Federal Court Judge, she has demonstrated that women can lead at the highest levels of legal and judicial institutions. Her support for IWIRC Malaysia, including serving as keynote speaker at its launch in 2017, and her participation in INSOL’s Women at the Forefront of Restructuring & Insolvency series, reflect her continued commitment to encouraging women in the R&I community.
Her legacy is therefore not limited to the judgments she delivered. It lies equally in the standards of leadership she has established, the institutions and legal frameworks to which she has contributed, and the opportunities and inspiration she has created for those who follow. Nallini has led by example and, through her career and contributions, has helped pave the way for the next generation of women leaders in restructuring and insolvency across Asia.
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