Charting an Empowered Future: SM marks milestones in diversity and inclusion

SM appoints Ms. Elizabeth Anne C. Uychaco as its first Group Diversity Officer.

(30 September 2022, Pasay City, Philippines) SM Investments Corporation (SM Investments) marked important milestones in upholding inclusion and diversity in the organization.

Diversity recognizes the uniqueness and variety of the groups and societies that make up humankind. This can include differences in age, gender, sexuality, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic or other status. Social inclusion is the process by which efforts are made to ensure equal opportunities for all – that everyone, regardless of their background, can achieve their full potential in life.

As an important milestone towards these, SM Investments submitted a statement of support for the United Nations Global Compact Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs), joining over 3,000 other business leaders around the world and further advocating to empower women.

The WEPs are a set of principles offering guidance to business on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community. These principles were established by UN Global Compact and UN Women.

This followed SM Supermalls signing on as a supporter in March 2021, marking National Women’s Month.

In another milestone, SM Investments appointed Ms. Elizabeth Anne “Lizanne” C. Uychaco as its first Group Diversity Officer.

As Group Diversity Officer, Ms. Uychaco will work with different companies of the SM Group in advancing gender equality and championing inclusion.

“We celebrate diversity and inclusion in the SM Group as it reflects the broad individualities in the communities we serve. Moreover, diversity and inclusion ensure innovation in our businesses. When we recognize that people are unique individuals, we explore more options, generating a wider range of user-centric services and offers,” Ms. Uychaco said.

Ms. Uychaco previously signed on as an individual supporter of the WEPs in 2021. She is currently the Senior Vice President for Corporate Services at SM Investments and sits as director in various SM companies such as Belle Corporation, NEO, Goldilocks Bakeshop, Inc., Brownies Unlimited, Inc. ACE Hardware Philippines, Inc., Philippines Urban Living Solutions to name a few. She also leads the Felicidad Sy Sunshine Place which offers comprehensive and enriching programs for seniors.

As a group, SM is exemplary in women empowerment with a number of women leaders in the company. It provides equal opportunities with 63% of women in its workforce and 58% in senior leadership roles. It also maintains a mix of people from diverse backgrounds, generations, and skill sets to mirror the diverse customers and communities it serves.

About SM Investments Corporation

SM Investments Corporation is a leading Philippine company that is invested in market-leading businesses in retail, banking, and property. It also invests in ventures that capture high growth opportunities in the emerging Philippine economy.

SM’s retail operations are the country’s largest and most diversified with its food, non-food, and specialty retail stores. SM’s property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the largest integrated property developer in the Philippines with interests in malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers as well as tourism-related property developments. SM’s interests in banking are in BDO Unibank, Inc., the country’s largest bank, and China Banking Corporation, the 6th largest bank.

For more about SM, visit www.sminvestments.com

Timothy Daniels
Consultant, Investor Relations & Sustainability
SM Investments Corporation
Email: smic_corpcomm@sminvestments.com