Across Indonesia, women continue to break barriers and step into roles once considered unconventional. That spirit is reflected in the growing presence of women across technical and leadership roles—opening new pathways across industries that are rapidly evolving.Today, women are increasingly stepping into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-based roles within modernizing industrial sectors that prioritize long-term sustainability.
According to the World Economic Forum, this shift is especially visible in industrial sectors where sustainability is a key business strategy, including forestry and bio-based manufacturing—industries once perceived as male-dominated but now evolving through automation, technology and scientific research. Meanwhile, the FAO notes that women comprise 25 percent of the global forestry workforce, and research from RECOFTC highlights that integrating women into the value chain—from biotech labs to forest management—drives more sustainable and innovative outcomes.
In Indonesia, this shift is becoming more visible across industries, including in areas such as the forestry sector in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau, where women across paper producer APRIL’s operations are contributing at different stages of the production process—from laboratories and fieldwork to mill operations.
