KUCHING: Civil society The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) has invited Jo-anna Sue Henley Rempas to be a panellist for the TSI Leadership Forum, ‘Borneo Youth – Agent of Change in a New Malaysia’ moderated by Professor Dr James Chin from the University of Tasmania, Australia.
TSI said Jo-anna will share her political journey and her vision of the Borneo states, particularly Sabah.
“A young and qualified intellectual like Jo-anna from a remote village in a 21st century world is a person TSI thinks our aspiring leaders in Sarawak need to meet and be inspired. Jo-anna can be called a youthful celebrity politician from Sabah,” TSI said in a statement here today (Jane 12).
The media described her as a charming beauty who won the Kaamatan Festival Queen or Unduk Ngadau in 2007. Later in 2009, she won the Most Popular Star (SMS) and Best Performance and the Runner-up title of RTM 2009 Bintang.
“Jo-anna has her heart in music and wrote several songs in Dusun and Malay language. Since her teenage days, time passed by fast and now she has graduated with law degrees and is into politics to lead and help her community,” TSI added.
A distinguished young politician from Sabah, she is renowned for her exceptional talents and professional accomplishments.
She possesses a law degree from the University of London, and has further advanced her legal education by completing a Masters of Laws from the University of the West of England.
Throughout her political career, Jo-Anna has held several key positions such as serving as the deputy head of Wirawati of Parti Warisan Sabah, head of Wirawati of Tuaran Division, and as the former political secretary to the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal.
In addition, she has been actively engaged in various welfare and community programmes, particularly as the chairman of the Sabah Ngadau Unduk Committee since 2019.
“As an individual with a diverse background and experience, Jo-anna has demonstrated her ability to provide insightful leadership with a deep understanding of the needs of her community and a clear vision for the future of Sabah,” TSI said.
