4 Mar 2019 (The Star Online) KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah woman who broke the male domain in crude palm oil (CPO) mills is continuing to build a “niche” for herself in the industry.

Stella Ambrose, who was first appointed crude palm oil (CPO) mill manager in Kota Marudu by state-owned Sawit Kinabalu Bhd in 2002, now oversees the company’s eight mills as head of its milling department.

British graduate Ambrose, 46, said it was a challenge for any woman to break into the male-dominated industry.

Saying that she had to chart her own path to overcome the perception that CPO oil mills “are only for men”, she added: “You have to build a niche over time. I have broken whatever barrier there was.

“I don’t have any issue. They accept me as one of them.”

Ambrose’s success story in CPO mills is further complemented by that of Nor Azian Anuar in Negri Sembilan.

The USM engineering graduate was appointed by Sime Darby Plant­a­tions to manage the Tanah Merah Oil Palm factory in Port Dickson, where men make up 90% of its 112 employees, since June 2016.

Nor Azian, 36, was quoted as saying that she joined Guthrie Group Bhd before its merger with Sime Darby Bhd and Gol­den Hope Plantations Bhd in 2007.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/03/04/first-female-cpo-manager-appointed-in-2002/#k8pbQgvH0758XEZ1.99